openNET Coalition Quadruples Membership.

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 16, 1999--

Internet Service Providers Rush to Join as Open

Access Fight Intensifies

The openNET Coaliton announced today that it has quadrupled its members since the beginning of the summer as growing numbers of Internet Service Providers join the fight for a competitive, high-speed Internet cable network.

"As ISPs around the country begin to migrate to broadband, more and more of them are calling us to support the fight that will assure competition in the next generation of the Internet," said Greg Simon, co-director of the openNET Coaltion.

Citilink Internet, IgLou Internet Services and Easy Web Solutions are among the 231 new member companies that have joined the openNET Coalition in the last four weeks, raising the total membership from 84 in early June to roughly 400 companies nationwide today.

New members represent small business interests in 38 states, including: Arizona, California, Florida, Hawaii, Louisiana, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia. Member companies are watching developments in other cities, contacting the local officials responsible for overseeing local cable franchise agreements and making their voices heard through petitions and referendum.

OpenNET has been fighting on the local and federal level to require cable companies to provide broadband Internet access to independent ISPs, on terms equal to those that they offer their own ISP. AT&T, the former telephone monopoly, now has access to more than 60 percent of American homes through its purchase of cable giants Tele-Communications, Inc. and MediaOne. But AT&T and the new cable systems, unlike the phone companies, do not allow competitors to buy access to their high-speed path to the Internet.

"More than 5,000 ISPs have helped create a vibrant and innovative Internet because they have been allowed to offer competing service in dial-up Internet access over phone lines," said Rich Bond, co-director of the openNET Coalition. "If AT&T wins this fight, ISPs will be locked out, and consumers will lose the Internet that they know and enjoy today."

Bond added that the members of openNET believe that competition is good for local economies and good for consumers who benefit from more choice, lower prices, and better service.

Local battles over open access have taken place this summer in Portland, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Miami and Broward County, Florida. In the coming months, the issue will be debated in a new group of cities that are considering whether to permit AT&T to acquire the monopoly cable franchises held by Media One. Boston, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Richmond, Dayton and parts of Florida are among the local communities that will be considering whether AT&T should be granted a monopoly.

