NEWS                                                         May 15, 1998

                        FCC HOSTS SECOND WORKSHOP 
                 WITH TELECOM REGULATORS FROM 9 COUNTRIES 

     To promote effective implementation of pro-competitive regulatory structures and
policies, the FCC is hosting the second in a series of workshops with telecommunications
regulators.  This workshop, to be held at the FCC from May 18-21, will bring together
regulators from 9 countries.

     Countries participating in this workshop are:  Belgium, Ecuador, Guatemala, Hong Kong,
India, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand and Uganda . 

     The countries represented at this second workshop have only recently established
independent regulatory structures and begun to introduce competition.  The purpose of the
workshop is to foster closer cooperation among regulatory authorities and to promote
independent, effective regulatory regimes and meaningful competition. 

     FCC Chairman William E. Kennard said, "Declaring markets open is just the first step. 
A strong regulator with adequate tools has the key role to play in bringing competition to the
market. I hope the next few days provide an opportunity for us to pull out our competition
road maps and work together to make competition a reality."    

      The first of these workshops took place in February, concentrating on effective
implementation of the pro-competitive regulatory principles adopted as part of the World
Trade Organization's Agreement on Basic Telecom.  The focus of this workshop will be on
developing a stable legal and regulatory framework to promote competition, interconnection
and universal service.  It will also address satellite and wireless issues.  The next workshop
will be held in June.        









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     The agenda for the workshop is:

     May 18    Development of a stable legal and regulatory framework
     
     May 19    Methods of introducing competition; interconnection; universal service
               in a competitive market

      May 20   Spectrum allocation; satellite and wireless licensing issues

           May 21   Roundtable discussion with U.S. industry at the U.S.
                    Telecommunications Training Institute.
    
     Chairman Kennard will address the opening session of the workshop.  Regina M.
Keeney, the Chief of the International Bureau, will speak at a luncheon for the participants on
the same date.

     These workshops are being conducted with the support of the U.S. Agency for
International Development.

 - FCC -


     News Media contact: Rosemary Kimball at (202) 418-0500.
     International Bureau contact: Laurie Sherman at (202) 418-0429.