NEWS                                                     September 27, 1994

                        NEW AGREEMENTS WITH MEXICO

     The FCC today released the texts of three new broadcasting agreements between the U.S.
and Mexico.  These include an Expanded AM Band Agreement, an updated FM Agreement and
a Multi-Point Distribution Services Agreement (MDS) Agreement.  All of the Agreements
become effective immediately.

     The Expanded AM Band Agreement establishes a procedure for the assignment of AM
broadcasting stations on ten AM channels that have recently become available for broadcasting. 
The U.S. and Mexico will each have at its disposal access to twenty-one new AM radio
assignments at locations distributed throughout the border areas.  This additional capacity will
be used to help reduce interference throughout the rest of the AM band and thereby create a
higher caliber of service for the AM listener. 

     The new FM Agreement, which replaces an existing agreement signed in 1972, offers
additional flexibility for both countries in allocating new FM radio stations in the border zone. 
Additionally, it will allow numerous existing U.S. FM stations in those areas to upgrade their
facilities.  These new opportunities will lead to an expanded variety of programming available
to the public and also to an overall higher quality of FM service in the border area.

     The MDS Agreement establishes a formal procedure for the first time for assigning multi-
point distribution services such as wireless cable operations by both countries along the common
border.  This affords to prospective operators the opportunity to establish multichannel video
services for rural viewers where in the past conventional cable programming delivery had been
considered economically unfeasible.

     Noting these accomplishments, FCC Chairman Reed Hundt stated that: "The completion
of these Agreements illustrates the outstanding spirit of cooperation that has taken root between
our two Governments and is further evidence of our mutual commitment to making the
Information Superhighway a thoroughfare of international dimension." 

     Contact: Larry Olson at (202) 254-3994.


                                  - FCC -