The new members of openNET include: 1 Terabit, Inc., 3ACE.NET, 3-D Web, A+Net Internet services, AccelerNet, Access 2000 Network, AcmeNet , Adept Communications, LLC, Advanced Global Net, Advanced Internet Connection Services, Inc., Advanced Network Products, Inc., Aero Internet Services, Inc., Alexassa Enterprises, Ltd., Allegan Internet Services, Inc., ALPHA INTERNET SERVICES, INC., Amextel Communications, Anaxis Internet, Anchortech Computer Services, Automated Data Systems, Inc., Autumn Internet Exchange & Services, Aye Net, Baha's Web, Inc., Big Dog Technologies, Inc., Bits, Bytes and Pieces, Bitstream Associates, BPS Internet, Inc., Caliber Connections, Corp, Cas-com Internet Services, Inc., Catawba Valley Internet, CE Net, Inc., Cedarvale Tech, Chattanooga Data Connection, Inc., Cherryland Online Service, CISO, Citilink Internet, CityScape, Clearfield Internet Access, Cloud 9 Consulting, Cloudnet, Inc., CM2.COM, Inc., CMSInter.net, Computer & Internet Resources, Inc., Computer Central, Computer Ceptions/Muster Lynk, Computer Integration Tech. Inc., Computer Office Solutions, Inc., Computer.Net, LLC, Comwerx, Inc., Connect, Connect Northwest Internet Services, Crystal Clear Concepts, Inc., CSInet Internet Access, Custom Wares Inc., CyberAgency Corp., Dakota Information Services, DataStream Solutions, DATATEK International, Inc., DataWave Technologies Co., LLC, Desoto.net, DLP Technologies, Inc., Dynamic Consulting, Inc., Easy Web Solutions, EazeNet, Eminent Network Technologies, Inc., Excelr8 Networks, Exodus Online Services, Fantaz Internet Services, Fast Bytes, FastQ Communications, FiberNet Inc., Flare Net, Inc., Florida International Business & Educational Resources Network, Inc., Fortwayne Internet, FSINET.Inc, GEOSERVE Communications, Inc., Glasscity Internet, GlassCity Internet, Inc., Global Internet Systems, Global Network Access, Inc., Global Network Consultants, GlobalMAX Business Services, Goldrush World Access, Ltd, Hampsons Online, Inc., Hawaii Aloha Internet, Inc., HIS 2000 Internet Services, HMC Ltd., Inc., I Connect, ICU Online, IDL, IGINET, IgLou Internet Services, Inc., I-Link International, Inc., In4web, Indy Web, Information Gallery, Inter-access, Inc., Internet 2000, Internet Connect, Inc., Internet Exposure, Inc., Internet Express, Internet NCP.net, Internet Services of Texas, Internet Services of West Tennessee, Inc., internetMLS network inc., IOCNET, ISLC, Jackpine Internet Service, Jet City Online, Kansas Online Networks, Kendaco, Inc. dba Telebyte NW Internet Services, Klink Net Communications, Lakota Group, Inc., Larck Internet, LeaseNet, Inc., Legend Technology Company, LINCS Internet, LRBCG.Com, Inc., Magnus Computing, Inc., Mako Internet, Marathon Online Inc., Marinar Technology Co., LLC, McHenry Com Company, Meganet Communications, Michigan Fastlane Communications, Microgear, Micro-Net Online Services, Microsystems of Buckhannon, Inc., MICRYS MicroConsulting, Inc., Midlink Internet, Midwest Internet, Midwest Internet Connections & Services, Milwaukee Internet Service, Modem Madness BBS, MoonStar, Nationwide Internet, NCIA, NeoSplice, Inc., Neotek Industries, Inc. dba Structure (x), NeoTEK, Inc., NetBrain.com, Netcomm.Inc., NETLINE AMERICA, INC., Net-Magic, Inc., Net-Thing, Inc., NetWest Online, Network Innovations, Inc., Network Konnection, Inc., New Age Consulting Services, Inc., New Jersey Internet (NTI.com), Nexnet Internet Services, NFE Online, Norden 1 Communications LTD, North Central Internet, Northern Net Exposure, Northland Communication/Dreamscape Online, Nova Internet Services, Inc., Novia Corp., O.A.S.I.S., Old Dominion Networks, Online System Development, Inc., Optimized Computer Solutions, Our Town USA, Inc., Panax Communications, PC Professionals, Inc., PCN, LP, Peachtree ISN, Penncom Internet Company, Planet Earth Internet Services, Inc., PlanetSTL.com, Point South, Prairie Lakes Internet, PTCWeb, Questar Network Services, Quik Internet of Dallas, Resource Marketing, Inc., River Internet, RJS Online Services, Safe Access Inc., ServUSA Internet, Shore Networks, ShoreNet, Simflex Corporation, Sirus, Inc., SISCOM, Inc., Solution Services, Inc., Speakeasy, Inc., Spectra Systems, Inc., SpeedNET, Inc., Starfish Internet Services, Stargazer Internet Services, Starix Internet Services, Inc., Starlinx Internet, Sterling Communications, Inc., Sun Internet, SuperDuperMall, Surfnet Inc., SurgeNet Inc., Synapse, LLC, Systec Computer Associates, Inc., Tek-star Internet Services, Telesurf, Inc., TFBnet, The Internet Place, The Java Stop, The Walkabout Group Inc/Internet Walkabout, Today's Technology, Total logic systems, Total Net NH, LLC, Tranquility Internet Services, Twin Cities Free-Net, TWR Communications, Union Data UDNET, Universalcom, Inc., US Internet Technologies, Inc., Virtual Journeys, Virtual Reality Domains, Inc., visual link internet, Wabash Valley Computing, Web Space International, Web Technologies, WebCC Inc., WebKorner Internet Services, WebQuill, WESNet Systems, Westelcom Internet, Wizard Communication Systems, Inc, World Trade Network, Inc., WorldNet of Pennsylvania, Inc. dba Internet World, XTS.NET, York Internet Services, Inc., YOURNET.COM.

