FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 9, 2008

Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) and BICSI Renew Collaboration Agreement

Building, Architectural Industries to Benefit

Washington, D.C. - The Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA), leader in advocacy, standards development, business development and intelligence for the information and communications technology (ICT) industries, has renewed its collaboration agreement with BICSI, the professional association supporting the information transport systems (ITS) industry.

Leaders from the two groups met at TIA's headquarters in Arlington, Va., March 31, 2008 to discuss strategic direction and joint initiatives. TIA and BICSI have been engaged in similar activities for a number of years, addressing their mutual interests in information communications technologies and trends, including standards, certifications, knowledge transfer and global technology advancement.

"BICSI and TIA are at similar stages in terms of addressing the needs of their respective membership communities," said Grant E. Seiffert, President of TIA. "Our long-time collaboration has proven to be a solid foundation on which to build new joint initiatives."

Among other goals, the two associations are involved in establishing resources and information tools that enable the building and architectural communities to make better buying decisions and use qualified and competent service and product providers in the ICT and ITS industries.

"TIA is the cornerstone of the BICSI Outreach Program-a program specifically designed to collaborate with industry alliances in concert with the BICSI Strategic plan and the BICSI NxtGEN business plan," stated Edward J. Donelan, RCDD/NTS Specialist, President of BICSI. "The newly crafted twenty-seven points of mutual reciprocity between TIA and BICSI enhances BICSI and TIA members' ability to deliver the best products to their customers through education, training and knowledge assessment."

The groups have agreed to cross-promote one another's services, including certification and market intelligence programs, standards, case studies and white papers. Marketing activities will include presence at one another's tradeshows and outreach through their websites at www.tiaonline.org and www.bicsi.org and online mail. They will also continue to jointly promote the efforts of several sub-communities, including the Fiber Optics LAN Section (FOLS).

For more information about TIA, please contact twalsh@tiaonline.org. For more information about BICSI, please contact Maarja Kolberg, BICSI Communications Manager, at mkolberg@bicsi.org.

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About TIA
The Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) represents the global information and communications technology (ICT) industries through standards development, advocacy, business opportunities, market intelligence and world-wide environmental regulatory compliance. With support from its 600 members, TIA enhances the business environment for companies involved in telecommunications, broadband, mobile wireless, information technology, networks, cable, satellite, unified communications, emergency communications and the greening of technology. TIA is accredited by ANSI. TIA's policy team opened its Washington, D.C., headquarters on Capitol Hill in January 2008. Visit www.tiaonline.org for details.

TIA's Board of Directors includes senior-level executives from ACS, ADC, ADTRAN, Alcatel-Lucent, ANDA Networks, ArrayComm, AttivaCorp, Avaya, Bechtel Communications, Inc., Cam Communications, Cisco Systems, Corning Incorporated, Ericsson, Inc., Graybar, Henkels & McCoy, Intel Corporation, LGE, Microsoft, Motorola, Nokia Siemens Networks, Nortel, OneChip Photonics Inc., OnSite Systems, Panasonic Computer Solutions Co., Research In Motion, Sumitomo Electric Lightwave Corporation, Telcordia Technologies, Tellabs, Tyco Electronics, Ulticom, Inc., Westell Technologies, Inc. and Zebra Technologies Corporation. Advisors to the Board include FAL Associates, ILS Technology and Orca Systems.

About BICSI
BICSI is a professional association supporting the information transport systems (ITS) industry with information, education and knowledge assessment for individuals and companies. BICSI serves more than 23,000 ITS professionals, including designers, installers and technicians. These individuals provide the fundamental infrastructure for telecommunications, audio/video, life safety and automation systems. Through courses, conferences, publications and professional registration programs, BICSI staff and volunteers assist ITS professionals in delivering critical products and services, and offer opportunities for continual improvement and enhanced professional stature. Headquartered in Tampa, Florida, BICSI membership spans nearly 100 countries.