NEXTLINK and HighSpeed.com Form Strategic Alliance; NEXTLINK Makes Equity Investment and Purchases 300 MHz of LMDS Broadband Wireless Spectrum in Denver.

BELLEVUE and WALLA WALLA, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 16, 1999--

-- HIGHSPEED.COM obtains operating capital to speed deployment

and access to network-related services --

NEXTLINK Communications, Inc. (Nasdaq:NXLK), and HighSpeed.Com, L.L.C. announced a strategic partnership in which NEXTLINK will pay $18.7 million to HighSpeed.Com in exchange for a 15 percent equity position in the company and 300 MHz of Local Multipoint Distribution Service (LMDS) broadband wireless spectrum in Denver, Colorado.

"This agreement is another step toward achieving NEXTLINK's goal of utilizing broadband wireless networks to complement the incredibly robust local fiber networks we are building throughout the United States," said NEXTLINK Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Dan Akerson. "We are pleased to be working with HighSpeed.Com. Many in our organization have known their principals and management team for a number of years through past associations in the cellular industry."

In addition to the equity investment and purchase of spectrum, the agreement provides for certain additional network-related services to be provided by NEXTLINK to HighSpeed.Com. HighSpeed.Com intends to use proceeds of the transaction for further acquisitions similar to their recently-closed purchase of Colorado LMDS licensee BTA Associates, and for operating capital allowing the company to continue their deployment of voice and data communication solutions over a variety of mediums. "The value of the network services was an important part of our decision to partner with NEXTLINK," added Thomas P. Sawatzki, HighSpeed.Com's President. "We are looking forward to leveraging this relationship and furthering the business case for voice and data communication solutions in our markets."

The transaction is subject to certain conditions, including receiving regulatory approval. "We are very excited about this partnership with NEXTLINK," said Kyle W. Mussman, Chairman and CEO of HighSpeed.Com. "We believe there is a tremendous future in providing broadband solutions to markets of varying sizes, and we believe this investment by NEXTLINK in our company is compelling evidence of that opportunity."

Walla Walla, Washington-based HighSpeed.Com was formed in 1997 as a Competitive Local Exchange Carrier in seven western states providing competitive voice and data solutions over various mediums, including using Local Multipoint Distribution Service (LMDS) licenses obtained in recent FCC auctions. These LMDS licenses cover a population base of approximately twelve (12) million potential subscribers in seven western states. The company currently employs over 50 people.

NEXTLINK was founded in 1994 by telecommunications pioneer Craig O. McCaw to provide high quality, broadband communications services to businesses over fiber optic and broadband wireless facilities across the United States. NEXTLINK currently is providing service in 47 markets.

NEXTLINK is the largest holder of broadband fixed wireless spectrum in North America, with licenses covering 95 percent of the population in the top 30 markets in the United States. NEXTLINK's wireless capabilities will complement and extend the reach of its local fiber optic networks in the markets in which NEXTLINK has spectrum.

Additionally, NEXTLINK, through a joint venture with McCaw's Eagle River Investments, has acquired exclusive rights to use certain fibers and a conduit throughout a 16,000-mile high-speed, IP-centric fiber optic backbone network that will connect over 50 cities in the United States and Canada. The network is expected to be completed in 2001, with NEXTLINK turning on segments of the network as early as late 1999. Through this unrivaled collection of facilities, NEXTLINK will provide integrated, end-to-end telecommunications solutions to its customers.

The statements contained in this release, which are not historical facts, are "forward-looking statements" (as such term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995). Management wishes to caution the reader that these forward-looking statements, regarding matters that are not historical facts, are only predictions and are subject to risks and uncertainties. No assurance can be given that the future results will be achieved. Such risks include those identified in the Company's Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998 and other reports and registration statements on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and also include, but are not limited to, the Company's ability to successfully market its services to current and new customers, to design and construct fiber optic networks, install cable and facilities, including switching electronics, to develop, install and provision LMDS equipment and interconnect that equipment with the Company's fiber networks and connect the networks, including LMDS equipment to customers and to interconnect with existing local exchange carriers, all in a timely manner, at reasonable costs and on satisfactory terms and conditions, and certain risks related to the Company's national network strategy.