August 1, 1996

CONTACT: Joan Jamieson of NYNEX, 802-863-0797, or Bill Wiginton of Hyperion, 412-220-5060

NYNEX, Hyperion Reach Interconnection Agreement In Vermont

PITTSBURGH, Aug. 1 /PRNewswire/ -- NYNEX and Hyperion Telecommunications, Inc. announced today that they have signed Vermont's first local interconnection agreement, bringing competition for local telephone service to the state. By connecting their network to NYNEX's network, Hyperion will soon be able to offer local telephone service to Vermont customers. The agreement will be filed with the Vermont Public Service Board for its approval.

In addition to introducing competition into Vermont's local telecommunications market, this agreement to connect the two companies' telephone networks was designed to meet the 14-point checklist detailed in the Telecommunications Act of 1996. Before NYNEX can provide long-distance service originating in a state in its service territory (Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont and a small portion of Connecticut), NYNEX must meet the checklist in that state. The interconnection agreement between the two competitors seeks to comply with the points in this checklist by providing a blueprint for how they will connect their networks.

Among issues addressed in the agreement are reciprocal per-minute charges for the completion of local calls originated on each network (what NYNEX and Hyperion will bill each other); number portability (keeping the same phone number when switching telephone companies); and the availability of unbundled network elements (e.g. the telephone wire from a Central Office to a customer's home.)

According to Daniel L. Milliard, President of Hyperion, "The execution of this agreement represents a fulfillment of promises that Hyperion has made with respect to Vermont. We promised Governor Dean that we would provide a full array of telecommunications services including switched services to his state, we promised the Public Service Board and the Public Service Department that we would move as quickly as possible to deploy these services, and we promised our customers that we would provide a full array of these services, with superior service and at attractive prices. We promised competition and choice. The execution of this agreement begins the process of providing that choice."

"This landmark agreement brings NYNEX a step closer to entering new lines of business that will help our company grow in Vermont," said Robert Devaney, NYNEX vice president for Vermont. "More importantly, it will provide customers the benefits of increased competition that they're already experiencing in the long-distance market, including greater choice and the introduction of new products and services."