Teleport Communications Group Files To Become Local Exchange Carrier In North Carolina

Business Wire, June 3, 1997

CHARLOTTE, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 3, 1997--Teleport Communications Group Inc. (TCG) today announced that it filed an application Monday with the North Carolina Utilities Commission seeking competitive local exchange carrier authority.

TCG's application asks for authority to provide competitive local voice, video and data services including dedicated and switched access, private line, local dial tone, toll calling, data and Internet access service.

"We view this application to provide local phone service as a natural progression of TCG's expansion plans," said Paul Kouroupas, TCG's Eastern Region Vice President of Regulatory and External Affairs. "North Carolina's solid business market provides the ideal backdrop for introducing competitive local phone competition. We're confident that consumers are ready for more reliable services at more competitive rates via a robust, facilities-based carrier such as TCG."

Kouroupas said that TCG services will be initially offered to business customers in the Charlotte area and in other areas as market demand grows.

TCG is the nation's first and largest provider of competitive local telecommunications services, for information-intensive businesses in 57 major markets. With the completion of eight new networks by the end of 1997, TCG will serve 65 major markets with an array of advanced voice, data, video and Internet services. Visit TCG on the World Wide Web at: www.tcg.com.

CONTACT: Teleport Communications Group Inc.

Paul Kouroupas, 202/739-0030