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For Immediate Release                          For More Information Contact:
April 7, 2000                           Steve Adamske 418.8221
                                   David Fiske 418.0513

                                
 FCC CHAIRMAN WILLIAM E. KENNARD REITERATES WILLINGNESS TO WORK
       WITH NATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO ON LOW POWER FM ISSUES

Washington DC FCC Chairman William Kennard today expressed surprise that
National Public Radio endorsed H.R. 3439, legislation to curtail Low Power FM Radio.  He
noted that FCC and NPR staff and engineers have been engaged in extensive discussions this
week exploring ways to allay NPR's concerns about the new service.

"I am disappointed at this announcement by National Public Radio," Kennard said.
"Rather than continuing the process of finding common ground and resolving differences, NPR
walked away from the table and endorsed the legislation."  Among other things, the Chairman in
his discussions with NPR executives, had made a commitment that Low Power FM would not
harm Radio Reading Services. 

"I continue to be willing to sit down with anyone, anytime, anywhere to work through
any technical questions or concerns about this community-based radio service," Kennard said.

Kennard said, "NPR's action today will block access to the nation's airwaves for
thousands of churches, civic groups, schools and community groups.  I am surprised that an
organization which has done so much to promote opportunities for Americans to be heard on the
airwaves would join with the special interests in curbing this new service."

The FCC, in response to NPR's statements that the new service might affect sideband-
delivered radio reading services for the visually-impaired, met with NPR's engineers and staff
several times to address their concerns. 

Kennard pledged to ensure that the new low power service would not cause harmful
interference to the Radio Reading Service. He said he believed that the FCC-NPR discussions
had resolved concerns on this issue, and on issues involving translator services used by non-
commercial radio services to deliver their signal.

                            - FCC -