NEWS
                                             March 19, 1996



         FCC BUDGET OF $222,538,000 PROPOSED FOR FISCAL YEAR 1997

     The President has submitted a budget to Congress which proposes a fiscal year 1997
budget for the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) of $222,538,000 and a staffing level
of 2,255 full-time equivalents (FTEs).  This represents an increase of 110 FTEs above the
projected FTEs for FY 1996 and an increase in the funding level of $46,829,000 over the FY
1996 level of $175,709,000 which was approved by the House/Senate Conference.

     The increase in funding level includes $4,306,000 for increases in fixed costs (for such
items as inflation and mandatory pay raises), $12,523,000 to fund 150 FTEs on term
appointments to help implement the Telecommunications Act within the mandatory time frames
and $30,000,000 for the initial costs associated with the move of FCC Headquarters into a
consolidated facility.

     Of the proposed budget, $152,523,000 would be from regulatory fees collected and
$70,015,000 would come from direct appropriations.

     The President's Budget also includes a provision for additional funds to be made available
to the FCC in FY 1996 to provide support for the Telecommunications Act implementation.   


                                  - FCC -