FPL FiberNet signs contract with SBC Communications to lease fiber in 5 metropolitan Florida markets

May 24, 2000

FPL FiberNet, LLC
Corporate Communications
Media Line: 305-552-3888
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MIAMI, Fla. -- FPL FiberNet, LLC, one of Florida's leading providers of fiber optic infrastructure, today announced it has signed a contract valued at as much as $110 million to lease dark fiber to SBC Communications Inc., as part of its national expansion. Under the long-term agreement, FPL FiberNet will provide dark fiber to SBC in the metropolitan areas of Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, Tampa, St. Petersburg, Boca Raton and West Palm Beach.

"We are particularly gratified to have been chosen by SBC, one of the world's most highly respected telecommunications companies," said Neil Flynn, FPL FiberNet president. "This transaction validates our strategy and reflects the growing demand for fiber and capacity in metropolitan areas. This growth is fueled by the explosion of the Internet and by new telecommunications entrants."

FPL FiberNet operates a 1,600-mile fiber-optic, long-haul network in Florida and is building approximately 1,500 miles of 432-count fiber in the major metropolitan areas of the state. "We are currently installing fiber in more than 150 cities and municipalities in Florida. In addition to the metropolitan area networks in which we will serve SBC, we will complete networks in Jacksonville, Fort Myers, Sarasota, Melbourne, Daytona, Fort Pierce, Lakeland, Tallahassee, Pensacola, Naples, and Gainesville," said Mr. Flynn.

Under multiple interconnection agreements, FPL FiberNet sells additional bandwidth through an 8,600-mile network that extends throughout the southeastern U.S. Within two years, FPL FiberNet's network in Florida will expand to more than 3,000 route-miles of fiber and 600,000 fiber-miles.

"Today's agreement is an important step forward in providing a full-service communications alternative to millions of businesses and consumers across the United States," said Ron Blake, who oversees the national expansion as president of SBC Telecom. "Strategic alliances like this one, and our agreement with Williams Communications, make undeniable business sense in today's competitive communications marketplace," Blake added. "This agreement is in the best interest of our customers and our shareowners. It allows us to move fast, operate the highest quality network, and allocate resources prudently."

FPL FiberNet is the telecommunications subsidiary of FPL Group, Inc., (NYSE: FPL), one of the nation's largest providers of electricity-related services with annual revenues of more than $6 billion. Florida Power & Light Company, with 3.8 million customer accounts in Florida, is FPL Group's principal subsidiary. FPL Energy, LLC, is FPL Group's U.S. and international energy-generating subsidiary and a leader in producing electricity from clean and renewable fuels. Additional information about FPL FiberNet is available on the Internet at www.fplfibernet.com.

SBC Communications Inc. (www.sbc.com) is a global communications leader. Through its subsidiaries' trusted brands - Southwestern Bell, Ameritech, Pacific Bell, Nevada Bell, SNET and Cellular One - and world-class network, SBC's subsidiaries provide local and long-distance phone service, wireless and data communications, paging, high-speed Internet access and messaging, cable and satellite television, security services and telecommunications equipment, as well as directory advertising and publishing. In the United States, the company currently has 94.1 million voice grade equivalent lines, 11.7 million wireless customers and is undertaking a national expansion program that will bring SBC service to an additional 30 markets. Internationally, SBC has telecommunications investments in 22 countries. With more than 208,000 employees, SBC is the 13th-largest employer in the U.S., with annual revenues that rank it among the largest Fortune 500 companies.

NOTE: Questions pertaining to SBC Communications can be directed to Ed Presberg at 314-982-8688.