SURW Surewest Communications (MM)

New Speed Featured in 'Ultimate Package' With the Best of SureWest's Core Products ROSEVILLE, Calif., Dec. 13 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- With today's announcement of a hyper-speed Internet offering of up to 50 Megabits per second (Mbps) and a newly-created "Ultimate Package," leading independent telecommunications holding company SureWest Communications (NASDAQ:SURW) continues to remain best-in-class when it comes to broadband service providers. (Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050908/SFSUREWESTLOGO ) Beginning Tuesday, December 19, SureWest Broadband will begin to offer residential customers over its fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) network a new Internet service offering up to 50 Mbps of hyper-speed access as it continues to add to its industry-leading data product portfolio, which also includes packages for speeds up to 20 and 10 Mbps. Similar to its 20 and 10 Mbps offerings, the 50-Meg product is synchronous, meaning that consumers receive up to 50 Mbps for both uploading and downloading. "When it comes to broadband, SureWest transport speed standards are much higher than industry standards," says Steve Oldham, SureWest's president and CEO. "We are providing a product that utilizes our large data pipe for residential customers who are looking for the fastest Internet around. Because our fiber delivers 100 Mbps of synchronous bandwidth directly to a customer's home, we are able to offer products like this which differentiate us from our competitors." SureWest is bundling the 50 Mbps offering in its newly-created "Ultimate" quadruple play package for customers who want the best of everything. The "Ultimate" package includes 50 Mbps of hyper-speed Internet; digital TV's highest-end package, Full Color Multiplex, which features over 250 channels and includes every premium channel; National Unlimited local and long distance telephone; and Unlimited USA wireless with 1,000 travel minutes each month. Customers can sign up for the "Ultimate" quadruple play for $415.18 a month - a bundled savings of nearly $430 a year. The 50 Mbps product is valued at $259.95 per month. "The 'Ultimate Package' is specialized for and targeted at those who are early adopters and want the best of the best," says Fred Arcuri, SureWest's senior vice president and chief operating officer. "When it comes to the 50- meg product, gamers and customers who download and upload large files such as music, images, videos and movies will love this hyper-speed offering." SureWest's FTTH network reaches nearly 100,000 marketable homes in the Sacramento region. About SureWest Serving the Northern California region for more than 90 years, SureWest Communications (http://www.surewest.com/) is one of the nation's leading integrated communications providers. SureWest's bundled offerings include an array of advanced digital video, high-speed Internet, local and long distance telephone, PCS wireless and directories services. SureWest's fiber-to-the- premise IP-based network features high definition video and Internet speeds of up to 50 Mbps. Contact: Ron Rogers Public Relations Manager 916-746-3123 http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050908/SFSUREWESTLOGO http://photoarchive.ap.org/ DATASOURCE: SureWest Communications CONTACT: Ron Rogers, Public Relations Manager of SureWest Communications, +1-916-746-3123, or Web site: http://www.surewest.com/

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