U S WEST Communications Targets 1998 as Year of the
New Telco, When Customers Across its Region will Benefit
from a Wide Range of Advanced Integrated Services
High-Speed Internet Access and Easy-to-Use Wireless PCS, along with
Combined Local and Long-Distance Service, to Reach Record Number of U S
WEST Customers
DENVER, Dec. 31 /PRNewswire/ -- ''For U S WEST customers, 1998 promises to be the year
when the communications revolution becomes a reality,'' predicted Solomon D. Trujillo, president
and CEO of U S WEST Communications, who said the company plans to take big steps this coming
year to bring the benefits of competition and new choices in integrated services to customers in the
West and Midwest -- and other parts of the United States.
Trujillo announced today that during the coming year, U S WEST Communications will:
Provide high-speed Internet access -- 25 times faster than generally available today -- to
business and residential customers in dozens of markets, eliminating the frustrating ''World
Wide Wait'';
Expand its Access2 Advanced PCS service -- which gives customers 'one- number' service
and their 'Home or Office Phone To-Go' -- to Phoenix, Tucson, Minneapolis and other cities;
Begin offering long-distance service outside the 14 states where it provides local service today
-- and step up efforts to offer competitive long- distance service in its home region.
''In 1997, U S WEST began introducing a number of first-in-the-nation services that are redefining
how telecommunications can simplify customers' lives. What makes these services revolutionary is
that they are fully integrated with U S WEST's wireline network, in ways that enhance their power
and make customers' lives easier,'' said Trujillo. ''In 1998, we intend to roll these new services out in
many major markets and, in some cases, across all of our 14 states.''
Advancing the One-Stop Shop
High-speed Internet & Data Access -- U S WEST will be the first local phone company to
offer high-speed DSL Internet and data network access to both residential and business
customers across its region. U S WEST MegaBit Services lets customers navigate the Internet
or telecommute from home at speeds up to 25 times faster than standard modems. This
service --- including the affordable $40 a month MegaHome package -- was launched in
Phoenix in 1997 and will reach dozens of new markets in 1998. For those wanting standard
Internet service, U S WEST.net will also rollout regionwide, offering custom features and
dial-up speeds twice as fast as traditional modems for $19.95 a month.
Advanced Wireless PCS -- U S WEST will expand deployment of its Access2 Advanced
PCS service to Phoenix, Tucson, Minneapolis and other markets in 1998. This first-of-its-kind
service lets customers use the same number for their mobile phone as their home or business
phone. It is currently available in Denver, Fort Collins, Greeley, Colorado Springs, Portland,
Salem and Vancouver.
Long Distance -- U S WEST plans to pursue long-distance service in 1998 in selected areas
in the 36-state region where it does not offer local service. U S WEST will aggressively
accelerate efforts to win regulatory approval to offer interstate long distance in the 14 states
where it also offers local service. Under federal law, U S WEST cannot yet offer full long
distance services in its 14 states. The company does offer in its region long-distance wireless
service, long-distance calling cards in collaboration with other carriers, and in-state long
distance (also known as local or ''intraLATA'' long distance).
National Directory Assistance -- U S WEST will launch its popular National Directory
Assistance service in the new year in five states: Iowa, Nebraska, Montana, Wyoming and
South Dakota. The service, which lets customers obtain local or long-distance phone numbers
by dialing a single directory assistance number, 1-411 in most states, was rolled out in
Arizona, Utah, Colorado, Idaho, Minnesota, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon and
Washington in 1997.
Calling Cards -- U S WEST will increase availability of its local/long distance Prepaid Calling
Cards and Express Calling Cards through targeted promotional and retail marketing
opportunities.
Trujillo said 1998 should be the year customers enjoy the benefits of greater choice and competition.
''We're doing all we can to bring customers new choices in wireless and Internet services, as well as
new voiceline services like National Directory Assistance. We are moving ahead to do the same in
long distance, so we can offer a full one-stop shop for all our customers' needs. Unfortunately, we
still face significant regulatory roadblocks.
