*Pages 1--1 from  Microsoft Word - 54319.doc*
 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  13,  2006  Aaron  Goldberger:  (202)  418-  2500 
 PRESS  STATEMENT  OF  COMMISSIONER  DEBORAH  TAYLOR  TATE 
 ON  HER  APPOINTMENT  TO  SERVE  AS  FEDERAL  CHAIR  OF  THE  FEDERAL-STATE  JOINT  BOARDS  ON  UNIVERSAL  SERVICE  AND  SEPARATIONS 


 Washington,  D.  C.  –  Today,  the  Federal  Communications  Commission  voted  to  appoint  Commissioner  Deborah  Taylor  Tate  to  both  serve  on  and  act  as  Federal  Chair  of  the  Federal-State 
 Joint  Board  on  Universal  Service  as  well  as  Federal  Chair  of  the  Federal-  State  Joint  Board  on  Jurisdictional  Separations. 


 Regarding  these  appointments,  Commissioner  Tate  said,  “I  am  deeply  honored  that  Chairman  Martin  and  Commissioners  Copps  and  Adelstein  have  appointed  me  to  serve  as  the  Federal  Chair 
 on  the  Joints  Boards  for  Universal  Service  and  Jurisdictional  Separations.  In  these  roles,  I  will  reach  out  to  states  and  consumer  advocates  to  preserve  and  advance  the  principles  set  forth  by 
 Congress.  Specifically,  I  will  continue  the  efforts  I  began  as  a  state  official  to  ensure  that  all  consumers  –  especially  those  in  rural  and  high-  cost  areas  –  are  able  to  obtain  services  at 
 reasonable  rates.  Paramount  is  my  commitment  to  good  stewardship  and  encouraging  the  deployment  of  new  choices  for  Americans  in  underserved  areas  of  our  country.  As  I  did  in 
 Tennessee,  I  will  continue  to  stress  a  pragmatic  approach  to  federalism,  build  a  consensus  between  multiple  jurisdictions  and  stakeholders,  encourage  investment,  and,  above  all  else, 
 champion  the  needs  of  consumers.  I  look  forward  to  building  a  lasting  cooperation  with  state  regulators  as  we  move  forward.” 


 --  FCC  -- 
1