Agreement Gives Covad a Strong Position
in Remaining Line Sharing Negotiations Around the Country
Santa Clara, Calif. (April 27, 2000) - Covad
Communications (NASDAQ: COVD), the leading national broadband
services provider utilizing DSL (Digital Subscriber Line)
technology, has entered into a regional agreement to share phone
lines with BellSouth to provide high-speed broadband access in
BellSouth's nine-state territory. Covad is the only competitive
carrier who has reached an agreement with BellSouth, which will pave
the way for other competitive data companies to follow suit. This
deal follows a similar contract signed this week between Covad and
US WEST.
"We are pleased with the BellSouth agreement and look forward to
speedy implementation of line sharing throughout the South," said
Catherine Boone, Covad Regional Counsel for the BellSouth territory.
"The primary benefit of this agreement is a quicker, easier DSL
installation for consumers at a more competitive rate and with a
greater choice of providers. Another substantial benefit of both the
BellSouth and US WEST contracts is that we have stronger footing in
our negotiations and arbitrations with the remaining incumbent
carriers."
Under the agreement, Covad has locked in an interim monthly loop
rate of $6 per line. Ultimately, the final costs associated with
line sharing will be set by individual state Public Utility
Commissions (PUCs) and all interim costs will be adjusted
retroactively. Covad believes that the final cost for the shared
lines should be zero dollars per month. The agreement will allow
Covad to begin ordering line shared loops on June 6th in many areas
of BellSouth's territory and full implementation is expected by the
end of July.
In November of 1999, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
required local incumbent phone companies to share existing phone
lines with competitive carriers, including Covad, by June 6, 2000.
Line sharing allows consumers to use their existing phone line for
both normal phone service provided by a local phone company and for
high speed Digital Subscriber Line data access through another
provider. The ruling helped to level the playing field by giving
consumers the choice of DSL providers without the burden of a
separate line, longer installation, and higher prices.
About Covad
Covad is the leading national broadband
services provider of high-speed Internet and network access
utilizing Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) technology. It offers DSL,
IP and dial-up services through Internet Service Providers,
telecommunications carriers, enterprises, affinity groups, PC OEMs
and ASPs to small and medium-sized businesses and home users. Covad
services are currently available across the United States in 63 of
the top Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) and are expected to be
available in 100 MSAs by the end of 2000. At that time, Covad's
network will reach more than 40 percent of all US homes and 45
percent of all US businesses. Corporate headquarters is located at
2330 Central Expressway, Santa Clara, CA 95050. Telephone:
1-888-GO-COVAD. Web Site: www.covad.com.
Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation
Reform Act of 1995:
The statements contained in this release
which are not historical facts may be deemed to contain
forward-looking statements, including but not limited to statements
regarding overall market demand for the Company's services, the
impact of line sharing on DSL installation intervals and pricing,
the ability to continue to build out central offices with deployment
of the Company's network in new and existing regions, the ability to
scale our business and the timing and breadth of coverage in each
region. Actual results may differ materially from those anticipated
in any forward-looking statements as a result of certain risks and
uncertainties, including, without limitation, the Company's
dependence on strategic third parties to market and resell its
services, intense competition for the Company's service offerings,
dependence on growth in demand for DSL-based services, dependence on
incumbent local exchange carriers for collocation, unbundled network
elements and transport, ability to manage growth of our operations
and other risks and uncertainties detailed in the Company's
Securities and Exchange Commission filings.