Other members include: Access Wonderful World.com, ACD.net Internet Services, AcroNet Professional Internet Services, Inc., Amberwave Internet LLC, American Digital Online Services, Inc., Applied InterNet Solutions, Inc., Arden Computers, Inc., Area 51 Consulting, Inc., ASB Internet, Inc., Atlantic.Net Internet Services, Inc, Atlas Communications, Basic Communication, Inc., Bertelsmann AG, Binary Net, Inc., Bluegrass.net, Brandywine Net, BriteSite.Net, Inc., Business Research, Cape.Com, Inc., Caribbean Internet Services Corp., Carolina Online Networks, Inc., Central Web Internet Services Co., Cerbernet Limited, Chapel Services, Inc., Christian Living Network, Citicom Communication Services, Collective Intelligence, Inc., The Computer Age Co., Computer Solutions, Inc., CompuType Computers, Connect Internet Services, Inc., Coolware, Inc., Crocker Communications, CyberBold, Inc., CyberNet Nationwide (CNNW.Net), CyberRamp Internet Services, CrossPaths Internet Services, Crossroads Communications, CSI Internet Access, Culver Communications, Inc., CyberLink, Inc., Cybernex, Inc., Cyber Solutions, Cyberverse, Inc., CyberZone Internet Services, Database City, Inc., Dialaccess-ISP, Inc., DigiLink Internet Services, Digital Highway Communications, Inc., Digital Starlight Communications, Inc., dotSTAR Communications L.C., Dynamic Consulting, Inc., Eagle Net, The Eclectic Network, LTD., Elastic Networks, Emerald Internet Services, Extreme Internet, EZ Online, Inc., FlashNet Communications, Fiberhood Networks, Inc., Gateway 2000, Gateway Computer, Gibralter Data Services, GlobalEyes Telecommunications, Inc., Grapevine2, High Tech Holdings, Inc., IG NET, Inc., IJNT.net, Inc., Information Gateway Services, Information Systems Technology, Inc., InLink Business Services, Innova Communications, LLC, Integrity Online, InterMountain Internet, Internet America, Internet Information Service, Inc., Internet One Stop, Internet Wisconsin, InterSurf Online, Inc., Izzy Dot Net, JDV Enterprises, Inc., JET Business Net, Juno Online Services, Inc., Kentucky ISP Association, KeyCreations, Inc., Kramer Ceilly & Associates, Lahman Internet Sevices, LLC, La Plaza Telecommunity Foundation, Inc., LavaNet Internet Services, LLC, LemooreNet, Lightning Internet Services, LLC, LTI, MacConnect, Marlowe & Associates, Maui Net Inc., Mid-Kan Internet, Inc., Montana Communications Network, Mountain Works, Inc., MyLink, MyWeb.Net, NEOCOM Microspecialists, Inc., Net Internet Services, Netlink Communications, Inc., Net Nevada, NetQuick, LLC, Netscape Communications Corporation, NetTrip Computers, Nightowl Internet Gateway, Noguska, Inc., Olympia Networking Services, Oregon Internet Service Provider Association, Osprey Network Technologies, oz.net Internet Services, Pacific Global Communications, LLC, PortONE Internet, Inc., Pro Pages Internet Services, Public Electronic Access to Knowledge Inc. (PEAK), Rahab Computer Technologies, Rocky Mountain Internet, Quik Internet NWA, Quik Internet of Portland, Quik Internet of Tioga County, Pennsylvania, Quik Internet of Wisconsin, SaveWare, Inc., Say.Net/Dimensional Marketing, Inc., Skantech, Inc., Sprint, Southern Star, StarQuest Internet Services, Streamedia Communications, Inc., Sybercom, Inc., Syracuse WorldNet Service, Inc., TAMB Associates , Inc., TBC Group, TDI Internet Services, Inc. Teleport Internet Services, Texas.net, Texas Internet Services Providers Association, TexRamp, Inc., The Internet Store, The Iserv Company, Inc.The MultiPro Network, The Stix, The Tuskar Company/Global Vision.Net, Inc., Trusted Net, Inc., Twin Cities Internet, Uconects, LLC, Uplink, Inc., Verio Inc., Washington Internet Service Providers Association, WebConnects, Inc., WebShoppe, LLC, Websnap Internet Corp., Webwizzards Internet Services, World Information Network, Inc./Internetworld Information Network, World Wide Internet Services, Inc, and Xaranda Internet, Inc.

The charter openNET companies are America Online, Cable & Wireless USA, Inc., GTE, MCI WorldCom, Mindspring Enterprises, Inc., Prodigy Communications Corporation and US WEST.

For more information on the openNET Coalition or to learn how to join, contact the Web site www.opennetcoalition.org.