FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ALPHA POWERNODES BATTLE WINTER ICE STORMS IN ATLANTA

Bellingham, Wash., March 10, 2000 - Although more reasonable weather has since returned to the region, Atlanta had more than its share of winter weather this year.

Of particular significance was an ice storm that hit the city the last few days of January. Freezing temperatures and strong winds snarled traffic, froze water mains and left more than 500,000 homes in the greater Atlanta area without utility power.

Maintaining communication services under such circumstances is of critical importance. The wide-spread loss of utility power can cripple both general and emergency response services. Fortunately, more than 800 hundred Alpha Powernodes are deployed in the region providing the network with clean, reliable, uninterrupted power.

Many of these power nodes include fully integrated generator systems for backup power during extended outages. The ability to provide extended backup power is especially critical when the network supports emergency and lifeline telephony services.

As the region’s emergency crews made extraordinary efforts to rescue stranded motorists, clear roads of debris and restore power, communication services were vital. Alpha Powernodes supplied the network with the power that kept these critical communication services available.

Alpha Field Power Service personnel, who are contracted to provide on-going preventative maintenance to the region’s powernodes, visited 60 sites during the course of the storm, to ensure each was fully operational. In some cases, Alpha Powernodes were providing backup power for more than three days.

Alpha Technologies Inc. develops power conversion, protection and standby products for telecommunications and cable television industries, including custom, application-specific power solutions. In addition to product development, Alpha Technologies provides a comprehensive range of installation and maintenance services to support its global customer base. Alpha Technologies is a member of The Alpha Group of companies.

The Alpha Group represents a global alliance of independent companies that share a common philosophy - create world-class powering solutions for communication, commercial, industrial and renewable energy markets.

For this and/or additional information in electronic form, go to www.alpha.com.