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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:  January  31,  2003  Rosemary  Kimball  at  (202)  418-  0511 
 e-  mail:  rkimball@  fcc.  gov 
 FCC  TO  OBSERVE  FIFTH  ANNUAL  NATIONAL  CONSUMER  PROTECTION  WEEK  WITH  SERIES  OF  CONSUMER  TIPS  ON  WEB  SITE 


 Washington,  DC  –  The  Federal  Communications  Commission  (FCC)  is  observing  the  fifth  annual  National  Consumer  Protection  Week  (NCPW)  by  posting  a  series  of  consumer  tips 
 on  its  Web  site  –www.  fcc.  gov.  NCPW  runs  from  February  2  through  8  and  the  FCC  will  be  posting  a  different  tip  each  weekday. 


 President  Bush  has  issued  a  Proclamation  designating  the  week  as  NCPW.  NCPW  highlights  consumer  education  and  protection  efforts  around  the  country. 
 This  year’s  NCPW  theme,  "Information  Security:  Putting  the  Pieces  Together,"  focuses  on  practical  steps  consumers  and  businesses  can  take  to  manage  their  personal  and  sensitive 
 information  wisely  and  help  minimize  its  misuse.  The  FCC’s  tips  will  address  this  issue. 
 K.  Dane  Snowden,  Chief  of  the  FCC’s  Consumer  &  Governmental  Affairs  Bureau,  said,  “We  want  consumers  to  know  about  the  FCC’s  existing  procedures  and  rules  designed  to  protect 
 consumers’  privacy.  It  is  critical  in  the  telecom  sector,  where  so  much  personal  information  is  collected  and  transmitted,  that  consumers  are  vigilant  and  know  how  to  protect  themselves.  The 
 consumer  tips  we  are  posting  on  our  Web  site  will  provide  valuable  information  for  helping  ensure  that  private  information  remains  private.” 


 NCPW  brings  together  representatives  from  federal,  state  and  local  governments  and  organizations  and  national  advocacy  groups  to  help  consumers  and  the  business  community 
 understand  how  information  security  affects  the  decisions  they  make  at  home  and  in  the  marketplace.  For  more  information  about  NCPW,  visit  the  NCPW  website  at 
 www.  consumer.  gov/  ncpw. 
 -  FCC  - 
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