STATEMENT OF FCC COMMISSIONER JAMES H. QUELLO

ON CONGRESSIONAL PASSAGE OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS ACT OF 1996

                      FEBRUARY 1, 1996


The Telecommunications Act of 1996 is the most significant
communications legislation enacted since the original
Communications Act of 1934.  The bipartisan effort that led to
its adoption is a credit to Congress and to the Administration. 
The passage of this historic legislation marks the end of the old
regime of telecommunications regulations -- a regime that placed
primary reliance on government regulation rather than marketplace
competition to secure the benefits of advanced communications
technology for the American public.  With its long-awaited
rewrite of federal communications legislation Congress will
enable the forces of technology and competition to combine to
produce a host of new services that will create jobs and improve
the lives of all Americans.  I am looking forward to being part
of the effort that will translate these changes in the law into
reality.  This effort will dwarf any similar efforts by the
Commission before this date, and the Commission has the task of
acquiring the necessary personnel and financial resources to
efficiently implement the Act and serve the overall public
interest.