For Immediate Release
1200 G Street, NW Washington, D.C. 20005 202/628-6380 202/393-5453 (fax)	Contact: John Bernhards Director of Public Relations Phone: 202/434-8850 E-mail: jbernhards@atis.org

James L. Turner Joins ATIS as Technical Coordinator for the Internetwork Interoperability Test Coordination (IITC) Committee

September 25, Washington, D.C. -- The Alliance for Telecommunications Industry Solutions (ATIS) announced today that James L. Turner will serve as technical coordinator for the Internetwork Interoperability Test Coordination (IITC) Committee. In his role as technical coordinator, Turner will be responsible for project management and coordination efforts in the development and implementation of internetwork interoperability telecommunications network tests.

"Jim Turner brings a wealth of telecommunications expertise to ATIS and the IITC Committee," said Susan Miller, ATIS president and CEO. "Internetwork testing is a critical issue at a time when networks continue to evolve with new technologies and software. Carriers and service providers need to ensure that interoperability exists between networks. The IITC Committee is the venue for accomplishing this and has a long history of successful testing efforts on behalf of the industry," added Miller.

Turner previously occupied positions at Illinois Bell, the Hickory Ridge training center, and with Lucent's LIVE Net Facility. In addition, he has been a switchman in 1, 1A, 2, 2B and 5ESS Central Offices. He wrote and delivered maintenance and translation courses for the 5ESS while at Hickory Ridge. As manager of the LIVE Net Facility, Turner performed all interoperability testing with other vendors and quality assurance for wireless, wire-line, and intelligent network products. Turner has 11 patents covering several disciplines within telephony.

The IITC Committee was established by ATIS, at the request of the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC's) Network Reliability and Interoperability Council (NRIC), to initiate broad-based programs to prevent service outages. The IITC Committee coordinates internetwork interoperability stress testing of services and architectures resulting from the introduction of increased network interconnections and new technologies that have the potential to adversely impact the nation's network if their reliability and interoperability are not first tested in a coordinated, industry-wide, off-line manner.

About ATIS

The Alliance for Telecommunications Industry Solutions (ATIS) is a member company organization that is the leader for standards and operating procedures for the telecommunications industry. Nearly 3,000 experts from more than 500 telecommunications companies participate in ATIS committees, whose work focus includes network interconnection standards, number portability, improved data transmission, wireless communications, Internet telephony, toll-free access, and order and billing issues. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) frequently refers operations issues to ATIS committees for recommended solutions. Members of ATIS and committee participants include, but are not limited to, telecommunications service providers, manufacturers, software developers, resellers, enhanced service providers, and providers of operations support. More information is available at www.atis.org.

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