Media contact:
John D. Baker
585/987-3270

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

ACC Business Wins Top Awards at 2003 Channel Partners Conference and Expo

ROCHESTER, N.Y.—ACC Business was presented with Channel Partner Excellence awards in three of five categories based on its performance in the first ever Agent Program Carrier Report Card from ATLANTIC-ACM, the leading source of strategic research for the telecom industry. ACC Business, an agent sales channel within AT&T, earned top honors for its Contract Terms, Conditions and Incentives, Network Quality and Reach, and Carrier Stability and Commitment to the Agent Channel.

"ACC Business has known what other telecommunications companies are quickly discovering, that agents are a critical sales channel," said John Baker, President of ACC Business. "We're both honored and encouraged by the agents' positive response to our initiatives, and will continue to provide them with the support they need to sell ACC Business services to their customers."

ACC Business earned the highest overall score on the report card, eclipsing 35 competitors. The results were derived by assessing 220 individual provider rankings by master agents, representing nearly 3,000 sub-agents and hundreds of millions of dollars in annual telecommunications revenue.

"It doesn't surprise me that ACC Business won these awards," said Nick Vertalino, Master Agent and CEO of Business Computer Answers. "I've been selling them for eight months and not only do they have a great network, they respond quickly and have the easiest paperwork in the industry. ACC Business gives the same effort whether you’ve been with them forever or are just starting out."

According to Baker, the agent channel has proven to be an effective way for ACC Business to increase revenue and customer care without increasing fixed expenses. "ACC Business is fully dedicated to our agents," said Baker. "And we are honored and encouraged by our performance in this landmark channel assessment."

Headquartered in Rochester, N.Y., ACC Business provides voice and data services to business customers through a dedicated agent sales channel. Telecommunication service is provided by the AT&T network—renowned for its quality, reliability and stability.