Disney CEO to Keynote TelecomNEXT

Disney CEO to Keynote TelecomNEXT

Iger to Talk Content at Communications Tradeshow

WASHINGTON, Oct. 25 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the United States Telecom Association (USTelecom) announced that Robert Iger, President and CEO of the Walt Disney Company will share his thoughts on how content providers can use new technologies to distribute programming to consumers when the communications industry meets at TelecomNEXT in March 2006.

Recognizing the dramatic changes in today's integrated communications market, TelecomNEXT fully reflects the industry's continuing evolution and will bring together the most dynamic, talented and innovative players of the digital age.

"New and innovative technologies have created tremendous opportunities for content providers to deliver programming to consumers. Disney recognizes the tremendous value of new distribution channels and leads the industry by actively pursuing new outlets to reach consumers," said Walter B. McCormick Jr. President and CEO of USTelecom, the owner of TelecomNEXT. "We look forward to hearing Bob's thoughts on what's next for Disney and communications at TelecomNEXT."

Recently, Disney signed an agreement with Verizon to carry 12 Disney and ESPN networks over Verizon FIOS TV's system. In a separate deal, Disney and ABC Television agreed to sell current and past season episodes of ABC and Disney Channel television shows for download on Apple's iTunes Music Store.

Iger joins an elite group of CEOs from top wireline carriers, wireless providers, cable companies, equipment manufacturers, content providers and policymakers speaking at TelecomNEXT. The luminaries include Duane Ackerman, Chairman & CEO, BellSouth; Glenn Britt, Chairman & CEO, Time Warner Cable; Harald Braun, President, Carrier Networks Division, Siemens; John Chambers, President & CEO, Cisco; Scott Ford, President & CEO, Alltel; Jonathan Glickman, President, Spyglass Entertainment Group; Speaker of the House J. Dennis Hastert; Paul Lacouture, President, Network Services, Verizon; Moshe Lichtman, Corporate Vice President, Microsoft TV Division; Kevin Martin, Chairman, Federal Communications Commission; Walter McCormick, President & CEO, USTelecom; John Meyer, President, Lucent World Wide Services, Lucent Technologies; Susan Miller, President & CEO, ATIS; Balan Nair, Chief Technology Officer, Qwest; Glen Post, Chairman & CEO, CenturyTel; Mike Quigley, President and COO, Alcatel; Chris Rice, Executive VP, Network Planning & Engineering and CTO, SBC; Michael Sabia, President & CEO, Bell Canada; Ivan Seidenberg, Chairman & CEO, Verizon; Stan Sigman, President & CEO, Cingular; Bill Smith, Chief Technology Officer, BellSouth; Norio Wada, President & CEO, Nippon Telegraph and Telephone; Mark Wegleitner, Senior Vice President and CTO, Verizon; and Ed Whitacre, Chairman & CEO, SBC Communications.

The Walt Disney Company, together with its subsidiaries and affiliates, is a leading diversified international family entertainment and media enterprise. Disney is a Dow 30 company, with annual revenues exceeding $30 billion and a market capitalization of nearly $48 billion.

TelecomNEXT will be held at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, March 19-23, 2006. For more information on TelecomNEXT, go to http://www.telecom-next.com/.

Source: United States Telecom Association

CONTACT: Allison Remsen of United States Telecom Association, +1-202-494-5562

Web site: http://www.usta.org/ http://www.telecom-next.com/

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