March 31, 1994


NETWORK RELIABILITY COUNCIL
                      

       Reports that the Commission's Network Reliability Council has been terminated are
incorrect.  The Council was established in 1992 as a means for the Federal Communications
Commission to obtain expert advice from a broadly based group of  telephone service
providers and users on ways to avoid, and mitigate the effects of, telephone service outages.  
The Commission decided to renew the Council prior to  the expiration of  its  charter,  and
received concurrence for renewal from the General Services Administration on January 6 of
this year.  In concurring in renewal, James L. Dean, Director of the Committee Management
Secretariat of GSA  found "The Committee meets the objectives identified by the agency and
the requirements of the statute, including appropriate certifications of necessity, balance, lack
of duplication, and other applicable information.  From this review the  Committee appears to
be an effective way of obtaining the technical and program advice  you seek."   

       Although the Committee has not formally met since the publication of its study
"Network Reliability: A Report to the Nation", the Commission is in the process of revising
the Council's charter and its membership to build on accomplishments to date but broaden the
Council's focus.  Chairman Reed E. Hundt stated:  "One of the first matters I had to attend to
after arriving at the Commission was whether to renew the Council.  I am convinced we
continue to need the kind of talent represented by the Council advising us on the reliability
and accessibility of  our  telecommunications networks.  I am hoping to meet with the
Council in the late spring to discuss some new directions."

                                   -FCC-