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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  NEWS  MEDIA  CONTACT  December  18,  2006  David  Fiske  202-  418-  0513 
 FCC  Chairman  Kevin  Martin  Statement  On  Decision  Of  Commissioner  McDowell  In  AT&  T/  BellSouth  Proceeding 
 I  appreciate  Commissioner  McDowell's  thoughtful  consideration  and  respect  his  decision  to  abstain. 
 My  goal  in  recent  weeks  has  been  to  ensure  that  the  Commission  acted  on  the  transaction.  The  Commission  is  not  obligated  to  reach  a  particular  outcome.  However,  the  Commission  is 
 responsible  for  making  a  determination  in  a  timely  fashion.  With  Commissioner  McDowell  having  made  his  decision,  I  will  continue  to  try  to  work  with  my  colleagues  to  bring  our 
 consideration  of  this  merger  to  conclusion. 


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