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 NEWS  News  media  Information  202  /  418-  0500  Fax-  On-  Demand  202  /  418-  2830  TTY  202/  418-  2555  Internet:  http://  www.  fcc.  gov  ftp.  fcc.  gov  Federal  Communications  Commission  445  12  th  Street,  S.  W.  Washington,  D.  C.  20554  This  is  an  unofficial  announcement  of  Commission  action.  Release  of  the  full  text  of  a  Commission  order  constitutes  official  action.  See  MCI  v.  FCC.  515  F  2d  385  (D.  C.  Circ  1974). 
 For  Immediate  Release  Press  Contact: 
 January  31,  2001  Bryan  Tramont  202-  418-  2000 


 COMMISSIONER  FURCHTGOTT-  ROTH  DECLINES  TO  SEEK  REAPPOINTMENT; 
 WILL  SERVE  UNTIL  DATE  MUTUALLY  AGREED  TO  WITH  ADMINISTRATION 


 FCC  Commissioner  Harold  Furchtgott-  Roth  today  announced  he  is  not  seeking 
 reappointment  to  a  second  term.  His  first  term  expired  June  30,  2000.  Commissioner  Furchtgott-Roth’s 
 statement  follows: 


 “It  has  been  a  great  honor  to  serve  for  more  than  three  years  on  the  Federal 
 Communications  Commission,  more  than  half  a  year  beyond  the  expiration  of  my  term. 
 However,  there  comes  a  time  when  every  free  market  advocate  in  government  must  fulfill  his 
 dream  by  returning  to  the  private  sector.  For  me,  that  time  has  arrived.  Therefore  I  have  decided 
 not  to  seek  reappointment.  Nonetheless,  in  order  to  facilitate  a  smooth  transition,  I  will  continue 
 to  serve  until  a  mutually  agreeable  departure  date  is  worked  out  with  the  Administration. 


 “I  will  leave  with  many  friends  at  the  Commission.  I  have  been  fortunate  enough  to 
 serve  with  a  talented  and  thoughtful  group  of  fellow  Commissioners.  I  look  forward  to  our 
 continued  friendship  in  the  years  to  come.  In  this  regard,  Chairman  Powell  will  be  a  great 
 Chairman;  I  will  do  all  I  can  to  assist  him  in  guiding  the  agency  towards  a  more  faithful 
 interpretation  of  the  law. 


 “My  personal  staff  has  been  both  gifted  and  dedicated.  They  have  been  responsible  for 
 many  of  the  achievements  of  my  office.  Paul  Misener,  Kevin  Martin,  Helgi  Walker,  Rebecca 
 Beynon,  Bryan  Tramont  and  my  other  legal  advisors  have  served  with  distinction.  The  separate 
 statements  and  dissents  they  helped  craft  have  disciplined  the  agency  and  brought  it  closer  to  the 
 Communications  Act.  Dolly  Johnson  and  Ginger  Clark  kept  me  on  time  and  on  task  for  three 
 years  --  no  small  accomplishment. 


 “The  Commission’s  professional  staff  is  both  knowledgeable  and  deeply  committed  to 
 serving  the  public.  As  I  have  often  said,  the  American  taxpayer  is  our  ultimate  employer.  We 
 should  be  judged  by  our  service  to  them.  The  FCC  staff  --  from  the  Bureau  Chiefs  to  the 
 Engineers,  from  the  Mailroom  to  the  Security  Team,  from  the  lawyers  to  the  economists  --  has 
 consistently  impressed  me  with  its  friendliness  to  the  public  and  willingness  to  help.  We  are 
 lucky  to  have  them. 


 “Finally,  I  am  also  grateful  to  those  outside  the  Commission  that  have  been  so 
 instrumental  to  my  service  here.  I  particularly  note  my  deepest  gratitude  for  the  support  of  Tom 
 Bliley,  the  former  chairman  of  the  House  Committee  on  Commerce,  and  Majority  Leader  Trent 
 Lott  of  the  United  States  Senate.  Their  commitment  to  public  service  has  been  an  inspiration. 
 So  many  others  also  have  been  supportive;  I  hope  to  be  able  to  thank  each  individually  in  the 
 months  ahead.” 
 -  FCC  - 
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