FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Audrey Spivack January 4, 2002 (202) 418-0512 QWEST COMMUNICATIONS CHAIRMAN AND CEO JOSEPH NACCHIO ASSUMES CHAIR OF NETWORK RELIABILITY AND INTEROPERABILITY COUNCIL Washington - FCC Chairman Michael K. Powell today announced that Joseph P. Nacchio, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Qwest Communications, will chair the next term of the Network Reliability and Interoperability Council (NRIC VI). Chairman Powell thanked Level 3 Communications President and Chief Executive Officer, James Q. Crowe, for leading the Council during its previous term (NRIC V). The Council's members are senior representatives of providers and users of telecommunications services and products, including telecommunications carriers, the satellite, cable television, wireless and computer industries, trade associations, labor and consumer representatives, manufacturers, research organizations and government related organizations. The role of the Council is to develop recommendations for the Commission and the telecommunications industry to assure optimal reliability, security, interoperability and interconnectivity of, and accessibility to, public telecommunications networks and the Internet. NRIC VI will work on traditional reliability issues with a strong emphasis on national security. Mr. Nacchio is also Vice-Chairman of the National Security Telecommunications Advisory Committee, a Federal Advisory Committee Act body that advises President Bush on national security telecommunications matters. Mr. Nacchio said: "I am honored that Chairman Powell has asked me to serve as the Chairman of the Network Reliability and Interoperability Council at this crucial time and I look forward to working with him and the members of the Council." - FCC - 1 2 News media Information 202 / 418-0500 Fax-On-Demand 202 / 418-2830 TTY 202/418-2555 Internet: http://www.fcc.gov ftp.fcc.gov Federal Communications Commission 445 12th Street, S.W. Washington, D. C. 20554 This is an unofficial announcement of Commission action. Release of the full text of a Commission order constitutes official action. See MCI v. FCC. 515 F 2d 385 (D.C. Circ 1974).