Broadwing Takes the Difficulty Out of Web Site Creation With Shared Web Hosting, eCommerce Services.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

AUSTIN, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 2, 2000

Broadwing Inc. (NYSE:BRW)

Products' General Availability Gives Small and

Midsize Businesses a Competitive Advantage

Broadwing Communications, a wholly owned subsidiary of Broadwing Inc. (NYSE:BRW), today announced the general availability of its new shared Web Hosting and eCommerce services designed to meet the needs of small to mid-sized businesses. These new services, available since July 27, 2000, give growing businesses the ability to create their own Web site or ecommerce market directly from the Broadwing Web site.

Broadwing's shared Web Hosting services enable businesses to more quickly, easily, and cost effectively develop their Web sites and on-line ecommerce capabilities. With a few clicks of the mouse, customers are able to build attractive Web sites and ecommerce storefronts without the high cost and difficulty of keeping up with frequent technological advances in Web design.

Broadwing is bringing to market new pre-configured packages with innovative bundling and pricing that make Web site development easy to learn and use, eliminating some of the obstacles that in the past have prevented businesses from building a compelling presence on the Web. Unlike other Web Hosting services available today, Broadwing's new offer bundles sophisticated web site and ecommerce storefront building tools and an integrated suite of site management utilities with each of the packages. For businesses with greater ecommerce needs, Broadwing also offers larger packages that include online credit card network gateway access setup fees as well as merchant banking application fees.

"Nearly half of small and midsize businesses do not have a presence on the World Wide Web. They are reluctant because they perceive it to be too costly, are intimidated by technology or they're uncertain about how they can make the Web a useful part of their business," said Dom DeAngelo, president of Internet/Data Services at Broadwing Communications. "Broadwing is providing a feature-rich Web site tool and suite of management tools that take the guesswork out of establishing an effective web presence."

Broadwing's shared Web Hosting services include six pre-configured Web site hosting packages ranging from 20 to 200 megabyte sites; plus four pre-configured eCommerce storefront packages allowing customers to quickly build on-line store fronts that include anywhere from a basic 10 catalog site to an unlimited item catalog. All packages, available now, are hosted in Broadwing's state-of-the-art data center facilities, which provide critical access to the company's OC-48 IP network backbone.

Broadwing's Web Hosting and eCommerce services include a site design engine and a suite of site management applications that are designed for both novice and professional users. New users can quickly and easily build a professional Web site while advanced users can introduce significant levels of sophistication and customization to their online business.

For example, Broadwing's management utilities allow users to perform a variety of functions, including adding email accounts, managing user names, upgrading or downgrading the site, changing design and content, adding ecommerce capabilities, registering with search engines, and searching for and registering domain names. Users can log onto http//www.broadwing.com to learn more about Broadwing's Web Hosting and eCommerce packages and options.

About Broadwing

Broadwing Communications is a wholly owned subsidiary of Broadwing Inc (NYSE: BRW). Broadwing combines unparalleled customer service with the industry's most advanced and flexible 17,000 mile next-generation fiber optic network and award-winning IP backbone, to create data and Internet solutions that are innovative, reliable, and provide businesses a competitive advantage. Broadwing will be the first provider with a fully deployed optical network and sets the standard for customer accountability with the industry's only Installation Guarantee. Headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio and Austin, Texas with 6,000 employees in 52 sales and service offices across the country, Broadwing can be found on the Web at www.broadwing.com.