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This is an unofficial announcement of Commission action. Release of the full text of a Commission order constitutes official action. See MCI v. FCC. 515 F 2d 385 (D.C. Circ 1974).

Report No. CC 98-42 COMMON CARRIER ACTION December 10, 1998



Robert C. Atkinson To Be Named Deputy Chief, Common Carrier Bureau;
Valerie Yates To Be Named Assistant Chief of the Bureau



Common Carrier Bureau Chief Lawrence Strickling today announced his intention to make the following appointments:

Robert C. Atkinson

Robert C. Atkinson will be named Deputy Chief of the Common Carrier Bureau, effective January 4, 1999. He will oversee the work of the Bureau's Enforcement and Policy and Program Planning Divisions.

"Bob is one of the country's foremost experts on local competition issues," said Lawrence Strickling. "He will bring his considerable experience and knowledge of the CLEC industry to bear in his new role, and we are fortunate to have him join us."

Mr. Atkinson played a leading role in the evolution and development of the CLEC business, having served for 13 years as Senior Vice President for Legal, Regulatory & External Affairs of Teleport Communications Group, Inc. where he was responsible for developing and implementing TCG's regulatory and public policy initiatives. When TCG was acquired by AT&T in July and renamed AT&T Local Services, Mr Atkinson became Vice President and Chief Regulatory Officer of the unit. Prior to joining TCG in 1985, Mr. Atkinson served as Director of New Services Planning & Development for RCA Global Communications, Inc.; Manager of International Service Development for GTE Sprint Communications; Counsel for Government and International Matters for Satellite Business Systems; Manager of Business Planning and Administration for ITT World Communications Inc.; and Special Assistant to the Vice President and Director of Government Relations for ITT Communications Operations Group.

Mr. Atkinson earned a B.A. in Government and Foreign Affairs from the University of Virginia and a J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center.


Valerie Yates

Valerie Yates will be named Assistant Chief of the Common Carrier Bureau, effective December 14, 1998.

"We are delighted to have Valerie back in the Common Carrier Bureau," said Lawrence Strickling. "She is immensely talented and will do a wonderful job coordinating interdivisional and interbureau projects for CCB."

Ms. Yates is an associate of Levine, Blaszak, Block and Boothby, LLP, where she has represented large users of telecommunications services in FCC proceedings concerning the deployment of advanced services, detariffing, access charge reform and pricing flexibility. Ms. Yates has also assisted large users in the negotiation of custom network service agreements.

Prior to joining the firm, Ms. Yates served as Counsel to the Chief of the Common Carrier Bureau. Her areas of responsibility included universal service, numbering, and accounting safeguards. Ms. Yates previously served as an attorney-advisor in the Bureau's Accounting and Audits Division, where she focused on accounting safeguards, average schedule companies, and separations requirements. Prior to that, Ms. Yates was a staff attorney in the Federal Trade Commission's Bureau of Consumer Protection, Division of Credit Practices. At the FTC, Ms. Yates initiated and conducted enforcement actions for potential violations of consumer credit protection statutes in the area of leasing, credit card processing, and credit counseling services.

Ms. Yates is a graduate of Harvard University and Harvard Law School.

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