January 28, 1998

                      PRESS STATEMENT OF 
                  COMMISSIONER MICHAEL POWELL
               REGARDING FREE TIME FOR CANDIDATES

     Last night the President announced that he would formally ask this agency
to act to provide free or reduced-cost television time for candidates.  I
acknowledge that campaign finance reform is of profound significance to the
American public.  I do not believe, however, that our general mandate to regulate
in the public interest entitles the FCC to engage in election reform.  In our
democracy, the functioning of the electoral process is properly a matter for the
men and women who are politically accountable to the people.  It should not be
the task of five un-elected regulators, without a specific grant of statutory
authority.

                             - FCC -