NEWS                                    March 8, 1996

         Chairman Hundt Announces Appointment of Solomon Trujillo
      as Interim Chairman of the Telecommunications Development Fund

    Reed E. Hundt, Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission,
announced today the appointment of Solomon D. Trujillo, President and Chief
Executive Officer of US WEST Communications Group, as interim Chairman of the
Telecommunications Development Fund.  

    Congress created the Fund through the Telecommunications Act of 1996 to
promote access to capital for small communications businesses, stimulate economic
growth, innovation and technological development, and close the gap between the
information haves and have nots by increasing access to communications and
information services.  "I commend Congressional leadership and in particular
Congressman Edolphus Towns of New York, the principal legislative sponsor of the
Fund, for their vision.  All Americans will benefit from the innovations and services
small businesses will develop as a result of the Fund's assistance,"  said FCC
Chairman Hundt.  
                                     
    Mr. Trujillo has a distinguished career in the communications industry.  Prior to
assuming his current position, he was President and CEO of the US WEST Marketing
Resources Group.  He also served as Vice President and General Manager of US WEST
Communications' Small Business Group, serving nearly 800,000 small business
customers in 14 states.  Mr. Trujillo has extensive experience in finance, public policy,
marketing and sales, areas crucial to the success of the small businesses the Fund will
assist.  Governors of the States of Arizona, Colorado and New Mexico have appointed
Mr. Trujillo to serve on economic development and educational commissions.  He
serves as Chairman of the Tomas Rivera Center at Claremont College in California,
which recently published a study on Latino and African-American access to computers
at work, school and in the home.  Among other activities, he is a trustee of the Aspen
Institute for Humanistic Studies and serves on Board of the Dayton Hudson
Corporation and the US WEST Foundation.

    Of Mr. Trujillo's appointment, FCC Chairman Hundt said, "Sol's experience with
finance issues affecting small and large businesses, combined with his commitment
to fostering economic development will be a tremendous asset to the
Telecommunications Development Fund and the entrepreneurs it will serve.  I am
thrilled by the energy and enthusiasm that Sol brings to this project and am confident
that his leadership will be a tremendous asset to the Fund."