"BY THE TIME WE GET TO WEBSTOCK" IS SHORTENED TO A KEYSTROKE.

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 1, 1996--

MCI's NetVote '96 Teams with "Do Something"

to Steer Youth to Webstock Virtual Gathering Place

With Election Day around the corner, America's youth will get a chance to chat about those issues that most effect them via Webstock '96, a live, on-line "electronic festival."

Launched today, Webstock '96 organizers anticipate that more than 500,000 community leaders, politicians and celebrities will log on to the chat. As part of the Webstock experience, MTV, in conjunction with Choose or Lose, Rock the Vote and Do Something, will broadcast a "Vote Fest '96" rally from the House of Blues here tomorrow, centered around getting young people to vote.

"We've already heard raves about what is really an electronic rave," said Mark Pettit, MCI spokesperson. "This kind of electronic meeting place will attract the diversity and strength of youth opinion that we've noticed in our NetVote '96 surveys and programs." NetVote '96 is an Internet-based education program that allows young people, for the first time, to be heard as a national constituency through national surveys and polls. In addition, MCI collaborated with Rock the Vote to provide a first-ever on-line voter registration program that snared 43,000 registrants.

"Talking about election issues over the Web is an excellent way to reach young people -- many of whom consider the Internet their best source of political information," said Mark Strama, Rock the Vote program director and host of one of the online forums. "MCI and Rock the Vote have had great success registering voters online, and were glad to be participating in Webstock '96 in these last few days before the election."

Internet surfers can gain access to the Webstock chat via NetVote '96 (http://netvote96.mci.com) and from the campusMCI site (http://www.campus.mci.net.) Or they can access the site directly at http://www.webstock96.com to pre-register for the chat session.

More than 25 celebrities, including "Do Something" founder Andrew Shue, rocker Michael Stipe and Senator Bill Bradley will participate in Webstock '96 and many will appear on the MTV broadcast. Do Something (www.dosomething.org) is a national nonprofit organization that provides leadership training, guidance and financial resources to emerging young leaders working to improve their communities. Founded in 1993 by a group of young people including Andrew Shue, Do Something's mission emphasizes the belief that fundamental change occurs locally.

Dozens of Internet links to the NetVote '96 site have helped drive acclaim for NetVote '96, among them America Online's "What's Cool and New," C/net's "Best of the Web", the League of Women Voters' site, Republican and Democratic National Committees, Federal Election Commission and many more.

MCI is one of the world's largest Internet providers, offering consumers and businesses a range of Internet services. In addition, MCI is a major sponsor of Internet education initiatives such as campusMCI Internet and NetDay '96. MCI's overall partnership with the educational community brings new and innovative technologies to the classroom such as Virtual Zoos, Electronic Cafes, Smart Classrooms, Global Schoolhouse Foundation and Internet access.

MCI, headquartered in Washington, D.C., is one of the world's largest and fastest growing diversified communications companies. With annual revenue of more than $15 billion, MCI offers consumers and businesses a broad portfolio of integrated services including long distance, wireless, local access, paging, Internet software and access, information services, outsourcing, business software, and advanced global telecommunications services.

CONTACT: MCI Media Relations or MCI Media Relations

Ed Bergstraesser Birgit Wagschal

312-470-4958 312-470-4814

1-800-644-NEWS