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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  Contact:  David  Fiske  January  30,  2003  (202)  418-  0513 
 Statement  of  FCC  Chairman  Michael  Powell  on  Senator  McCain’s  Telecommunications  Ownership  Diversification  Initiative 
 Senator  John  McCain  today  introduced  legislation  that  uses  a  tax-  based  incentive  system,  designed  to  encourage  and  facilitate  new  entry,  including  entry  by  women  and  minorities,  into 
 the  telecommunications  industry.  This  legislation  is  well  crafted  and  much  needed.  I  wholeheartedly  support  this  effort 


 I  again  thank  Senator  McCain  for  consistently  showing  leadership  in  this  important  effort.  Like  him,  I  believe  it  is  essential  that  we  promote  greater  inclusiveness  in  our  media  and 
 communications  delivery  sectors. 
 The  time  for  rhetoric  complaining  about  lack  of  opportunity  in  the  communications  sector  has  past.  It  is  time  for  action.  It  is  time  to  seek  positive  ways  to  promote  opportunity  while 
 avoiding  some  of  the  problems  of  past  programs.  This  legislation  is  a  clear  step  in  the  right  direction. 


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