What does AFN stand for?

GPU Telcom, along with America's Fiber Network, the high-speed fiber optic cable company in which GPU has 25 percent ownership, and MYR Group, GPU's specialty construction subsidiary, are positioned to help Sting significantly broaden its market reach.

Earlier this year, Allegheny joined with five other energy and telecommunications companies to create America's Fiber Network LLC, a super-regional, high-speed fiber optics company with a network of more than 7,000 route miles, connecting major markets in the eastern United States to secondary markets with a growing need for broadband access.

Noia outlined a number of significant activities that Allegheny Ventures has undertaken in 2000, including joining with five other companies to create America's Fiber Network, a high-speed fiber optics company with a network of 7,000 route miles; partnering with BroadbandNOW to offer high-speed internet access and multimedia content to retail consumers; investing in Genosys Technology Management to provide value-added services to customers on its fiber optic network; and teaming up with others, including Capstone Turbine Corporation, to offer products to meet customers' distributed generation needs.

GPU has a 25 percent stake in America's Fiber Network, a super-regional fiber optics company controlling 7,000 route miles of fiber serving the eastern United States (see release issued by America's Fiber Network today).

According to Touch America's President Mike Meldahl, since the areas covered by WirelessNorth match Touch America's fiber network the investment provides the company an opportunity to expand traffic and customers as an extension of the network, while keeping prices low.