BIG Management Team Ready to Unleash Broadband Future.

Business Editors

ST. LOUIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 15, 2000

Following Tim Roberts' launch of Broadband Investment Group (BIG) in February of this year, BIG today announced the core members of the company's senior management team.

"Today marks the first significant step in creating my vision for a high-tech ecosystem that will develop broadband business concepts into successful companies," announced Timothy M. Roberts, Chairman of the Board, Chief Visionary Officer, Director. "With the management team I have assembled, BIG will provide more than just the capital resources broadband entrepreneurs need - BIG will provide the leadership essential to make these entrepreneurial ideas successful."

Joining Roberts on BIG's management team are:

-- Patrick L. Smith, Executive Vice President, Co-Founder,

Director

-- R. D. Todd Baur, Executive Vice President, Director

-- Jeffery N. Brooks, Corporate Counsel and Secretary

-- Samuel W. Wood, Technology Officer, Portfolio Manager

-- Deborah L. Nesthus, Controller

Patrick Smith is responsible for BIG's business development and brings significant international finance and operations experience to his position as co-founder and executive vice president of BIG. Prior to joining BIG, Smith developed, implemented and operated Emerson Electric Co.'s global capital services division. As the sole manager of the company's $200 million international trade finance portfolio, he added more than $35 million in top-line growth in the first 12 months of operation.

In his new position with BIG, Todd Baur will use his expertise in pre-acquisition risk management and due diligence in structuring portfolio risk-management programs. He most recently served as vice president and director-mergers and acquisitions group at AON Risk Services, Inc., in St. Louis and Chicago. At AON, he developed new business opportunities in the private equity industry, directed the efforts of the service and brokerage teams with new and existing opportunities, and managed client relationships. Some of AON's private equity clients with whom Baur has worked include buyout groups, venture capital firms and merchant banks.

Jeff Brooks brings a strong combination of legal and investor relations expertise to his position as BIG's corporate counsel and corporate secretary. Brooks has been a securities and corporate attorney in private practice with Lewis, Rice & Fingersh, L.C., in St. Louis. He also has specialized in investor relations at Fleishman- Hillard Inc., a St. Louis-based public relations firm, and served as a post-graduate assistant for the University of London's Banking Law Unit. Brooks has been published in Butterworths' Journal of International Banking and Financial Law.

Sam Wood brings an extensive background in applications, networking and computers to his role as BIG's technology officer/portfolio manager. He previously served as founder and chief technology officer for Innovative Technology Solutions Inc. and also has worked for Boeing, McDonnell Douglas, Apple Computer, WAM!NET and Digital Broadcast Networks (dbn Corp.), now Intira. At Apple, he was a technical trainer responsible for network and communications, open systems, engineering and imaging solutions.

Deb Nesthus, BIG's controller, is a CPA and has 13 years of experience in analyzing, planning and conducting business operations. She most recently served as finance director for MLP Investments in St. Louis and has held controller, management and accountant positions at KPMG Peat Marwick, the Paragon Group and Kerber, Eck & Braeckel - all of St. Louis.

Broadband Investment Group, founded by 29-year-old Internet pioneer Tim Roberts and headquartered in St. Louis, is focused on developing broadband-technology start-up companies in the burgeoning technology markets between the Rockies and the Smokies. BIG creates an ecosystem for early-stage companies and provides them with BIG's 5 C's: Counseling, Contacts, Capital, Co-branding and Credibility. With capital available to support broadband business development throughout the Midwest, BIG capitalizes on Roberts' proven success in creating broadband infrastructure companies. Utilizing this leadership experience, BIG is uniquely positioned to offer industry knowledge and relationships, technology expertise, and the opportunity to form strategic and synergistic alliances among BIG's operating companies.

Please visit BIG's Web site at www.bigcorp.net for additional information.