Netlink offers one-stop shop for all telecommunications.

While the giant telecommunication companies are fighting for market share to wire commercial and residential buildings with sophisticated telecommunications services, one firm has made a name for itself as a one-stop shop that building owners and managers can rely on.

Peter Fisher, president of Netlink Corp., a New York-based Internet Service Provider (ISP), through his alliance with Bell Atlantic, has carved a niche in this highly competitive field by bundling the most sophisticated telecommunications services, including high-speed Internet access, into one package.

Peter said, "This completely integrated system from a well known company gives property owners and managers the opportunity to offer tenants turnkey, hassle-free telecommunications access at a reduced price. These owners and managers want to concentrate on running their businesses without worrying about the latest developments in technology."

Netlink's package includes local and, long distance telephone service, direct television. E-mail and high-speed Internet connectivity using high-speed T-1 digital lines. Once the installation is completed, the firm monitors the customer's service around-the-clock.

Peter said, "All of these services come on one bill to the subscriber. It is also less expensive than getting these services on a piecemeal basis."

The program has already paid dividends for Peter's company. Peter said his market penetration is considerably above the industry average of five to six percent. While he began by servicing the Greater New York and New Jersey areas, he plans to take his company national in the next six to 12 months.

Peter decided to open up his own agency while working for TIL Systems, a Canadian computer hardware and software company, as a Manhattan sales representative.

"I saw a growing need among businesses in the U.S. for high speed circuits that provide faster access to the Internet. It was an opportunity to open a one-stop shop that tenants could rely on for all of their telecommunication needs," he said.

When he launched Netlink in 1994, he began by wiring many commercial sites in Manhattan including 99 Park Avenue, 410 Park Avenue and 211 East 43rd Street. Netlink's clients represented a spectrum of business users from charitable organizations and embassies to traditional law and accounting firms.

After awhile he also realized that there was a demand for sophisticated telecommunication services at the residential level, particularly among co-op and condo owners who work at home.

"People want immediate high-speed Internet access. They are tired of the problems with America Online. They want the same advanced voice and data capability that they have in their offices," he said. Peter also pointed out that offering sophisticated telecommunication services gives landlords an edge when they are selling apartments to prospects.

Peter believes that the demand, especially in the residential market, will continue to grow as tenants increasingly use their computers for electronic shopping, banking and other daily tasks.

Peter's wife Helen has been running the financial and residential sides of the company since January, 1998 as chairman. "She is the most creative and best businessperson I know," said Peter.

Peter attributes his business success on the strong work ethic he got- from his father who was a stone mason in Canada. "We traveled around Canada as he looked for work, and just like him, I also did some manual jobs like Pouring asphalt," he said.

That strong work ethic has also been instilled in Peter's siblings, who have been successful in their own professions. His brother, John, has done well in the oil business while his sister, Jean, is an opera singer in Munich, West Germany.

Metromedia Fiber Network (MFN), the leader in the deployment, of optical Internet infrastructure within key metropolitan areas internationally, will provide direct fiber-optic connectivity to Crescent Real Estate Equities' properties under an agreement between the two companies. The agreement furthers MFN's strategy to provide direct fiber-optic connections from customer premises-to-customer premises.

The agreement covers 46 buildings. (approximately 22 million square feet) in Crescent's Class-A property portfolio within the Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston, Denver, Phoenix, Miami, Washington, D.C. and San Francisco metropolitan areas. Using MFN's infrastructure, customers in Crescent's buildings will be able to access virtually unlimited bandwidth over MFN's one hundred percent fiber-optic network. Crescent's customers will be able to use this powerful network to deliver advanced Internet, data, video, broadband and voice applications to their workplace. MFN will shortly begin installing fiber into thirty-eight (38) Crescent buildings located in those MFN markets, which are operating or under construction.

"In today's climate of global e-business, accessibility to clients, partners and information is not defined by physical address alone, but by a combination of network and neighborhood," said Nick Tanzi, president and chief operating officer of Metromedia Fiber Network. "Crescent realizes this fundamental paradigm shift and is changing the old real estate maxim of location, location, location, location, bandwidth, location."' "We are excited about the telecommunications capabilities this agreement will offer our customers," said Howard Lovett, Crescent vice president, new business and technology services. "Our relationship with MFN is another step in our plan to bring next generation technology services to our customers. We are committed to making Crescent properties the most technologically advanced in the market place."