AARP, MCI WorldCom And America Online Make It Easy To Register To Vote

WASHINGTON, DC (March 16, 2000) -- AARP, America Online and MCI
WorldCom kicked off a "Super Thursday" today, announcing a
new campaign that makes it easy for Americans to register to vote. The
campaign, "BeAVoter.org," will use a new website, a series of
events, public service announcements and other promotional activities
that will reach virtually every American voter.
Unveiled today on Capitol Hill by the three organizations along with
the Close Up Foundation and members of Congress, the non-partisan,
non-profit "BeAVoter.org" campaign has the potential to increase civic
involvement by making voter participation just a few clicks and
keystrokes away. "BeAVoter.org." is available in both English and
Spanish.

To register, a user simply visits the BeAVoter site, selects their
state and fills in the corresponding online form. Within 5-10 days, a
paper copy of the completed registration form arrives in the
individual's mail for their signature. The signed form may be
mailed back in a pre-addressed envelope provided by "BeAVoter.org."

"The online medium has tremendous potential to increase civic
involvement and reconnect Americans to their elected officials and the
political process," said George Vradenburg, AOL senior vice
president for global and strategic policy. "According to a 1999
Roper-Starch Cyberstudy, nearly two-thirds of respondents (64%) say
they are very or somewhat interested in registering to vote or voting
online. We believe that BeAVoter.org offers a powerful example of how
this medium can be used to improve people's lives and strengthen
our democracy."

"BeAVoter.org will harness the power of the Internet to propel
political participation," said Jonathan Sallet, MCI WorldCom chief
policy counsel. "MCI WorldCom has been supporting on-line voter
registration since 1996; we know that BeAVoter.org will do more than
ever before to move the democracy of the Internet into the nation's
voting booths."

"With a growing number of older Americans going online, "
said AARP board member Rutherford "Jack" Brice, "this is an excellent
way to make political participation easier than ever. Whether its a
question of mobility or convenience, simplifying the process is a great
service to all."

Using technology already embraced by the young and seeing increased
appeal among aging Americans, Brice noted a cyber campaign will provide
a voice to all voters. "With today's issues affecting younger voters
for years to come, AARP wants to make sure younger Americans have an
equally strong voice in our democracy," he said.

According to the Federal Election Commission, only 32 percent of
Americans 18-24 voted in the last Presidential elections as compared
with two-thirds of the 65+ age group. Additionally, on a national
level, only 48 percent of those who are 18-24 years old register to
vote - as opposed to 77 percent of the 65+ age group. Figures provided
by the Close Up Foundation highlight the fact that the overwhelming
majority of the 60 million eligible Americans who are not registered to
vote are young Americans.

BeAVoter.org is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization whose mission
is using the online medium to register as many new voters as possible.
Today's kick-off on Capitol Hill was also attended by students and
teachers participating in the Close Up Foundation's prestigious
civic education program.

BeAVoter.org has its roots in the award winning NetVote 98 and
NetVote 96 national voter awareness programs. The work of those
programs in registering new voters has been recognized nationally and
was linked from hundreds of sites, including the League of Women
Voters, and the Republican and Democratic National Committees.

MCI WorldCom is a global leader in "all distance"
communications services with operations in more than 65 countries.
Revenues in 1999 were $37 billion, with more than $15 billion from
high-growth data, Internet and international services. MCI WorldCom and
Sprint have announced a merger agreement, which the companies expect to
close in the second half of 2000 after regulatory and shareholder
approvals.

AARP is the nation's leading organization for people age 50 and
older. It serves their needs and interests through information and
education, advocacy, and community services that are provided by a
network of local chapters and experiences volunteers throughout the
country. The organization also offers members a wide range of special
benefits and services, including Modern Maturity magazine and the
monthly Bulletin.

AARP/VOTE is the nonprofit, nonpartisan voter education program of
AARP designed to yield an electorate informed about matters of concern
to older persons and their families. It will not support or oppose
candidates for office or any political party.

Founded in 1985, America Online, Inc., based in Dulles, Virginia, is
the world's leader in interactive services, web brands, Internet
technologies and e-commerce services. America Online, Inc. operates:
two worldwide Internet services, America Online, with more than 21
million members, and CompuServe, with more than 2.5 million members;
several leading Internet brands including ICQ, AOL Instant Messenger,
Digital City Inc.; the Netscape Netcenter and AOL.COM portals; Netscape
Navigator and Communicator browsers; AOL MovieFone; Spinner.com, and
Nullsoft Winamp. Through its strategic alliance with Sun Microsystems,
the company develops and offers easy-to-deploy, end-to-end e-commerce
and enterprise solutions for companies operating in the Net
Economy.

The Close Up Foundation is the nation's largest nonprofit,
nonpartisan civic education organization. Close Up programs are
designed to help young people greater personal and political efficacy,
respect for diversity of opinion, tolerance and interest in community
and national affairs. First Vote, its nonpartisan, classroom based
citizenship, voter education, and registration program, is designed to
help reverse the decline in youth voting.