NEWS 
                                                                  
October 16 , 1996



PUBLIC FORUM ON THE ECONOMICS OF MANDATED 
               STANDARDS FOR DIGITAL TELEVISION

       On Friday, October 18, 1996, the Federal Communications
Commission will host a public
forum on the economics of mandated standards for digital
television.  The event will take place
in the Commission Meeting Room, Room 856, 1919 M Street, NW,
Washington, DC.  The forum
is scheduled from 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm.

       Speakers Include:

               Stanley Besen - Charles River Associates
               Joseph Farrell - FCC
               Stanley Liebowitz - University of Texas
               Lee Selwyn - Economics and Technology, Boston, MA  


       The forum will be shown on closed-circuit television
throughout the Commission.  Video
and audio duplications will be available after the forum from the
Commission's duplicating
service, TelSpan International at (301) 731-5355.  

                      Contact: Meribeth McCarrick at (202)
418-0256.


- FCC -