**DA 08-1747** **Released: July 25, 2008**

**FCC *EN BANC* HEARING AND CONFERENCE ON OVERCOMING**

**BARRIERS TO COMMUNICATIONS FINANCING**

> **Networking Opportunities Will Be Available to Conference
> Participants**

The Federal Communications Commission will hold an *En Banc* hearing and
conference at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in the
Langston Hughes Auditorium on Tuesday, July 29, 2008. The *En Banc*
hearing will be held from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., followed by a
networking breakout session. The Schomburg Center is located at 515
Malcolm X Boulevard (at 135^th^ Street), New York, NY 10037. The hearing
will be moderated by CNBC financial anchor, Erin Burnett.

The purpose of the hearing and subsequent conference is to enhance the
knowledge of the Commission and attendees about: (i) the present state
of capital markets as those markets impact ownership diversity in the
media and telecom industries and, particularly, the success of
minorities and women entrepreneurs; (ii) how financing is secured for
new, diverse, resource-limited ventures, focusing on actual problems
encountered by women and minorities attempting to secure financing for
media and telecom deals; and (iii) potential ways the Commission can
help facilitate financing opportunities for minorities and women.

The hearing will include introductory remarks by Martin L. King,
Chairman of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition and presentations on the state of
capital markets by Mark Fratrik, Vice President, BIA Financial Network
and the elements associated with completing a financing deal by Susan
Patrick, Co-owner, Managing Partner, Patrick Communications. The panels
with participation by expert representatives will include the following.

**Panel 1:  *Successfully Securing Equity Financing***

**Raul Alarcon**, Chief Executive Officer, Spanish Broadcasting System

**Percy Berger**, Managing Partner, Dempster Group

**Pastor Delman Coates**, Enough Is Enough Campaign for Corp.
Responsibility in Entertainment 

**James Fleming, Jr.**, Partner, Columbia Capital

**Ronald Gordon**, President & CEO, ZGS Communications

**Anita Stephens Graham**, Partner, Opportunity Capital Partners

**Reginald Hollinge**r, Managing Partner, Quetzal/JPMorgan Partners

**Terry L. Jones**, Managing General Partner, Syncom Funds

**Brian Rich**, Managing Partner, Catalyst Investors

**Andy Schwartzman**, President & CEO, Media Access Project

**Diane Sutter**, President & CEO, ShootingStar Broadcasting

**Frank Washington**, Chairman & CEO, Tower of Babel LLC

**Panel II:  *Successfully Securing Loans***

**Charles J. Dreifus**, Managing Director, CIT Communications, Media &
Entertainment

**Leo Hindery, Jr.**, Managing Partner, InterMedia Partners

**George Ivie**, CEO & Executive Director, Media Ratings Council

**William Lisecky**, Managing Director, Oppenheimer & Co.
Inc./Investment

**Chesley Maddox-Dorsey**, President & COO, Access.1 Communications
Corp.

**Steve Morris**, Chairman, President, CEO, Arbitron

**Susan Patrick**, Co-owner, Managing Partner, Patrick Communications

**Michael V. Roberts, JD**, Chairman & CEO, The Roberts Companies

**John Stevens Robling, Jr.**, Managing Director, LIATI Capital

**Mayela Rosales**, Executive Vice President of Azteca America, SWFL

**Charles Warfield**, President, Inner City Broadcasting Corporation

**James Winston**, Executive Director, National Association of
Black-Owned Broadcasters

Reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities are available
upon request. Requests for such accommodations should be submitted via
e-mail to <fcc504@fcc.gov> or by calling the Consumer & Governmental
Affairs Bureau at (202) 418-0530 (voice), (202) 418-0432 (tty). Such
requests should include a detailed description of the accommodation
needed. In addition, please include a way we can contact you if we need
more information. Please allow at least five days advance notice; last
minute requests will be accepted, but may be impossible to fill.

For further information, contact Barbara Kreisman, Chief, Video
Division, Media Bureau at (202) 418-1600.

\- FCC -