THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary

PRESIDENT NAMES SUSAN NESS AS MEMBER OF THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS

COMMISSION

President Clinton today announced the recess appointment of Susan Ness to serve as a Member of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The nomination of Ms. Ness was sent to the Senate on July 19, 1999. This position is vital to the daily operation of the FCC.

Ms. Susan Ness of Bethesda, Maryland has served the FCC since 1994 and has been its senior Commissioner since November 1997. She served throughout the FCC's implementation of the landmark Telecommunications Act of 1996 and currently chairs the Federal-State Joint Board responsible for addressing universal telephone service issues. Additionally, Ms. Ness was the FCC's senior representative at the 1995, 1997, and 2000 World Radiocommunication Conferences. Prior to her FCC appointment, Ms. Ness was Senior Lender, then Group Headof the Communications Industries Division of American Security Bank from 1983 to 1992. From 1977 to 1982, Ms. Ness was a consultant in the areas of consumer credit and government relations in Washington, D.C. From 1978 to 1981, Ms. Ness was the Founder and Director of the Judicial Appointments Project for the National Women's Political Caucus. Ms. Ness also served as Assistant Counsel to the Committee on Banking, Currency, and Housing in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1975 to 1977. Currently, Ms. Ness is a member of the District of Columbia Bar, Federal Communications Bar Association, Leadership Washington, and the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners Committee on Communications.

Ms. Ness received her B.A. from Douglass College, J.D. cum laude from Boston College Law School, and M.B.A. from the Wharton School.

The FCC is an independent agency established by Congress to oversee interstate and international communications, including wireline, broadcast, cable, satellite, and wireless services. Without a member, the FCC is greatly hindered in fulfilling its mission.

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