The firm concentrates on being the "Agency of Choice" for emerging and established companies based in the Southeast with a national or international footprint.

The group has grown over the years to become a major private-sector telecom operator with a national and regional footprint.

"We choose big metropolitan areas that will allow us to build a national footprint," said Amy Nobile, the company's public relations manager.

One has a national footprint, the other does not.

"We wanted a national footprint without negotiating with all 1,300 local phone companies," Ms. Hook said.

We hope the national footprint of the Festival will help inform as many people as possible on these important issues.

The merger of these two long-established, client-focused firms cemented a national footprint with more than 650 lawyers in 12 offices.

That grew to a national footprint in 1996.

The deal being discussed would give Bell Atlantic the national cellular footprint that the company has long sought.

So somebody has to get that national footprint.