ENGLEWOOD, CO, October 5, 1999 - Rhythms
NetConnections Inc. (Nasdaq: RTHM) today announced its support for a
wide-ranging decision by the Pennsylvania Public Utilities Commission (PA
PUC) that the commission itself described as "an aggressive move to
jump-start competition and boost investment in high-tech data and voice
networks."
"The commission's order puts Pennsylvania at the forefront when it
comes to ensuring its citizens real choices in broadband services," said
Jeffrey Blumenfeld, Rhythms chief legal counsel. "This is a sweeping
decision that embraces competition and will ensure that a much wider range
of broadband gets to more people. It also stops Bell Atlantic from
determining what services Pennsylvanians can buy and what services we can
sell."
From a broad policy perspective the order confirms two major points: 1)
Rhythms' roll-out of broadband in Pennsylvania is driving broadband
competition in the state; and 2) Bell Atlantic must provide the facilities
and information needed by competitors, like Rhythms, to enable them to
offer all of their innovative services. The commission recognized that
Rhythms "offers a much more comprehensive slate of services" than Bell
Atlantic.
Specifically, the recent PUC decision:
- Ordered Bell Atlantic to provide Rhythms with clean loops that
cannot be limited in length, allowing Rhythms to reach a broader range
of Pennsylvania customers.
- Ordered Bell Atlantic to remove devices - such as load coils and
bridge taps - that block DSL service over copper lines.
- Ordered Bell Atlantic to provide Rhythms with direct, real-time
electronic access to all loop information, so Rhythms can more
efficiently provide the best possible service to each customer.
- Ordered Bell Atlantic to provide the fullest possible range of
collocation options, so that Rhythms can locate its equipment in more
central offices to serve more customers.
- Determined reasonable costs for the CLECs to collocate their
equipment in Bell Atlantic's central offices.
- Ordered Bell Atlantic to create fully separate subsidiaries between
retail and wholesale, which will safeguard competitors and improve their
dealings with Bell Atlantic.
About Rhythms
Rhythms NetConnections Inc. (Nasdaq: RTHM)
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 27 markets, covering 47 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) (1-800-749-8467), or visit the Web site at http://www.rhythms.com/.
Contact:
Corinne
Mahoney
Public Relations
(303) 876-5052
cmahoney@rhythms.net
Eric
Hoffman
Edelman Public Relations
202-326-1724
eric_hoffman@edelman.com
####
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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