WAYNESBORO, VA – September 8, 2010. NTELOS Holding Corp. (NASDAQ:NTLS, news, filings), a leading provider of wireless and wireline communications services (branded as nTelos) in Virginia, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania announced its implementation plan for a $16 million federal broadband stimulus award to bring much-needed broadband services and infrastructure to un-served and underserved households, businesses, and community facilities in the Alleghany Highlands of Virginia. The award, which required nTelos to match the $8 million federal grant, enables nTelos to build a “future proof” fiber optic network to serve the needs of Alleghany citizens for decades to come.
In making the announcement, Congressman Rick Boucher said, “The new fiber-to-the-premise Internet access services will improve the quality of life in the region, providing residents and businesses in Alleghany County with new opportunities for communications, education, entertainment, shopping and conducting business online. Local entrepreneurs will be able to enhance their businesses with online tools and reach new customers, and residents will have the option of telecommuting. And the new high-speed Internet services will ensure the region is able to attract technology-based businesses.”
At the press conference at the YMCA in Low Moor, Chief Executive Officer Jim Hyde emphasized nTelos’ commitment to the Alleghany Highlands. Hyde said, “Since the company was founded in 1897 in Clifton Forge, nTelos has embarked on a century-long journey to achieve its status as a leader in the communications industry and in the regions we serve.”
Frank Berry, President of nTelos Wireline, recognized the individuals whose support made possible the opportunity to bring fiber optic technology to the Alleghany Highlands. He said, “Leaders in the Alleghany Highlands, including Delegate James Shuler, Senator Creigh Deeds along with the Alleghany Highlands Economic Development Corporation, Covington City Council, Alleghany Highlands Chamber of Commerce, Alleghany County Board of Supervisors, Clifton Forge Town Council, Alleghany Highlands Free Clinic, Dabney S. Lancaster Community College, and MeadWestvaco were among numerous organizations, businesses and community leaders who supported the initiative to advance Alleghany Highlands’ ability to compete in the 21st century.”
David Kleppinger, executive director of the Alleghany Highlands Economic Development Corporation expressed excitement that “nTelos stepped boldly forward and successfully obtained the funds necessary to build a last mile fiber network throughout the Alleghany Highlands. This infrastructure is absolutely critical to the economic future of the Alleghany Highlands.”
nTelos received the federal stimulus award from the Rural Utilities Service 50/50 program under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The service area is comprised of a majority of Alleghany County, Virginia, minus the city of Covington and the towns of Clifton Forge and Iron Gate, which are already classified as “served” by the federal stimulus guidelines. The service area will reach a population of almost 9,200 residents in an estimated 4,216 households. While a portion of these households already have access to broadband services, the new high-speed fiber-based services provided with this $16 million initiative will enable more cost-effective and secure communications, including video and non-Internet data services using Fiber-to-the-Premises (FTTP) technology. The initiative will be substantially complete by August 2012. The tremendous bandwidth capacity of the proposed last-mile fiber network will be able to support future high-bandwidth applications and services for decades to come.
About NTELOS
NTELOS Holdings Corp. (NASDAQ: NTLS) is an integrated communications provider with headquarters in Waynesboro, VA. NTELOS provides products and services to customers in Virginia, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Ohio, Tennessee, Maryland and North Carolina, including nationwide 3G wireless voice and data services, local and long distance telephone, high capacity transport, networking and high-speed Broadband data services and IPTV-based video products. Detailed information about NTELOS is available at www.ntelos.com.
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