Broadwing Signs Managed Hosting Agreements With Top Tier Firms; GE Capital, Federal Home Loan Bank and Smart Papers Benefit From Broadwing's Turnkey Solutions.

Business Editors & High Tech Writers

AUSTIN, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 24, 2001

Broadwing Communications, a wholly owned subsidiary of the optical communications leader Broadwing Inc. (NYSE:BRW), today announced new managed hosting contracts with three top tier firms, GE Capital IT Solutions, Federal Home Loan Bank of Cincinnati and Smart Papers, LLC.

"Through Broadwing Managed Hosting services we provide a full array of Internet solutions from engineering expertise and facilities to monitoring and management," said Jack Chidester, president of business enterprises, Broadwing Communications. "These services give customers the freedom to focus on their core competencies instead of worrying about their eBusiness infrastructure."

Broadwing's Managed Hosting Division is providing GE Capital IT Solutions and Federal Home Loan Bank of Cincinnati with network and computing infrastructure and fully managed hosting services that meet each company's eBusiness needs.

Smart Papers has selected Broadwing to host, manage and monitor their enterprise resource planning software (ERP) application. ERP integrates all departments and functions across a company onto a single computer system that can serve all those different departments' particular needs.

"Broadwing Managed Hosting is a one-stop shop -- from managing to monitoring it offers efficient outsourcing solutions that reduce costs and improve reliability," said Bruce Silberman, chief financial officer, Smart Papers. "It is refreshing to find a company with the strength and customer service to actually deliver what it promises."

Broadwing's Managed Hosting services enable customers to:

-- Save capital by outsourcing eBusiness infrastructure

-- Meet business requirements without investing in equipment that becomes
obsolete as business needs change and technology evolves

-- Leverage Broadwing's technical expertise and depth of knowledge without
adding additional staff

-- Improve the profitability of rich media assets by reducing production cycle
times and eliminating the rework of the review and approval process

As a single source provider, Broadwing Managed Hosting transports, configures, installs and maintains customer's computing and communications infrastructures and provides customized solutions.

Smart Papers is a leading specialty paper manufacturer of a wide variety of high-end, premium coated and uncoated paper products providing services to merchant distributors, label manufacturers, converters and commercial printers. Smart Paper's products are sold under well-established, market leading brand names such as Kromekote, All Purpose Litho, Carnival, Benefit and Knightkote. The mill is located in Hamilton, Ohio where it is ideally located to serve the needs of the North American printing and label markets.

GE Capital IT Solutions, which designs, creates, and manages IT infrastructure for business, is a GE Capital company. With headquarters in Newport, Kentucky, GE Capital IT Solutions offers seamless product and service solutions from industry-leading vendors to manage all aspects of information technology and e-business, including desktop support, network management, remote network monitoring, disaster recovery, storage, and wireless services. For details of these, and other quality GE Capital IT Solutions, please visit the GE Capital IT Solutions Customer Web Center (http://www.gecitsolutions.com).

Federal Home Loan Bank of Cincinnati is part of the Federal Home Loan Bank System, a nationwide financial network expanding housing and economic development opportunities throughout the U.S.

About Broadwing

Broadwing Inc. (NYSE:BRW) is parent to two of the industry's leading communications companies, Broadwing Communications and Cincinnati Bell. Broadwing Communications leads the industry as the world's first intelligent, all-optical, switched network provider and offers businesses nationwide a competitive advantage by providing data, voice and Internet solutions that are flexible, reliable and innovative on its 18,500-mile optical network and its award-winning IP backbone. Cincinnati Bell is one of the nation's most respected and best performing local exchange and wireless providers with a legacy of unparalleled customer service excellence and financial strength. Cincinnati Bell provides a wide range of telecommunications products and services to residential and business customers in Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana. Broadwing Inc. is headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio and has 6,400 employees in 56 sales and service offices across the country. For more information, visit www.broadwing.com.