Alaska Communications Systems Announces Appointment of Sales & Marketing Executive.

Business Editors

ANCHORAGE, Alaska--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 11, 2001

Alaska Communications Systems Group, Inc. ("ACS") (Nasdaq:ALSK) today announced that Michael K. Nichols will join the Company as Vice President, Sales and Marketing on June 1, 2001. ACS also announced that John R. Ayers, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, will be retiring at the expiration of his employment agreement on May 24. Mr. Ayers will provide transitional support on an interim basis under a contract.

Mr. Nichols has for the last 10 years been part owner and President of International Telecom, Inc. (ITI), a telecommunications company headquartered in Anchorage, Alaska. Under Mr. Nichols' leadership, ITI has established domestic and international toll, payphone and calling card businesses. He was Vice President of Marketing for Alascom, Inc. from 1979 to 1991, and worked for Motorola as an international account manager from 1973 to 1979. Mr. Nichols holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Texas and earned a commission as a Communications Electronics Officer in the U.S. Air Force, with the rank of Captain. He will report directly to C. E. Robinson, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, with responsibility for sales and marketing activities for all of the company's product lines and services.

ACS is the leading diversified, facilities based telecommunications carrier in Alaska, offering local telephone service, wireless, long distance, data, and Internet services to business and residential customers throughout Alaska. ACS currently serves approximately 330,000 access lines and 76,000 cellular customers throughout the State. ACS is traded on NASDAQ under the symbol "ALSK."

Statements contained in this press release that are not historical fact are "forward-looking statements" that involve a number of known and unknown risks or uncertainties. Additional factors, which may affect actual results, are contained in the Company's filings with the SEC. Forward-looking statements in this release are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.