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SOUTH DAKOTA PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Wednesday, September 1, 2004
CONTACT: Sue Schaefer, (605) 773-3201

South Dakota Public Utilities Commission to host Wireless Conference

PIERRE, S.D. – The Public Utilities Commission will be offering new and exciting educational opportunities with the advent of a series entitled "Technology on the Horizon". The first event will be a Wireless Conference in Spearfish during the dates of September 27 -28, 2004.

"With so many new communication technologies fast approaching, the Commission felt a responsibility to reach out to South Dakotans and share the good news," says Chairman Bob Sahr. "The conference will highlight wireless technologies that will assist South Dakota in maintaining its status as one of the technological leaders in the nation and help us to advance our economic diversity."

The primary focus of this first-in-a-series conference will be comparisons of new wireless technologies, a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) primer, federal funding sources, and how regulatory agencies and the industry work with consumers.

Vice Chairman Gary Hanson sees this conference as a learning experience for South Dakota. "Conference attendees will have the opportunity to hear from some of the foremost experts in emerging communication technologies. It is not every day that we are given the chance to learn from those who are leading the way in the wireless world", says Hanson.

"We are very fortunate to have an incredibly bright and talented slate of presenters, beginning with our keynote speaker, FCC Commissioner and South Dakota native Jonathan Adelstein" adds Commissioner Jim Burg. "Jonathan has been a strong voice for rural states like ours during his tenure with the FCC."

The two-day conference is being held at the Holiday Inn and Convention Center in Spearfish. For more information, interested individuals are encouraged to check out the PUC's Web site at www.puc.sd.gov, or contact them at 1-800-332-1782.

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