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 NEWS  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).  News  Media  Information  202  /  418-  0500  Internet:  http://  www.  fcc.  gov  TTY:  1-  888-  835-  5322 
 For  Immediate  Release:  News  Media  Contact:  May  22,  2002  Rosemary  Kimball  at  (202)  418-  0511 
 e-  mail:  rkimball@  fcc.  gov 
 FCC  LAUNCHES  “CALLING  HOME”  PROGRAM 
 Washington,  DC  --  The  FCC  launched  the  “Calling  Home”  program  in  observance  of  Military  Appreciation  Month  (May).  The  program  recognizes  the  many 
 contributions  of  Defense  personnel,  and  is  designed  to  help  deployed  servicemembers,  Department  of  Defense  (DoD)  civilians  and  their  families  save  money. 


 K.  Dane  Snowden,  Chief  of  the  FCC’s  Consumer  &  Governmental  Affairs  Bureau,  said,  “For  military  consumers  and  their  families  living  abroad,  staying  in  touch 
 with  loved  ones  at  home  can  be  expensive.  We  want  them  to  know  the  FCC  is  available  as  a  resource  to  help  make  calling  home  as  easy  and  economical  as  possible. 
 We  are  delighted  to  be  able  to  offer  some  assistance  to  our  servicemembers  and  DoD  civilians  to  whom  we  all  owe  so  much,”  he  said. 


 A  new  FCC  brochure  titled,  “Calling  Home:  What  You  Should  Know,”  contains  information  about  making  long-  distance  contact  cheaper  for  Defense  personnel 
 and  their  families.  Options,  such  as  using  “Dial  Around”  or  “International  Callback”  services,  are  explained.  Special  carrier  plans  are  discussed,  as  well  as  use  of  the 
 Internet  to  keep  in  touch. 
 The  brochure  is  being  sent  to  the  various  branches  of  the  armed  services,  their  family  centers  around  the  world  and  military-  affiliated  associations  and  organizations.  It 
 is  available  electronically  on  a  new  FCC  Web  site  that  focuses  solely  on  issues  of  interest  to  the  military,  www.  fcc.  gov/  cgb/  military.  The  FCC  is  also  establishing  ongoing 
 relationships  with  these  groups  to  ensure  the  armed  forces  know  the  FCC  is  available  to  provide  them  with  telecom  information,  help  with  their  telecom  complaints  and  address 
 any  of  their  other  telecom  needs. 
 -  FCC  – 
 Consumer  &  Governmental  Affairs  Bureau  contact:  Janice  Wise  at  (202)  418-  8165. 
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