FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

1919 M STREET N.W.

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20554

Released: May 29, 1996

FCC ANNOUNCES OFFICE CLOSINGS

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced today that effective immediately, it will close 12 of its High Frequency (HF) Spectrum Monitoring stations in the following locations:

Belfast, Maine;

Powder Springs, Georgia;

Vero Beach, Florida;

San Juan, Puerto Rico;

Allegan, Michigan;

Kingsville, Texas;

Grand Island, Nebraska;

Anchorage, Alaska;

Douglas, Arizona;

Livermore, California;

Honolulu, Hawaii; and

Ferndale, Washington.

Also effective immediately, the Commission will close six FCC District Offices in the following locations:

Buffalo, New York;

Norfolk, Virginia;

Miami, Florida;

Houston, Texas;

Portland, Oregon; and

Saint Paul (Maplewood), Minnesota.

The action is part of the FCC's restructuring of its Compliance and Information Bureau (CIB). A downsized professional staff will remain in the following nine locations affected by this action:

Buffalo

Norfolk

Miami

Houston

Portland

Saint Paul

Anchorage

Honolulu

San Juan

Resident agents will be available in those locations to resolve enforcement and interference problems. The CIB is replacing its current radio spectrum monitoring technology at its HF Monitoring stations with advanced, automated equipment. Once the new equipment is installed, tested, and approved for service, these monitoring sites will be remotely controlled from the FCC/CIB Operations Center in Columbia, Maryland. To better serve the needs of the general public the FCC is installing a new, nationwide centralized call center that will provide toll free service for information or assistance from anywhere in the United States. The new FCC toll free call center is scheduled to begin service on a regional basis in June 1996, and will expand to nationwide service within the next several months. The Commission will be issuing additional announcements as that service becomes available. In the interim, persons in areas previously served by HF Monitoring stations or District Offices that are closing who need to contact an FCC facility may do so by calling one of the remaining District Offices according to the schedule attached to this Public Notice. Individuals needing FCC forms or other documents should call the Commission's Forms Distribution Center, 1-800-418-3676. For further information or assistance contact Marlene Jackson or Byron McCoy.

Listing of continuing CIB service facilities for localities where FCC offices have been closed:

Allegan, MI contact Detroit Dist. Office

Anchorage, Alaska contact the Seattle Dist. Office

Belfast, Maine contact the Boston Dist. Office

Buffalo, NY contact the New York Dist. Office

Douglas, Arizona contact the San Diego Dist. Office

Ferndale, Washington contact the Seattle Dist. Office

Grand Island, NE contact the Kansas City Dist. Office

Honolulu, Hawaii contact the San Francisco Dist. Office

Houston, Texas contact the Dallas Dist. Office

Kingsville, Texas contact the Dallas Office

Livermore, CA contact the San Francisco Dist. Office

Miami, Florida contact the Tampa Dist. Office

Norfolk, VA contact the Kansas City Dist. Office

Portland, Oregon contact the Seattle Dist. Office

Powder Springs, Georgia contact the Atlanta Office

San Juan, Puerto Rico contact the Tampa Office

St. Paul, MN contact the Chicago Dist. Office

Vero Beach, Florida contact the Tampa Office