EDITOR'S NOTE

Welcome to the second issue of Volume 49 of the Federal Communications Law Journal. This issue continues our examination of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 with pieces analyzing the Act and its implications for the Federal Communications Commission and communications industries.

In the first article, Michael I. Meyerson presents a guided tour through the major provisions of the Act with particular attention to its competitive aspects. In the second article, William Read and Ronald Weiner address the looming question of FCC reform. By recognizing the vital role that the FCC plays in shaping the telecommunications industry, Read and Weiner argue that the public interest standard under which the Commission operates should be redefined to incorporate procompetitive antitrust principles. The third piece, an essay by Douglas McFadden, discusses the Act's implicit antitrust implications. Chris Sterling's thoughtful review of some of the first monographs discussing provisions of the 1996 Act rounds out this issue's treatment of the Act.

This issue also includes Scott Schoenwald's article examining the market power approach to the regulation of competition in the interexchange telecommunications market which was recently adopted by the FCC. In addition, Milagros Rivera Sanchez analyzes the FCC's indecency guidelines. This article is somewhat different from what is often published in law reviews‹it contains the text of indecent language included in the radio broadcasts that were the subject of indecency complaints. For the article to be of practical value to readers, the author and the editors believed that the text of those broadcasts must be included. In other contexts, some would find the usage of these words offensive. However, we believe the article will be of great interest to broadcasters, academics, and practitioners. Finally, this issue includes Kathy Bradley's note arguing for a narrow interpretation of the Sunshine Act and Wendy Melone's note on the impact of digitalization on copyright laws.

As always, we actively welcome your comments and submissions concerning any of the issues of interest to the communications bar. The Journal can be contacted at Indiana School of Law‹Bloomington, 211 South Indiana Avenue, Bloomington, Indiana 47405; telephone (812) 855-5952; facsimile (812) 855-0555; and email .

Randall W. Sifers
Editor-in-Chief

Last updated: 17 March 1997
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