''U S WEST invested nearly $400 million in 1997 and committed 600 employees to open local
markets to competition,'' said Trujillo. ''Today, we have 214 commission-approved interconnection
agreements with 81 telecommunications companies in 14 states, and process more than 6,000
competitors' orders every month. But the big long-distance firms continue to drag their feet in
providing local service to residential customers. It's time for regulators to open the long distance
market to U S WEST and other companies, so customers can enjoy the promised benefits of
competition once and for all.''
Building on 1997's Record: Strong Growth and Improved Customer Service
More Voice Products and Services
In 1997, U S WEST nearly doubled subscriberships to Caller ID to more than 2 million
customers.
U S WEST's Voice Messaging Service grew 26% over 1996 and continues to rank first
among all Regional Bell Operating Companies in product penetration. Three-Way Calling was
made available to customers in all 14 states, on a pay- per-use basis.
U S WEST tripled shipments of its Home Receptionist phone, a unit that offers one-touch
convenience and an on-screen display to access a variety of custom calling features. U S
WEST continues to rank first in the industry in deployment of these units.
More Lines for More Customers
U S WEST Communications experienced exceptionally strong growth in 1997, adding more than
680,000 access lines -- the second strongest year for access line growth in company history. Of that,
the company installed more than 290,000 additional lines for customers to use for dedicated data
lines, fax lines, or second lines for family members -- a 21% increase over 1996.
U S WEST invested more than $2.5 billion in 1997 to meet this strong demand by customers for
new lines and enhanced services.
Improved Customer Service
Despite strong growth in business and residential access line requests, U S WEST continued to make
significant -- and in some areas dramatic -- improvements in customer service. In 1997 the company:
Processed nearly 17 million service orders, up more than 300,000 from 1996. Of these,
customers received service in two days or less 73% of the time. More than 99% of all service
orders were completed within 30 days on a month-to-month basis.
Reduced primary held orders -- those not completed within 30 days -- nearly 45% from
1996's levels. At the end of this year, approximately 550 held orders were carried into 1998,
compared to 828 the year before. This is the lowest held order level this decade and the
second year in a row that the company has set new record lows for service delays.
Responded to more than 42 million total phone inquiries. Residential and business repairs
completed in 24 hours improved to 70% of all requests, an almost 8% improvement from
1996. The company also provided service as scheduled more than 90% of the time.
Emergency Response
Throughout the year, U S WEST took extraordinary measures to maintain services when natural
disasters threatened to cut off connections to communities.
When severe flooding hit Grand Forks, North Dakota, and surrounding areas in April, U S
WEST deployed thousands of technicians to ensure phone service was maintained or
restored. U S WEST received national recognition when a dozen technicians maintained
telephone service by barricading themselves in the Grand Forks central switching station,
which at the height of the flood was the only business still operating in the downtown area.
In late October, severe snowstorms wreaked havoc on Omaha and Council Bluffs, Nebraska,
snapping trees and downing utility lines area wide. Some 270 U S WEST Network
technicians from neighboring Iowa, Minnesota, Colorado, South Dakota, Wyoming, as well as
Nebraska, toiled long hours and avoided downed power lines to restore service to nearly
29,000 customers.
''In 1997, U S WEST demonstrated its capacity for keeping its customers connected with
world-class telecommunications services -- whether by overcoming adversity when disaster strikes,
equipping extraordinary events such as the Summit of World Leaders in Denver and sponsoring the
upcoming 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, or just making sure that call gets through to your
loved one, on time and every time,'' said Trujillo.
''In 1998, our goal is to demonstrate that world-class capacity again, by bringing the full benefits of
greater choice and competition to our customers. The regional rollout of our new wireless phones,
high-speed Internet and data networking capabilities, and integrated local and long-distance services
--- promise to make it a exciting year indeed.''
U S WEST Communications (NYSE: USW - news) provides a full range of telecommunications
services -- including wireline, wireless and data networking -- to more than 25 million customers in
14 states. It is one of two groups that make up U S WEST, a company in the connections business,
helping customers share information, entertainment and communications services in local markets
worldwide. U S WEST's other major group, MediaOne Group is involved in domestic and
international cable and telephony, wireless communications, and directory and information services.
U S WEST has proposed splitting the two groups into separate public companies sometime after
mid- 1998, pending shareowner and other approvals.
SOURCE: U S WEST Communications
................................... Bob |
