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Long-time Ohio Consumers’ Counsel lawyer receives national Golden Phone award

Editor’s Note: Mr. Bergmann is a resident of Columbus, Ohio (Zip Code 43221)

COLUMBUS, Ohio – October 4, 2007 – An annual national award to recognize outstanding commitment and support to the advancement of community voice mail has been awarded to David Bergmann of the Office of the Ohio Consumers’ Counsel.

Today, the national nonprofit organization Community Voice Mail announced Bergmann as the recipient of its 2007 Golden Phone Award at its annual meeting in Seattle. Bergmann is an Assistant Consumers’ Counsel in Ohio and serves as chair of the National Association of State Utility Consumer Advocates’ Telecommunications Committee.

Since 1991, Community Voice Mail (www.cvm.org) has worked to provide free voice mailboxes to consumers in crisis. Examples include domestic violence victims who need a secure way to communicate, and the homeless who use the voice mailboxes as contact numbers when searching for housing and employment. The organization currently serves 41,000 people in over 400 cities each year through 39 sites across the country, including the Cleveland area.

“David has worked tirelessly on both the state and national levels to advocate on behalf of residential utility consumers,” said Janine Migden-Ostrander, Consumers’ Counsel. “The need to bring community voice mail to states like Ohio has been a goal for our office and we hope it will become a reality. I am proud that David has been chosen for this honor. When consumers need a voice, he is always there to represent their interests.”

Community Voice Mail’s executive director, Jennifer Brandon, also praised Bergmann’s assistance to her group as it grasped the complex funding issues involving the federal Universal Service Fund and the Lifeline portion of the fund, which makes basic telephone service more affordable for low-income consumers.

“We are honored to call David a friend of Community Voice Mail and we thank him for his commitment and generosity,” said Brandon.

Bergmann joined the Consumers’ Counsel’s staff in 1982. He received a bachelor’s degree from Michigan State University, his juris doctor from the University of Michigan and an MBA from The Ohio State University. He grew up in the Akron area and resides in Columbus.

About the Office of the Ohio Consumers' Counsel

The Office of the Ohio Consumers' Counsel (OCC), the residential utility consumer advocate, represents the interests of 4.5 million households in proceedings before state and federal regulators and in the courts. The state agency also educates consumers about electric, natural gas, telephone and water issues and resolves complaints from individuals. To receive utility information, brochures, schedule a presentation or file a utility complaint, residential consumers may call 1-877-PICKOCC (1-877-742-5622) toll free in Ohio or visit the OCC website at www.pickocc.org.