Partners Create Fiber Network

WASHINGTON, D.C.--- Six energy and telecommunications companies today announced the creation of America's Fiber Network LLC, a new super-regional, high-speed fiber optics company with a network of more than 7,000 route miles, or 140,000 fiber miles, connecting major markets in the eastern United States to secondary markets with a growing need for broadband access.

The initial footprint of fiber in America's Fiber Network (AFN) puts the company in position to reach areas responsible for roughly 35 percent of the national wholesale communications capacity market. AFN is a new telecommunications company formed by AEP Communications, a subsidiary of American Electric Power (NYSE: AEP); GPU Telcom, a subsidiary of GPU, Inc.; Allegheny Communications Connect, a subsidiary of Allegheny Energy, Inc.; FirstEnergy Telecom, a subsidiary of FirstEnergy Corp.; CFW Communications; and R&B Communications.

AFN serves as a "carrier's carrier," providing telecommunications capacity to Internet service providers, competitive local exchange providers, long-distance providers and wireless communications companies. Customers already under contract include many of the nation's leading telecommunications companies.

http://www.http://www.americasfibernetwork.com/afn/news.htm