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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  5,  2004  Meribeth  McCarrick  (202)  418-  0654 
 Meribeth.  McCarrick@  fcc.  gov 
 FCC  CHAIRMAN  MICHAEL  K.  POWELL  ANNOUNCES  FORMATION  OF  WIRELESS  BROADBAND  ACCESS  TASK  FORCE 


 Washington,  D.  C.  –  Chairman  Michael  K.  Powell  has  announced  the  formation  of  a  Wireless  Broadband  Access  Task  Force  to  identify  potential  changes  in  wireless  broadband  policies  that  will 
 further  facilitate  the  deployment  of  wireless  broadband  services. 
 Chairman  Powell  said,  “We  are  strongly  committed  to  facilitating  broadband  investment  and  deployment,  particularly  through  technological  choices.  This  Commission  has  put  a  high  priority  on 
 making  sure  Americans  have  access  to  broadband  services  through  multiple  facilities-  based  platforms.  I  believe  that  we  can  do  even  more.  I  have  asked  this  Task  Force  to  study  existing  wireless  broadband 
 polices  and  make  recommendations  for  possible  improvements  to  promote  the  growth  of  both  licensed  and  unlicensed  wireless  broadband  services.  The  overarching  goal  of  this  initiative  is  to  take  a  hard  look 
 at  what  we  can  do  to  extend  the  reach  of  broadband  services  to  underserved  areas  and  to  provide  increased  competition  in  areas  that  already  have  access  to  broadband.  The  creation  of  this  Task  Force  is  a 
 positive  step  for  progress  in  implementing  our  broadband  vision.” 
 Co-  Directors: 
 Lauren  M.  Van  Wazer,  Special  Counsel  and  Associate  Chief,  Office  of  Engineering  and  Technology 
 John  Branscome,  Legal  Advisor,  Office  of  the  Bureau  Chief,  Wireless  Telecommunications  Bureau 


 Members: 
 Erin  Boone,  Attorney-  Advisor,  Office  of  Strategic  Planning  and  Policy  Analysis  Leon  Jackler,  Legal  Advisor,  Office  of  the  Bureau  Chief,  Consumer  and  Governmental  Affairs 
 Bureau  Paul  Nagle,  Attorney-  Advisor,  Office  of  Legislative  Affairs 
 Meribeth  McCarrick,  Associate  Director,  Office  of  Media  Relations 
 Today,  the  Task  Force  also  released  a  Public  Notice  seeking  public  comment  on  issues  related  to  the  Commission’s  wireless  broadband  policies. 


 For  additional  information,  please  visit  the  FCC’s  Wireless  Broadband  Access  Task  Force  website  at:  www.  fcc.  gov/  wbatf. 
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