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ENGLEWOOD, CO, September 22, 1999 - Rhythms NetConnections (Nasdaq: RTHM) today announced its support for an unanimous (5-0) decision by the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (MPUC) to move forward on line sharing, a process that will allow customers to order digital subscriber line (DSL) service from a competitive local exchange carrier (CLEC) over the same telephone line that already carries the customer's voice service.

"This ruling will clearly promote competition in the broadband marketplace," said Jeffrey Blumenfeld, General Counsel for Rhythms. "We simply asked the Minnesota PUC to require U S West to treat others the way they treat themselves. By taking the next step toward ordering line sharing, the Commission demonstrated its agreement with this basic question of fairness. Ultimately, line sharing will save Minnesotans money and give them more options for their broadband service needs by putting competitive providers like Rhythms on an even playing field with U S West."

In May, the MPUC opened a rulemaking docket to investigate whether it should allow CLECs to offer DSL services over the same telephone line used by the incumbent local telephone company, U S West, to provide voice services. In oral arguments before the full Commission, Rhythms supported the MPUC staff's recommendation that the MPUC proceed within a 45-day time period. Today, the full Commission ordered U S West to work with interested parties to develop the terms and conditions necessary to operationally implement line sharing within that 45-day period.

About Rhythms

Rhythms NetConnections Inc., is a leading provider of high-performance networking solutions for distributed networks and applications. Rhythms was chosen by FORTUNE magazine as one of its "Cool Companies for 1999." Based in Englewood, Colorado, Rhythms currently serves 26 markets, covering 45 MSAs. Telecommunications services for Rhythms are provided by Rhythms Links Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Rhythms. For more information, call 1-800-RHYTHMS (800-749-8467), or visits the Web site at http://www.rhythms.com/.

Contact:

Chris Hardman
Director, Public Relations
303-476-4259
chardman@rhythms.com

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This news release may contain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially because of various risks. These risks include risks associated with the demand and competition for the services and products to be sold by Rhythms, the continued availability of adequate financing to support our activities, the timing of rollouts in additional regions, the number of potential customers who could access such services, and our dependence on third parties for services such as providing collocation and transmission facilities, providing marketing and sales efforts, and supplying and installing equipment. For an expanded discussion on these and additional risks associated with Rhythms' business, please see the documents filed by Rhythms NetConnections Inc. with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

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