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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 26, 2005
CONTACT: Patricia Van Gerpen, phone (605) 773-3201

Sahr is named ROC Chairman

South Dakota Public Utilities Commissioner Bob Sahr is the new chairman of Qwest's Regional Oversight Committee, comprised of regulators in 14 states where Qwest is the dominant local telephone carrier. Commissioner Sahr was elected to the chairman post during ROC's fall conference in Bismarck, N.D. last week.  

Sahr received the ROC chairman's gavel from President Tony Clark of the North Dakota Public Service Commission.

"Commissioner Sahr is a leader in telecommunications policy in the Qwest region," said President Clark, past chairman of ROC. "Sahr's election shows the respect that his peers have for him and puts him in a position to advance consumer-focused polices throughout the region."

"I am honored that my fellow commissioners selected me to chair the ROC organization," Commissioner Sahr said. "It provides regulators with a great forum to meet and share ideas and discuss ways to improve telephone service for South Dakota consumers as well as consumers in other member states."

ROC is an organization of state commissioners and staff from the Qwest service states and its chief purpose is to allow the regulators to share knowledge and improve customer protection. The committee was organized in 1986 and meets twice a year.

Sahr, vice chairman for the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission, was elected secretary of the Mid-American Regulatory Conference earlier this year. MARC is a 15-state association of public utilities commissioners. He also serves on the Telecommunications Committee of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners.

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