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CTE Announces Delivery of Faster Broadband Internet Access Service at No Increase in Price

DALLAS, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 12, 2004--Commonwealth Telephone Enterprises, Inc. ("CTE") (NASDAQ: CTCO), today announced that it has launched two enhanced 1.5 megabits per second DSL (digital subscriber line) service offerings, aimed at bringing faster Internet access speeds to its customers, and prospective customers, at no increase in pricing.
The enhanced offerings, marketed under CTE's Jack Flash(R) DSL brand name, include a significant augmentation to CTE's most demanded broadband Internet access product, where the downstream speed (the speed to receive information from the Internet) is being increased from approximately 640 kilobits per second to up to 1.5 megabits per second. CTE is also increasing the upstream speed (the speed to send information to the Internet) of its most popular DSL offering from approximately 160 kilobits per second to up to 384 kilobits per second to better meet customer demand for sending pictures, streaming video and large data files via the Internet, as well as improving the overall functionality of work-at-home/telecommuting applications.

CTE is also enhancing its premium broadband Internet access product by increasing the downstream speed from up to 768 kilobits per second to up to 1.5 megabits per second, while maintaining the current upstream speed of this product at up to 768 kilobits per second.

CTE has launched these enhanced high-speed Internet access offerings to ensure continued customer satisfaction, and to further improve the attractiveness of its DSL product line in the market place.

"As our DSL subscriber base continues to grow, and our customers utilize more and more bandwidth intensive Internet applications, we want to remain competitive in terms of our broadband product line, while providing excellent network functionality and quality, coupled with a superior level of customer service and responsiveness," said Eileen O'Neill Odum, CTE's executive vice president and chief operating officer. "Our goal is to be the consumer's preferred choice for high-speed Internet access in the markets we serve."

CTE Reported 35% DSL Subscriber Growth in the 2004 Second Quarter

In CTE's second quarter ended June 30, 2004, CTE installed 1,037 net new DSL subscribers, bringing CTE's total base of installed high-speed Internet access customers to 15,326, a growth rate of 35% versus last year's second quarter. This growth rate followed a record 2004 first quarter, in which CTE added a total of 1,299 net new broadband subscribers, reflecting a 36% growth rate versus the 2003 first quarter.

About Jack Flash(R) DSL

Jack Flash(R), CTE's broadband Internet access product line, is marketed in CTE's Commonwealth Telephone Company and CTSI, LLC, geographies. Jack Flash(R) utilizes DSL (digital subscriber line) technology to provide broadband connectivity over standard telephone lines at speeds over 50 times faster than traditional dial-up modems. DSL technology, unlike cable modem service, delivers dedicated bandwidth directly to the customer, thereby eliminating the need to share bandwidth among multiple users, which can lead to speed degradation.

About CTE

Headquartered in Dallas, PA, Commonwealth Telephone Enterprises, Inc., serves a growing base of business and residential customers with the full array of technologically advanced data and voice telecommunications products and services, including broadband data services and high-speed Internet access, delivered over its 100% digitally switched, fiber-rich network.

CTE's primary operating segments are: Commonwealth Telephone Company ("CT"), the nation's seventh largest publicly held independent local exchange carrier, which has been operating in various rural Pennsylvania markets since 1897; and, CTSI, LLC ("CTSI"), a local exchange carrier operating in competitive markets outside CT's territory, that formally commenced operations in 1997. Jack Flash(R), a broadband data service that uses DSL technology to offer high-speed Internet access and digital connectivity solutions, is offered throughout CTE's service territories. CTE's support businesses include epix(R) Internet Services (www.epix.net), one of the Northeast's largest rural Internet Service Providers ("ISPs"), and Commonwealth Communications, a provider of telecommunications equipment and facilities management services.

A web site featuring current information regarding Commonwealth Telephone Enterprises, Inc., can be found on the Internet at www.ct-enterprises.com.

Contacts


Commonwealth Telephone Enterprises, Inc.
David G. Weselcouch, 570-631-2807

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