Controversial Issues Abound at CLECexpo; Government and Industry Leaders To Gather in Denver as Telecommunications, Cable and Internet Markets Merge.

Business/Technology Editors

CLEC Expo Fall 2000

DENVER--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 7, 2000

The fate of Internet providers and consumers alike is at stake in issues to be aired at CLECexpo Fall 2000, to be held in Denver's Adam's Mark Hotel from September 11- 14. Hosted by Penton Media (NYSE: PME), more than 1,700 professionals are expected to attend the event, which is designed to showcase challenges and opportunities in emerging markets being created by the convergence of three giant industries: telecommunications, cable operators and Internet Service Providers (ISPs).

"The conference will focus on important and controversial topics that will determine how these industries will cooperate and compete to deliver Internet services to consumers," said CLECexpo Group Show Director Denise Kettler. "The rules they operate under will ultimately determine options and prices available to consumers for Internet access."

One of the most controversial policies to be addressed at CLECexpo is the question of open access, a ruling that would require cable TV companies to open their broadband networks to Internet providers on a non-discriminatory basis. "It would be much like the ruling that requires local telephone companies to share their lines with competing telecommunications carriers," Kettler explained.

"A broadband Internet connection is always on and it operates up to 20 times faster than today's dial-up modems," said Rudy Geist, President and General Counsel of SpectrumLink Networks, Inc., a fixed broadband wireless carrier based in Newark, Delaware. "If only a few ISPs operate on broadband cable networks, the others can't compete with speed or availability. It's easy to see why open access is a sensitive issue."

Geist will moderate a CLECexpo panel session on open access and other interconnection issues for Competitive Local Exchange Carriers (CLECs), Incumbent Local Exchange Carriers (ILECs) and cable companies, as well as ISPs.

"In most towns, there are only two entities that run wires into a majority of homes - the phone company and the cable company," Geist added. "Some say that makes cable companies like a phone company, so they should operate under the same rules."

While open access and other issues won't be resolved at CLECexpo, the conference brings together industry and government leaders who help shape such policies. It features four days of hands-on workshops and education sessions, plus scores of exhibits from vendors who support the growing marketing niche.

Keynote speakers include Federal Communications Commission Chief Technologist David J. Farber who will discuss policy issues in his opening day presentation.

In addition to Farber, other keynote speakers are Catherine Hapka, Chairman and CEO of Rhythms NetConnections, and Augie Cruciotti, Qwest Communications Senior Vice President - Local Broadband Services.

Colorado Secretary of Technology Marc Holtzman is also slated to speak at a special session sponsored by the Denver Telecom Professionals (DTP) on Tuesday, September 12 from 4:00-5:00 pm. His presentation will touch on issues specific to technology companies in Colorado.

CLECexpo (www.clecexpo.com) is produced by Penton Media's Service Provider Events Group. The Service Provider Events Group, located in Golden, CO also produces ISPCON (www.ispcon.com), the leading Internet Service Provider conventions and ASPCON (www.aspcon.com), the leading conventions for Application Service Providers.

For additional information about attending or exhibiting at CLECexpo, visit www.clecexpo.com or call 800-632-5537 to register.

Penton Media, Inc. (NYSE: PME) is a leading diversified business media company that produces market-focused magazines, Web sites, trade shows, and conferences. Penton serves the Internet/broadband; natural products/food/retail; manufacturing; electronics; design/engineering; management; supply chain/aviation; government/compliance; mechanical systems/construction; and leisure/hospitality markets. For more information, visit www.penton.com