*Pages 1--1 from  Microsoft Word - 17978.doc*
 NEWS  News  media  Information  202  /  418-  0500  TTY  202  /  418-  2555  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: 
 May  24,  2002  David  Fiske:  202-  418-  0513  Michael  Balmoris  202-  418-  0253 
 STATEMENT  OF  FCC  CHAIRMAN  MICHAEL  POWELL  ON  THE  DECISION  BY  THE  COURT  OF  APPEALS  FOR  THE  DISTRICT  OF 
 COLUMBIA  REGARDING  THE  COMMISSION’S  UNBUNDLING  RULES 
 Washington,  D.  C.  –  The  Court's  decision  today  directs  the  Commission  to  undertake  a  more  focused  examination  of  the  Act's  unbundling  obligations.  The 
 Commission  is  currently  examining  its  unbundling  framework,  including  line  sharing  rules,  in  its  Triennial  Review  notice,  which  is  presently  open  for  public  comment.  We 
 will  be  exploring  many  of  the  issues  that  the  Court  raised  in  its  opinion  in  the  coming  months  as  we  evaluate  the  record  in  this  proceeding.  While  we  continue  to  evaluate  the 
 Court's  opinion  and  consider  all  the  Commission's  options,  in  the  meantime,  the  current  state  of  affairs  for  access  to  network  elements  remains  intact. 
1