Arizona Technology Group Announces Internet Coverage of Corporation Commission and Governor Races
Phoenix- August 1, 2002 Citing an unmet need for citizen access to information about candidates running for the offices of Arizona Corporation Commissioner (ACC) and Governor, the Arizona Telecommunications and Information Council (ATIC) unveiled an Internet Web site devoted to information about the candidates and their positions. The ATIC Elections Web site (http://www.arizonatele.com/atic/election/) provides Internet access to detailed candidate responses to ATIC's telecommunications policy questionnaire and their endorsements of four Platform Statements, which address Communications Infrastructure, Advanced Telecommunications Applications, Bridging the Digital Divide and Cyber Security, Consumer Information and Privacy.

In addition to making candidate positions on important technology, economic development and regulatory issues available over the Internet, ATIC also announced its sponsorship of two, non-partisan candidate forums. The first forum, to be held on September 19, 2002 from at 2:00 PM in Phoenix will feature the candidates for the three contested Corporation Commission seats. In a first for Arizona election coverage, this event will be made available to Internet users statewide through a live webcast. For the candidates for the Office of Governor, a breakfast forum will be held on October 17, 2002 at Mesa Community College. The Gubernatorial candidates' forum will be co-sponsored by ATIC, together with the East Valley Partnership and Salt River Project's Political Involvement Committee. Video of the event will be distributed via the Internet and traditional television media.

ATIC's Chairman, John Kelly of Intel Corporation stated "ATIC is proud to play a role in bringing advanced technology to enable public access to information about the policies and positions of candidates for elected office. We are especially pleased with our program to engage the candidates for the Arizona Corporation Commission because this important office, which, among other duties, regulates public utilities and has significant impact on consumers and businesses, receives very little public notice otherwise."

About ATIC: The Arizona Telecommunications and Information Council (ATIC - http://www.arizonatele.com/atic/) is a foundation of the Governor's Strategic Partnership for Economic Development (GSPED - http://www.commerce.state.az.us/gsped/). ATIC functions as Arizona's recognized and authoritative organization guiding technology policy development, serving as a leading source of information and expertise on telecommunications and information technology matters. ATIC develops, promotes and supports initiatives and guides adoption of effective public policies that encourages wide-scale deployment and availability of telecommunications services and information technologies to insure economic prosperity for the Arizona community, expand the region's global competitive advantage, enable continued educational advancement and support an enhanced quality of life.

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Contact: Mark Goldstein, Secretary, Governor's Strategic Partnership for Economic Development (GSPED), Voice & Fax: 602-470-0389, markg@researchedge.com