WinStar receives CLEC authority in Wisconsin; authorized to provide competitive local exchange services

Business Wire, August 23, 1996

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Aug. 23, 1996--WINSTAR COMMUNICATIONS, INC. (NASDAQ-WCII) announced that it has received an "interim" certificate from the state of Wisconsin to provide competitive local exchange carrier (CLEC) services. Wisconsin is issuing interim certifications to CLECs while it completes an ongoing proceeding which will determine permanent rules for CLECs and their services in the state. This certification authorizes WinStar to provide a full array of local voice, video, and data services in competition with Ameritech and GTE in Wisconsin. This is the twelfth state in which WinStar has received CLEC authorization, with the others being California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, New York, Tennessee, Texas, and Washington. WinStar has now received CLEC authorizations covering 24 of the 41 major markets in which it plans to roll out its CLEC business over the next three years. It has filed for CLEC authorization in a number of additional state covering all of the other markets in which it has 38 GHz licenses. WinStar currently is operating its CLEC business in New York City, as a reseller, and plans to begin installing switches in New York and other markets this fall. It plans to provide CLEC service in Wisconsin next year, where it ha 38 GHz licenses in the Milwaukee market.

WinStar Communications, Inc. is a local telecommunications company. WinSta Wireless is a competitive access provider which provides its Wireless Fiber(SM) "last mile" telecommunications services, using its 38 GHz licenses, to long distance carriers, competitive access providers, mobile communications companies, local telephone companies, and other customers with broadband local communications needs. WinStar Telecommunications provides telecommunications services in competition with the incumbent loca telephone companies. WinStar Gateway Network provides long distance telephone service. WinStar New Media creates and distributes information services and entertainment content as a complement to WinStar's telecommunications activities.

Wireless Fiber is a service mark of WinStar Communications, Inc.

CONTACTS: Financial Community

Michelle Davis

Manager of Investor Relations

WinStar Communications, Inc.

(212) 687-7577 Ext. 153

or

Press

Steve Hein

Technology Solutions, Inc.

(212) 696-2000 Ext. 250

northstar@tsipr.com