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 NEWS  News  media  Information  202  /  418-  0500  TTY  202  /  418-  2  Fax-  On-  Demand  202  /  418-  2830  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:  NEWS  MEDIA  CONTACT: 
 January  3,  2002  Bryan  Tramont  or  Jennie  Berry  at  (202)  418-  2400 


 ABERNATHY  INTRODUCES  “NEWS  YOU  CAN  USE”  INFORMATION  CAMPAIGN 
 Washington,  D.  C.  –  Commissioner  Kathleen  Q.  Abernathy  has  announced  the  launch  of  her 
 “News  You  Can  Use”  information  campaign.  Periodically,  the  Commissioner  will  focus  on  a 
 public  interest  issue  relating  to  communication  policy  and  will  feature  it  in  her  speeches,  on  her 
 website,  and  in  interviews  with  the  press. 


 “I  want  to  make  sure  that  we  at  the  FCC  are  paying  attention  to  issues  that  make  a  difference 
 in  people’s  lives  outside  the  beltway,”  Commissioner  Abernathy  explained.  “Looking  after  the 
 public  interest  is  an  important  part  of  the  Commission’s  mission,”  she  stated,  adding  that  she 
 intends  to  make  that  task  a  priority  during  her  tenure  at  the  FCC. 


 Though  only  in  office  since  May,  Commissioner  Abernathy  said  that  she  has  been  struck  by 
 the  number  of  consumers  who  feel  confused  and  frustrated  by  their  communications  services.  A 
 couple  of  topics  that  have  generated  a  number  of  consumer  complaints  are  unsolicited  telemarketing 
 calls  and  slamming,  when  consumers’  phone  service  is  changed  without  their  permission.  These 
 two  issues  will  be  the  first  subjects  addressed  by  “News  You  Can  Use.” 


 Following  is  a  copy  of  the  Commissioner’s  website  column  on  “Do-  Not-  Call  Lists”,  the 
 latest  “News  You  Can  Use”  topic.  Commissioner  Abernathy  said  she  plans  to  make  herself 
 available  for  press  interviews  on  this  –  or  any  other  –  communications  public  interest  topic. 


 “News  You  Can  Use”  is  featured  on  the  Commissioner’s  website  at 
 http://  www.  fcc.  gov/  commissioners/  abernathy/  news.  html. 


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