NEWS Federal Communications Commission 445 12th 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: December 2, 2010 Dave Grimaldi, (202) 418-2100 dave.grimaldi@fcc.gov STATEMENT BY FCC COMMISSIONER MIGNON L. CLYBURN ON THE FCC’S PROPOSED NEW AUCTION PREFERENCE FOR OVERCOMING DISADVANTAGE “I am extremely pleased to see that the commission is taking a proactive and prudent step in releasing a Public Notice regarding a new auction preference for overcoming disadvantage. The FCC’s Advisory Committee on Diversity for Communications in the Digital Age has developed a comprehensive and inclusive proposal that will help to fill the gaps through which too many hard-working Americans slip. “The Advisory Committee’s proposal to create an “Overcoming Disadvantage” category for its current Designated Entity rules is well thought-out and poised to usher in many new entrants to our bidding process by expanding its reach and including individuals who faced adversity and pushed passed it. It makes perfect sense to broaden our guidelines to include those who have coped with a physical disability and endured, those who have experienced trauma and recovered, and those who have been in the depths of poverty only to climb out. This is very much in the spirit of what this agency stands for, and I am proud to have partnered with Chairman Genachowski to get this proposal moving.”