Report: Telecommunications Industry Could Lead Way For Major Economic Boom in Golden State WASHINGTON, Oct. 27 /PRNewswire/ -- Deregulation of telecom and broadband service providers could spark a major economic recovery in financially troubled California, including the creation of as many as 75,000 jobs in the next three years, according to a major new Alliance for Public Technology white paper. The reforms also would mean major benefits for the state's seniors, schoolchildren, disabled and rural area residents, according to the report. The live, coast-to-coast telenews media briefing will be conducted via phone at 11 a.m. PST/2 p.m. EST by: * Matthew D. Bennett, policy director, Alliance for Public Technology; * Richard A. Bilas, emeritus professor of economics, California State University, Bakersfield; * James Gordon, Jr., assistant to the vice president, Communications Workers of America (District 9); * Allen S. Hammond IV, director, Broadband Institute of California; and * Barbara O'Connor, professor, California State University, Sacramento. TO PARTICIPATE: Join the live, two-way telephone-based news conference (with full Q&A) at 1-(877) 679-9054 at 11 a.m. PST/2 p.m. EST on Tuesday, October 28, 2003. Use conference ID #302678 or ask for the "California telecom boom" news event. CAN'T PARTICIPATE?: The study, a related news release and a streaming audio replay of the news event will be available on the Web as of 3 p.m. PST/6 p.m. EST on October 28, 2003 at http://www.apt.org/. BACKGROUND: The California-specific report looks at the question of whether current regulatory policy is constraining or promoting investment in advanced telecommunications infrastructure in the Golden State. Specifically, this report examines consumer/public interest perspectives on current California policies (e.g., UNE-P) and whether these policies are contributing to the goals of the 1996 Telecommunications Act -- to encourage deployment of advanced telecommunications capability to all Americans on a reasonable and timely basis, to promote vigorous facilities-based competition and to promote long-term investment in advanced telecommunications networks. The Alliance for Public Technology (APT) is a nonprofit, tax-exempt membership organization headquartered in Washington, D.C. APT's mission is to foster access to affordable and useful information and communication services and technologies by all people. APT's members are public interest groups and individuals, some of whom historically have been left out of the Information Age, including the elderly, minorities, low income groups and people with disabilities. DATASOURCE: Alliance for Public Technology CONTACT: Christine Kraly, +1-703-276-3258, for Alliance for Public Technology Web site: http://www.apt.org/

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