CITIZENS CALL ON FCC'S HUNDT TO BROADEN ACCESS TO FCC RULEMAKINGS

[Michael Ward <mike@essential.org>]

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TAXPAYER ASSETS PROJECT - INFORMATION POLICY NOTE
(please distribute freely)

     
                NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release              For Information:
Tuesday March 15, 1994             Mike Ward 202/387-8030
                                     mike@essential.org
                                   Ned Daily 202/387-8030
                                     ndaly@essential.org
                                   Taxpayer Assets Project

                283 CITIZENS ASK FCC CHAIRMAN REED HUNDT TO
                  USE THE INTERNET TO BROADEN DEMOCRATIC
                     PARTICIPATION IN FCC PROCEEDINGS.

     Washington.  Today two hundred and eighty three citizens
called on FCC Chair Reed Hundt to use the Internet to expand
democratic participation in FCC proceedings.  The letter to Hundt
asked that the FCC take the following steps:

-    Provide Internet electronic mail discussion "lists" for
     citizens to discuss and debate all FCC rulemaking and
     inquires,

-    Allow citizens to file comments in all FCC dockets by
     electronic mail, gatewayed through the Internet, and

-    Make additional FCC documents available online to citizens
     via the Internet.

     The proposal would have the FCC use the Internet, a global
network which connects thousands of private and public networks,
to broaden citizen participation in FCC proceedings.  According
to Mike Ward of the Taxpayer Assets Project (the non-profit
citizen group which organized the request to Hundt) "Today there
are thousands of citizens who are interested in the FCC's efforts
to shape the nation's information superhighway.  In the past it
was difficult for citizens to follow and debate these issues,
without access to costly industry trade publications or the FCC
reading rooms.  By using the Internet, the FCC can provide
opportunities for citizens to participate in interactive debates
and discussions on every FCC docket.  This may allow us to give
ordinary citizens more say in the FCC policy making process.  We
urge the FCC to use this new technology to reinvent democracy, so
we can have a truly national debate over the development of the
National Information Infrastructure."

     Joining with TAP in signing the letter were 282 citizens
from 42 states.  Most persons signing the letter provided their
Internet addresses for electronic mail.  Those signing the letter
represent a wide range of consumer, business, academic, and
government interests.


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