NRTC Offers WildBlue Satellite

DENVER -- WildBlue Communications, Inc. and the National Rural Telecommunications Cooperative (NRTC) announced today a distribution partnership whereby NRTC Members will offer WildBlue's two-way satellite broadband service in the continental United States.

WildBlue enables customers virtually anywhere in the continental United States to get high-speed Internet service via satellite. NRTC membership includes over 1,100 rural telephone and electric companies. NRTC members will begin marketing the WildBlue broadband service to homes and small offices in 2004.

"We are confident that WildBlue is the best solution to deliver affordable high-speed satellite Internet access to rural America," said Bob Phillips, NRTC president and CEO. "Our members will be the first to deliver affordable two-way broadband services to rural Americans lacking access to DSL or cable modem service. A solid and loyal distribution network will be key to a successful 2004 WildBlue rollout and we are pleased to bring the proven experience of our rural electric and telco members in distributing satellite-delivered services to this effort. With WildBlue and NRTC, virtually every home and small business in the continental United States will finally have access to the most advanced telecommunications services available."

Under the distribution agreement, NRTC members will be responsible for sales, installation and customer care for the WildBlue-branded service. WildBlue will deliver affordable two-way wireless broadband services via satellite, direct to homes and small offices, throughout the continental United States in 2004. WildBlue is expected to be the first to launch the Ka-band spot beam satellite technology designed to lower the cost of providing consumers high-speed Internet access via satellite. The WildBlue system also will leverage proven terrestrial cable modem technology, resulting in lower customer equipment and installation costs; a critical requirement in satellite-based consumer services. WildBlue's service should be especially appealing to the millions of homes and small offices that lack access to DSL or cable modem service.

NRTC was one of the lead investors in WildBlue's recent $156 million financing, along with Liberty Satellite & Technology, Inc. (LSAT) (OTC: LSTTA and LSTTB) and Intelsat (www.intelsat.com).

"We are delighted about our relationship with NRTC and look forward to working with them to serve broadband customers throughout the continental U.S.," said Thomas Moore, CEO of WildBlue. "The NRTC and its members are ideal partners to deliver telecommunications services to rural homes and small offices. We look forward to our combined success in distributing the WildBlue high-speed Internet service when we launch next year."

National Rural Telecommunications Cooperative (NRTC)

WildBlue Communications