SureWest CEO Comments on FCC Decision to Bar Exclusive Cable TV Pacts

SureWest CEO Comments on FCC Decision to Bar Exclusive Cable TV Pacts

ROSEVILLE, Calif., Oct. 31 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Leading independent telecommunications holding company SureWest Communications (NASDAQ:SURW) released the following statement which can be attributed to its President and Chief Executive Officer Steve Oldham:

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050908/SFSUREWESTLOGO)

"We are extremely pleased that today the Federal Communications
Commission (FCC) voted to liberate one of the last consumer groups
victimized by lack of choice among cable television providers -- the large
segment of Americans who live in rental apartments, other multi-dwelling
units (MDUs) and many developments. The FCC's ruling declares contracts
that provide individual cable companies exclusive rights to MDUs
unenforceable, thereby allowing these consumers to take full advantage of
the same video programming choices as owners of most single family
dwellings.
"SureWest initiated this public interest issue with the FCC almost two
years ago, and with the help of other communications companies, has worked
hard to see it reach today's end result. Previously, nearly 50 percent of
MDU consumers in the areas passed by SureWest did not have the ability to
choose their service provider due to an exclusive contract. The FCC has
made it clear that will not be the case any longer.
"Some interest groups have claimed that consumers will not see any
benefit from this action. We disagree. This change will work powerfully
and inexorably over time to the advantage of every MDU resident.
"On behalf of SureWest, I commend Chairman Kevin Martin and the FCC
for its initiative. We look forward to the opportunity to show more
Sacramento area renters what great products and services SureWest already
makes available to others in the region."

About SureWest

Serving the Northern California region for more than 90 years, SureWest Communications (http://www.surewest.com/) is one of the nation's leading integrated communications providers, and is the bandwidth leader in the markets it serves. SureWest's bundled offerings include an array of advanced digital video, high-speed Internet, local and long distance telephone, and wireless PCS. SureWest's fiber-to-the-premise IP-based network features high-definition video and symmetrical Internet speeds of up to 50 Mbps.

Contact: Ron Rogers
Public Relations Manager
916-746-3123
r.rogers@surewest.com

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Photo:

http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050908/SFSUREWESTLOGO
AP Archive:

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PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
Source: SureWest Communications

CONTACT: Ron Rogers, Public Relations Manager of SureWest
Communications, +1-916-746-3123, r.rogers@surewest.com

Web site:

http://www.surewest.com/

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