Speakeasy Offers Best Service to Detroit Broadband Users; Investment in Local NAP Ensures Best High-speed Internet Services to Residential and Small Business Customers.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 23, 2002

Speakeasy, the nation's largest independent broadband service provider, today announced deployment of an advanced Network Access Point (NAP) in Detroit.

As a result, Detroit area Speakeasy broadband subscribers will enjoy even more responsive connectivity and improved Internet performance.

Already identified as a nationwide leader in customer satisfaction by DSL Reports, Speakeasy is building upon its solid foundation through a commitment to unsurpassed customer service and industry-leading network technology.

"Speakeasy's continued investment in its network is indicative of its commitment to provide consumers with the best possible service," said Ernie Bergstrom, senior analyst with In-Stat/MDR, a market research firm covering the full spectrum of digital communications from vendor to end user. "Deploying a NAP in Detroit demonstrates the company's understanding of the needs of regional customers conducting business activities such as video conferencing or participating in online gaming, music and video-on-demand."

NAPs, also known as Internet Exchanges (IXs), are data traffic transfer points that deliver email messages and other information from network to network. They are critical to Internet efficiency because their connection to an Internet backbone determines how traffic is routed. Until recently, NAPs were deployed solely by major carriers and found only in major cities such as New York and San Francisco. Today, Speakeasy is one of the only Internet Service Providers (ISPs) in the nation to invest in regional NAPs.

"Speakeasy has been the best ISP I have had since I started using the Internet way back in '95," said Detroit-area resident Jimmy Baldwin, Jr. "And I have gone through a bunch of them including AOL, Prodigy, MSN and some local ISPs in my area. I have four PCs and a laptop that access the Internet at home using my SDSL line from Speakeasy, so everyone in the household is happy."

"Speakeasy's goal is to deliver the best high-speed Internet service available," noted company founder and CEO Michael Apgar. "Our customers demand reliability and quality -- and we deliver. With analysts expecting broadband services to be in more than thirty percent of U.S. residences within two years, we know that we need an outstanding infrastructure to maintain our high level of customer satisfaction. Deploying Speakeasy NAPs around the country is one part of our plan to continue our aggressive expansion, without sacrificing the level of service our customers have come to expect."

Speakeasy's NAP rollout stretches across the nation. NAPs have recently been added to the company's network in Miami, Portland, Minneapolis, Cleveland, and Dayton, with additional deployments planned in Pittsburgh, San Diego, Sacramento and Houston.

About Speakeasy

Founded in 1994, Speakeasy is the largest privately held, national broadband service provider specializing in DSL. Fusing a high performance national network, award-winning customer service, superior Internet utility and content, and a wide range of pioneering value-added services, Speakeasy delivers a comprehensive online experience that redefines the broadband frontier for both businesses and consumers. For more information, visit the company's web site at www.speakeasy.net.