Vendors' ISDN Association Announces New Name, Revised Charter; `Access Technologies Forum', ACTEF, Broadens Focus to Address Multiple Access Technologies.

SAN RAMON, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 29, 1999--

The Vendors' ISDN Association announced today a new name for the organization, as well as a revised charter. The new name of the organization, "Access Technologies Forum" (ACTEF) was chosen to reflect the growing focus of the group, including such technologies as ISDN, IDSL, ADSL, HDSL, VDSL and others.

ACTEF will work to ensure that it presents informed and objective information on existing and future access technologies, enabling end users to choose an access option that best fits their application. To accomplish this, the new charter strives to: -0-

--   Educate service providers, equipment manufacturers, the media and
     consumers about the different access technologies available,
     their implementation requirements, and benefits.

--   Study, advise, and recommend enhancements to the various access
     technologies, including, but not limited to, ISDN, IDSL, ADSL,
     HDSL, VDSL, and cable modems, that improve their implementation
     operation and management by consumers.

--   Provide an open forum for suppliers, service providers, and
     consumers of products and services to discuss the various access
     technologies and to encourage the exchange of ideas between
     members.

--   Cooperate in the identification and promotion of applications
     based on ISDN, IDSL, ADSL, HDSL, VDSL and Cable Modems.

--   Support the development of interoperability specifications and
     coordinate the testing of products based on these specifications
     where necessary.

"The newly named Access Technologies Forum and the broadened focus reflect the commitment of the organization and its members to facilitating the development of existing and future access technologies," said Peter Geier, president of ACTEF. "Through our newly expanded focus, our organization serves as the main communication vehicle about access technologies for vendors, network providers, telcos and service providers alike."

Currently, a number of existing organizations focus on singular wireline access technologies like ADSL, Cable Modems, ISDN, and others. While by definition these organizations are technology specific, ACTEF is purposely access technology agnostic and will not duplicate efforts underway, or under consideration by existing technology forums and organizations. ACTEF believes that a major purpose is served to the end-user by an organization that is focused on reducing market confusion related to the myriad of options available for data access. That reduction in confusion will impact the accelerated acceptance of these technologies in the broad international market.

The ACTEF will establish working groups as a means for following its charter. In addition, the ACTEF will establish technology teams to address such topics as portfolio management, how network providers analyze their embedded plant,

and spectrum management, the careful placement of signals in outside plants to mitigate the effects of cross talk. Vendors, network providers and industry experts are invited to participate and contribute technical and business data and analysis to the working groups, which will then issue coordinated recommendations, approved by ACTEF members, to the industry.

For additional information on the ACTEF, or to join the organization, its working groups and/or technology teams, visit www.actef.org.

About the ACTEF

The Access Technologies Forum (ACTEF) is a non-profit organization promoting objective information on various access technologies and their applications. The San Ramon, California-based consortium includes 20 companies from four countries. Membership is open to any interested party. Additional information on ACTEF members and activities can be found at http://www.actef.org.