Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Selects Welch as the Next North American Numbering Plan Billing and Collection Agent (NANP B&C Agent)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE APRIL 12, 2004

CONTACT: GARTH STEELE 613-236-9191 ext 516

gsteele@welchandco.ca www.welchandco.ca

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION (FCC) SELECTS WELCH & COMPANY LLP AS THE NEXT NORTH AMERICAN NUMBERING PLAN BILLING AND COLLECTION AGENT

Ottawa, Ontario – April 14, 2004 - The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced on April 12, 2004 in Washington, D.C., that it has selected Welch & Company LLP Chartered Accountants (Welch) of Ottawa, Ontario as the next North American Numbering Plan Billing and Collection Agent (NANP B&C Agent). Welch will serve as the designated entity responsible for the collection of funds from the United States telecommunications industry and North American Numbering Plan (NANP) member countries and the disbursement of funds to support numbering administration functions for telecommunications services. Welch has been awarded a five year contract, consisting of one base year and four one-year options.

According to Mr. Garth Steele, Partner at Welch, “We have been developing this area of expertise for the past five years. The high quality of service we provide our Canadian telecom clients, our ability to quickly respond to their needs as well as our competitive pricing were strong factors in our favour.”

About Welch & Company LLP:

Welch & Company LLP is a full service mid-sized firm of chartered accountants with 11 offices in eastern Ontario and western Quebec. The firm is the eighteenth largest public accounting firm in Canada. Welch is affiliated with BKR International, an international association of independent accounting firms. In addition to this recent appointment by the FCC, Welch & Company LLP also acts as Billing & Collection Agent for the Canadian Numbering Administration Consortium (CNAC) and as the Central Fund Administrator for the Canadian Portable Contribution Consortium, a large consortium of Canadian Telecom Service Providers.

###