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 PUBLIC  NOTICE  FEDERAL  COMMUNICATIONS  COMMISSION  445  12th  STREET,  S.  W.  WASHINGTON,  D.  C.  20554  DA  02-  365  News  media  information  202/  418-  0500  Fax-  On-  Demand  202/  418-  2830  Internet:  http://  www.  fcc.  gov  ftp.  fcc.  gov 
 WIRELESS  TELECOMMUNICATIONS  BUREAU  ANNOUNCES  A  PUBLIC  FORUM  FOR  THE  7  TH  ANNUAL  COMMERICAL  MOBILE  RADIO  SERVICES 
 COMPETITION  REPORT 
 Released:  February  14,  2002 
 On  Thursday,  February  28,  2002,  the  Wireless  Telecommunications  Bureau  (Bureau)  will  hold  a  Public  Forum  addressing  issues  related  to  the  acquisition  and 
 analysis  of  data  on  the  state  of  competition  in  the  commercial  mobile  radio  services  (CMRS)  industry  for  the  Federal  Communications  Commission’s  7  th  Annual  CMRS 
 Competition  Report.  The  Public  Forum  will  be  held  at  the  Federal  Communications  Commission,  445  12  th  Street,  SW,  Washington,  DC,  in  the  Commission  Meeting  Room 
 from  1:  00  p.  m.  to  5:  00  p.  m.  The  Public  Forum  will  be  open  to  the  public  and  seating  will  be  available  on  a  first  come,  first  served  basis. 


 The  information  received  from  the  Public  Forum  will  assist  the  staff  in  compiling  and  analyzing  CMRS  industry  data  for  the  7  th  Annual  CMRS  Competition  Report.  The 
 Public  Forum  will  focus  largely  on  data  regarding  the  development  of  rural  and  underserved  wireless  markets.  Specifically,  the  Public  Forum  will  address  ways  in  which 
 the  Commission  can  acquire  and  analyze  industry  data  and  levels  of  competition  in  such  markets. 


 Wireless  Telecommunications  Bureau  Chief,  Thomas  J.  Sugrue  will  provide  opening  remarks.  These  introductory  remarks  will  be  followed  by  three  panel  discussions 
 addressing  questions  on  industry  data  and  analysis.  The  opportunity  for  questions  and  answers  will  follow  each  panel.  The  panels  include:  Industry  Research,  Consumer 
 Information  and  Data  Analysis;  Rural  and  Underserved  Areas  in  a  Nationwide  Context;  and  Service  Rollout  from  a  Rural  Perspective.  Invited  speakers  include  representatives 
 from  telecommunications  companies,  consulting  and  Wall  Street  firms,  industry  associations,  consumer  groups,  academics,  and  federal  government  agencies.  The  final 
 list  of  speakers  will  be  announced  and  made  available  on  our  website  prior  to  the  Public  Forum. 


 Interested  parties,  not  formally  presenting  materials  at  the  forum,  are  encouraged  to  file  written  comments  including  any  data  the  entity  would  be  willing  to  share  with  the 
 FCC.  Please  be  aware  that,  in  response  to  contaminated  mail  last  October,  the  U.  S.  Postal  Service  ("  USPS")  is  irradiating  certain  mail  sent  to  the  Commission  by  first-  class 
 mail,  USPS  Express  Mail,  and  USPS  Priority  Mail.  This  process  can  result  in  delivery 
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 delays  and  the  deterioration  of  mail.  Due  to  these  understandable  and  unexpected  delays,  you  may  wish  to  send  materials  via  commercial  overnight  mail,  e.  g.,  FedEx,  DHL,  UPS, 
 etc.,  or  hand  deliver  it  to  the  following  address:  Cindi  Schieber,  Wireless  Telecommunications  Bureau/  A&  IAD,  Federal  Communications  Commission,  9300  East 
 Hampton  Drive,  Capitol  Heights,  MD  20743.  This  location  is  open  from  8:  00  a.  m.  to  5:  30  p.  m.  weekdays.  If  you  would  prefer  to  send  the  files  electronically,  you  may  attach  files 
 (Microsoft  Office  97  or  earlier)  and  send  to  cmrs7report@  fcc.  gov.  The  comments  will  be  available  at  http://  wireless.  fcc.  gov/  cmrs-  crforum.  html. 


 The  forum  will  be  closed  captioned  and  will  be  carried  live  on  the  Internet  through  RealAudio  from  the  FCC  website  at:  http://  www.  fcc.  gov/  realaudio/.  A  transcript  of  the 
 forum  will  be  available  10  business  days  after  the  event  on  the  FCC's  Internet  site  at  http://  wireless.  fcc.  gov/  cmrs-  crforum.  html.  Transcripts  may  also  be  obtained  from  the 
 FCC's  duplicating  contractor,  Qualex  International,  445  12  th  St.,  S.  W.,  Room  CY-  B402,  Washington,  D.  C.  20554,  telephone  202-  863-  2893,  facsimile  202-  863-  2898,  or  via  e-  mail 
 qualexint@  aol.  com. 
 Audio  and  video  tapes  of  the  forum  be  purchased  from  Infocus,  341  Victory  Drive,  Herndon,  VA  20170,  by  calling  Infocus  at  (703)  834-  0100  or  by  faxing  Infocus  at  (703) 


 834-  0111.  Copies  of  the  transcript  in  other  alternative  formats  (computer  diskette,  large  print,  and  Braille)  are  available  to  persons  with  disabilities  by  contacting  Brian  Millian 
 (202)  418-  7426  voice,  (202)  418-  7365  TTY,  or  bmillian@  fcc.  gov.  Send  requests  for  reasonable  accommodations  to  fcc504@  fcc.  gov,  or  contact  Helen  Chang,  Section  504 
 Officer,  202-  418-  0424,  202-  418-  0432  TTY,  or  hchang@  fcc.  gov.  Include  a  description  of  the  accommodation  you  will  need,  the  event  you  will  be  attending,  location,  date,  and 
 time.  Also  include  a  way  of  contacting  you  if  we  need  more  information.  Please  submit  your  request  at  least  5  days  in  advance  so  that  we  can  assure  provision  of  the  service  you 
 require. 
 For  additional  information  contact  Cindi  Schieber,  Wireless  Telecommunications  Bureau,  202-  418-  7530,  or  cschiebe@  fcc.  gov,  or  Rachel  Kazan,  Wireless 
 Telecommunications  Bureau,  202-  418-  0651,  or  rkazan@  fcc.  gov. 
 News  media  contact:  Meribeth  McCarrick,  Wireless  Telecommunications  Bureau,  202-  418-  0654,  TTY  202-  418-  7233,  or  mmccarri@  fcc.  gov. 
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