Presidential Candidates Failing to Win Over Communications Industry Leaders, New Pike & Fischer Survey Indicates

June 4, 2008 - Communications industry executives are wary about the
ability of any of the presidential candidates to develop sound policies
on such issues as broadband availability and media ownership, according
to results of a new Pike &  Fischer Broadband Advisory Services survey.

A slight majority of the more than 280 industry leaders and experts who responded to the survey said they are either unaware of the telecommunications policy platform
of any of the candidates, or simply don’t find any of the politicians’
positions to be viable.

Pike &  Fischer conducted the survey over March and April and received responses from executives, engineers
and consultants representing cable, telephone, satellite TV and
technology equipment industries. Academics and government regulators
were also represented in the survey.

Complete results and related analysis will be unveiled at Pike &  Fischer's Broadband Policy Summit IV on June 12-13 in Washington, DC.

Among the survey participants who said they were up to speed on the candidates’
positions, most view presumptive Republican presidential nominee John
McCain as having better communications policy ideas than Democrats
Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. But many others said they are angry
that none of the candidates have a clear understanding or concern about
critical communications issues, such as regulations that affect the
industry’s ability to deliver affordable broadband services to more
Americans.

“The overall state of the economy, the war in Iraq,
and gas prices have dominated the presidential race, while
communications issues such as broadband availability and advanced
communications for public safety have thus far not been major topics of
debate,” said Scott Sleek, director of Pike &  Fischer’s
Broadband Advisory Services. “It appears that this has left many
telecommunications industry leaders feeling pretty pessimistic about
the fate of communications policy under the next administration.”

For analyst commentary or to request a briefing, contact Scott Sleek at 301-562-1530, x291, ssleek@pf.com.

To learn more about Broadband Policy Summit IV, visit http://www.broadbandpolicysummit.com.