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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: 
 March  31,  2004  Jessica  Rosenworcel:  (202)  418-  2000 
 FCC  COMMISSIONER  COPPS  RESPONDS  TO  EFFORTS  TO  PRESERVE  COMPETITION  IN  THE  TELECOMMUNICATIONS  MARKET 
 Washington,  D.  C.—  Commissioner  Michael  J.  Copps  issued  the  following  statement  today: 


 “I  join  my  colleagues  in  encouraging  carriers  to  engage  in  negotiations  in  an  effort  to  preserve  competition  in  the  telecommunications  market.  I  support  negotiations, 
 provided  they  are  conducted  in  good  faith  and  on  a  level  playing  field.  But  the  ground  here  is  not  naturally  level.  As  a  result,  carriers  will  be  doubly  challenged  to  reach  fair 
 commercial  agreements  in  a  limited  timeframe. 
 Consumers—  the  people  who  pay  America’s  phone  bills—  don’t  have  a  seat  at  the  negotiating  table.  They  will  rightfully  feel  left  out  in  the  cold  if  these  negotiations  only 
 lead  to  higher  phone  rates.  I  commit  to  watching  these  discussions  to  ensure  that  consumers  are  protected  in  the  months  ahead.  They  deserve—  and  expect—  no  less.” 


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