EarthLink Launches the City of Milpitas Municipal Wireless Network

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EarthLink Launches the City of Milpitas Municipal Wireless Network
    Network Kickoff Will Include Free Service for Milpitas Residents and
                         Visitors for Next 30 Days

    ATLANTA and MILPITAS, Calif., Dec. 19 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Today,
EarthLink (Nasdaq: ELNK) will officially launch the City of Milpitas,
California's (http://www.ci.milpitas.ca.gov) municipal wireless network --
the company's second market build out in California this year. The Mayor of
Milpitas, Jose Esteves, will 'unwire' the City at a wire cutting ceremony
at City Hall beginning at 12:20 pm, PT today.
    Today also marks the beginning of 30 consecutive days of free service
available for all residents of and visitors to Milpitas, so that they can
test and use the EarthLink Wi-Fi(SM) services anywhere throughout the
approximately 10-square mile Wi-Fi mesh network.
    "EarthLink's Milpitas Wi-Fi mesh network changes the game -- people
aren't tied to their desks or to limited hot spot areas for coverage -- now
they can make a choice about how or from where they want to access the
Internet," said Donald Berryman, executive vice president of EarthLink and
president of the ISP's municipal networks unit. "We are happy to be
launching this network in the heart of Silicon Valley -- and working with
the City has been a tremendous experience -- so we hope the residents and
visitors enjoy accessing the network for the next 30 days, free-of-charge."
    "Providing wireless broadband in Milpitas creates a citywide service to
residents, businesses and visitors to our community," said Jose Esteves,
Mayor of the City of Milpitas. "This has been a goal of the City's Economic
Development Commission and we are pleased with the investment that
EarthLink is making in Milpitas."
    EarthLink has won numerous honors and awards for its dial-up and high
speed service and, today, officially adds its latest access offering for
wirelessly enabled customers in Milpitas -- EarthLink Wi-Fi(SM).
    Residents interested in signing up for service can subscribe to
EarthLink Wi-Fi(SM). For $21.95 a month, they will receive all the products
and support they have come to expect from EarthLink, including eight
mailboxes and the ISP's powerful protection tools, such as spamBlocker and
the EarthLink Protection Control Center(TM). Qualifying customers also
receive a Wi-Fi modem for at-home use.
    For occasional use customers, once the 30-day promotion ends, EarthLink
will offer a wireless broadband service with rates ranging from $3.95 for a
one-hour pass to $15.95 for a three-day pass. Occasional use customers will
connect and access account information from the EarthLink portal page. The
network will also serve as a platform for City, business and wholesale
partners to access EarthLink's municipal network for their employees and
end- users.
    As part of its commitment to open access, EarthLink will enable
multiple providers, such as PeoplePC (http://www.peoplepc.com), to offer
their Internet service to consumers and businesses over its network.
    Wi-Fi is short for wireless fidelity. It enables a person to connect
his or her computer, cell phone or PDA to the Internet or another Wi-Fi
enabled device, without a traditional 'wired' connection.
    EarthLink has deployed Tropos Networks' (http://www.tropos.com)
MetroMesh Wi-Fi routers on light poles throughout the city that enable
reliable wireless data connectivity between users and the Internet. The
Tropos system forms a wireless mesh, intelligently routing data to produce
the best possible user experience. The network is operated and optimized
using Tropos Control and Tropos Insight, a suite of end-to-end
configuration, monitoring and maintenance tools. In addition, EarthLink has
deployed Motorola's MOTOwi4(TM) portfolio of products, including its
Canopy(TM) high-speed backhaul and Wi-Fi mesh network equipment.
    For more information on EarthLink Wi-Fi, please go to:
http://www.earthlink.net/wifi.
    For more information on EarthLink's Municipal Networks business unit,
please go to: http://www.earthlink.net/muni.
    About EarthLink
    "EarthLink. We revolve around you(SM)." As the nation's next generation
Internet service provider, Atlanta-based EarthLink has earned an
award-winning reputation for outstanding customer service and its suite of
online products and services. Serving over five million subscribers,
EarthLink offers what every user should expect from their Internet
experience: high-quality connectivity, minimal online intrusions and
customizable features. Whether it's dial-up, high-speed, voice, web
hosting, wireless or "EarthLink Extras" like home networking or security,
EarthLink connects people to the power and possibilities of the Internet.
Learn more about EarthLink by calling (800) EARTHLINK or visiting
EarthLink's Web site at http://www.EarthLink.net. http://www.earthlink.net
SOURCE EarthLink
http://www.EarthLink.net
http://www.earthlink.net/wifi
http://www.earthlink.net/muni
http://www.ci.milpitas.ca.gov
http://www.peoplepc.com
http://www.tropos.com
CONTACT:
Deisha Galberth of EarthLink,
+1-404-748-7146, or galberth@corp.earthlink.net; or Diana B.
Whitecar of the City of Milpitas, +1-408-586-3059, or
dwhitecar@ci.milpitas.ca.gov