FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:             NEWS MEDIA CONTACT:
  September 25, 2000                      Michael Balmoris 202-418-0253
                                Email:    mbalmori@fcc.gov
       
  
          FCC RELEASES ANNUAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS 
                  INDUSTRY REVENUE REPORT
                              
Wireless Industry and Competitive Local Exchange Carriers See Rapid Growth
  
       Washington, D.C.   Today, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
  released its annual summary of Telecommunications Industry Revenues.  The report
  provides a general overview of the revenues of the U.S. telecommunications industry.
  
       The telecommunications industry reported $269 billion in revenues for 1999   an
  increase of 9% over 1998's $246 billion.  Other noteworthy data include:
       
          § Wireless revenues jumped more than 30%, from $37 billion in 1998 to $48
          billion in 1999.  
       
          § Competitive local telephone companies continued to grow rapidly, with
          revenues increasing to more than $5 billion, up 60% over 1998, and accounting
          for almost 5% of the $112 billion of local service revenues.
       
          § Toll service revenues increased only slightly   from $105 billion to $108
          billion   reflecting sharp reductions in the price of international calling as the
          average price per minute for international calls fell from 68 cents in 1998 to 56
          cents in 1999. 
  
       The data presented in the report are based on Telecommunications Reporting
  Worksheets (FCC Form 499-A).  The data is essential to the Commission in administering a
  variety of programs, and aggregate data are widely used within the industry for planning and
  investment decisions.  Data on individual companies are not publicly available because
  companies have requested that such data be accorded proprietary treatment.  
  
                        --  more  --
  
  
  
       The report is available for reference in the FCC's Reference Information Center,
  Courtyard Level, 445 12th Street, SW, Washington, D.C. 20554.  Copies may be purchased
  by calling International Transcription Services, Inc. (ITS) at (202) 857-3800.  The report,
  including the spreadsheets containing the report's statistical tables and the figures, can be
  downloaded [file name: TELREV99.PDF or TELREV99.ZIP] from the FCC-State Link
  Internet site at (http://www.fcc.gov/ccb/stats).  
  
                                     - FCC -
  
       For additional information, contact Jim Lande of the Common Carrier Bureau's Industry
  Analysis Division, (202) 418-0940, or for users of TTY equipment, call (202) 418-0484.
  
  
News about the Federal Communications Commission can also be found
         on the Commission's web site www.fcc.gov.