USTelecom Joins FOSI

WASHINGTON, DC - The Family Online Safety Institute (FOSI) today announced that USTelecom, the broadband trade association representing service providers and suppliers for the telecom industry, has joined as a member. Jonathan Banks, USTelecom Senior Vice President, will join FOSI's board to help shape the focus of the organization. USTelecom's commitment to FOSI signifies the association's enthusiasm for promoting Internet safety among industry, policymakers and consumers.

USTelecom's member companies provide broadband on a fixed and mobile basis, and offer a wide range of voice, data and video services. While ranging in diversity from large, publicly traded companies to small rural cooperatives, USTelecom members support pro-investment policies that help bring the promise of broadband to all Americans, from innovations in health care and education to entertainment and the environment. USTelecom members recognize the important role that broadband plays in bringing the Internet to millions of people.

"Broadband promises to bring the Internet into the homes of families across the country," said Stephen Balkam, CEO of FOSI. "As more Americans gain access to broadband, the influence of USTelecom continues to grow. We're so pleased to welcome this prestigious organization to FOSI and we look forward to working together to make the Internet a safer place."

"Our member companies take very seriously their shared responsibility to keep families and children safe and secure in the online environment," said Walter B. McCormick, Jr., President and CEO of USTelecom. "We are pleased to be working with FOSI and its members to help make the Internet a safer place for families and children."

About FOSI

The Family Online Safety Institute (FOSI) works to make the online world safer for kids and their families by identifying and promoting best practices, tools and methods that also respect free speech. FOSI's members include: AOL, AT&T, Blue Coat Systems, BT Retail, Comcast, Entertainment Software Association, Facebook, France Telecom, Google, GSM Association, Kingston Communications, Loopt, Microsoft, Motion Picture Association of America, MySpace, NCTA, Ning, Nominum, Optenet, RuleSpace, Sprint, StreamShield, Symantec, Time Warner Cable, Telefónica, TELMEX, T-Mobile, The Wireless Foundation, Verizon, Yahoo!. FOSI hosts an annual international conference to bring together Internet safety advocates from a variety of sectors, including global corporations, government, non-profits, academia and the media, to discuss the current pulse of online safety and emerging solutions that will enhance it. For more information, please visit www.fosi.org.

About USTelecom

The United States Telecom Association, USTelecom, is the premier broadband trade association representing service providers and suppliers for the telecom industry. USTelecom represents companies offering a wide range of services across the communications platforms, including voice, video and data over local exchange, long distance, wireless, Internet and cable services.