SBC CEO to Kick Off Supercomm

ARLINGTON, Va. - Edward E. Whitacre, Jr., chairman & CEO, SBC Communications, Inc., will kick off SUPERCOMM 2001 with the Opening Keynote Address at 8:00 a.m. on Tuesday, June 5, event organizers today announced. SUPERCOMM 2001, the premier annual communications and information technology exhibition and conference, will be held June 3-7 at the Georgia World Congress Center and Georgia Dome in Atlanta.

"The telecom industry is sailing rough seas at the moment, making opportunities for telecommunications professionals to share strategies for weathering the storm more important than ever," said Whitacre. "SUPERCOMM 2001 will be a good time to examine both the challenges and opportunities that these turbulent times are creating."

Mr. Whitacre has led SBC through a time of unprecedented growth and transformation, building what was the smallest of seven regional Bell operating companies into the nation's second largest network access provider and a leader in the delivery of integrated e-business services. In his tenure, Mr. Whitacre has directed the acquisitions of Ameritech, Pacific Telesis, SNET and Sterling Commerce, as well as the creation of the nation's second largest wireless network, Cingular Wireless, SBC's joint venture with BellSouth. Internationally, Whitacre has led SBC's investments in 28 countries.

Under Mr. Whitacre's leadership, SBC has been named the world's most admired telecommunications company by Fortune magazine for four consecutive years. SBC is also regularly cited for outstanding diversification of its workforce. The company was recently named one of the 10 best places for minorities to work and America's top firm for women and minority business owners to work with. Mr. Whitacre serves on the boards of Anheuser-Busch Cos., Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corp., Emerson Electric Co. and the May Department Stores Co. He is also on the board of the Institute for International Economics and is a member of the Business Council.

"We are honored to have one of the telecom industry's more distinguished leaders at SUPERCOMM 2001 to share his vision of the communications industry and its effect on the growth and evolution of businesses," said Jack Chalden, general manager, SUPERCOMM. "Industry professionals from around the globe will hear first-hand from Mr. Whitacre how these communications technology advancements will help aid them in making major decisions today for the business of tomorrow."

For information on attending SUPERCOMM 2001, call (800)-2-SUPERC (278-7372) or outside the U.S., call (312)-559-3327. Visit the official SUPERCOMM 2001 Web site at http://www.supercomm2001.com for up-to-the-minute information.

SUPERCOMM, the premier annual communications and information technology exhibition and conference, is presented jointly by the Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA), http://www.tiaonline.org, Arlington, Va. and the United States Telecom Association (USTA), http://www.usta.org, Washington, DC.

For more information on Supercomm 2001, please visit the Light Reading Supercomm 2001 Preview Site.