Meet the Man With the Fastest Internet Speed in the Country

ROSEVILLE, Calif., March 19 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- To the amazement of those watching, Jim Husman zipped around his computer like a Cheetah on the Serengeti as he completely dominated a Quake 3 video game versus other online gamers. The remarkable part was that he did this while simultaneously streaming a high definition movie trailer of Batman Begins, listening to an online radio music stream, checking his e-mail and uploading a massive graphic design file to one of his clients.

How was he able to do this? Husman was the first person to sign up for the fastest residential Internet speed in the country -- SureWest Communications' (NASDAQ: SURW) Internet product of up to 50 megabits per second (Mbps) of synchronous hyper-speed. Launched in December 2006 over SureWest's fiber-to-the-premise (FTTP) platform, which reaches nearly 100,000 marketable homes in the greater Sacramento, CA region, it is the only service in the United States that delivers 50 Mbps of residential Internet speed both uploading and downloading.

Upon hearing online rumors about SureWest's 50-meg launch, the 24-year-old Web designer gave SureWest a call to upgrade his previous service, which was the company's synchronous 20-meg Internet product. Husman was installed last month and now his speed tests repeatedly surpass 50 Mbps both up and down stream.

"Finally, someone understands what consumers want," says Husman. "Everybody should provide fast speeds like this, especially from an upload standpoint. It's being demanded by people all over Internet message boards. Let's just say there are a lot of jealous people out there who envy my Internet speed. It's great being the first in the country with this speed, but I look at it as SureWest's crowning achievement, not mine. I'm just elated that they are offering it."

SureWest is able to offer this unmatched Internet speed by delivering 100 Mbps of bi-directional bandwidth to each customer's home on its FTTP platform, leaving room to bundle video and voice services as well. With over 190,000 total marketable homes over its combined copper and fiber Broadband networks, SureWest can offer the 50-meg product to 52 percent of its Broadband service territory.

Living with his fiancee and her sister, Husman's household utilizes three computers and two laptops, all on the SureWest network, bundled with SureWest's Digital Choice TV package.

"There's no lag time at all when the three of us are using the Internet and uploading files or downloading video," Husman says. "As a Web designer, I have to upload files to my clients everyday. As a gamer, the 50-meg product is great because it gives you more flexibility to use other applications on your computer while your gaming speeds remain the same. It keeps my video game characters from getting shot and allows me to take advantage of my opponents."

Other early adopters are following Husman's lead, as over a handful of consumers have subscribed to SureWest's 50 Mbps service, which is valued at $259.95 per month. By bundling other SureWest services such as digital TV, high definition TV, local and long distance telephone, and PCS wireless, customers can save nearly $430 a year.

"More and more consumers like Jim are demanding these types of speeds," says SureWest President and CEO Steve Oldham. "SureWest takes pride in being a technology and innovation leader that offers products and services our competition can't. Because of our network, only SureWest can meet these types of Internet speed demands for customers in our 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. SureWest's bundled offerings include an array of advanced digital video, high-speed Internet, local and long distance telephone, and PCS wireless services. SureWest's fiber-to-the-premise IP-based network features high-definition video and synchronous Internet speeds of up to 50 Mbps.

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