February 19, 1999 FCC TO TERMINATE FCC-STATE LINK DIAL-UP BULLETIN BOARD SYSTEM On March 15, 1999 the FCC will terminate its FCC-State Link dial-up electronic bulletin board system (BBS). This bulletin board has been in operation since October 1991. It was among the first electronic systems of its kind available for public access to the government. These systems allow people with computers equipped with modems to obtain data and information from remote locations. The FCC-State Link was set up to share FCC information with state Public Utility Commissions and was also made available to the public. It has been used to disseminate reports containing statistical data, FCC daily digests, and other selected Commission items along with data filed by carriers. During its seven and one half year period of operation, the BBS served state commissions and thousands of other users. More recently, the development of the Internet has made dial-up BBS sites, with their text oriented formats, obsolete. With the development of the Internet, the Commission set up its own Internet site. It created a special web page through which users can access much of the same information previously made available through the BBS. This new web page can be reached at www.fcc.gov/ccb/stats on the world wide web. On September 24, 1998 another FCC web page was implemented. The new page is specially designed to provide access to the vast amounts of data that are part of the Commission's Automated Reporting Management Information System (ARMIS). Because all information is now available from the FCC Internet site, operation of the dial-up site will be terminated. Most ARMIS users will find the new Internet database more user friendly. Users who still require ARMIS information in the format previously maintained should contact the International Transcription Service (ITS) at (202) 857-3800. For further information contact the Industry Analysis Division at (202) 418-0940. Users of TTY equipment should call (202) 418-0484. -FCC-