Brasília, January 23, 2004 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - The National Telecommunications Agency (Anatel) will initiate, today, in Recife, a series of public hearings to gather suggestions and criticisms about the Digital Communications Service (SCD). The new service is intended to provide high-speed internet connections to schools, hospitals, public safety organs, institutions for the care of the handicapped, and public libraries, with resources from the Fund for the Universalization of Telecommunications (Fust).

The public hearing is scheduled to begin at 2 P.M in the auditorium of the Central Bank. The regulatory agency will hold other hearings in Porto Alegre (26), Rio de Janeiro (28), São Paulo (30), Belo Horizonte (February 2), and Brasília (February 5). (DAS)