Thursday March 18, 8:26 pm Eastern Time
Company Press Release
NEXTLINK Names Steve Hooper Chief Executive
Officer
McCaw's Competitive Telecommunications Services Company Prepares to Enter Next Stage of
Growth
BELLEVUE, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 18, 1999--NEXTLINK Communications, Inc. (Nasdaq:NXLK - news)
has announced Steve Hooper, a long-time telecommunications executive, has become NEXTLINK's chief executive officer.
NEXTLINK is one of the nation's fastest growing competitive telecommunications services companies.
Hooper, who had been serving as NEXTLINK's chairman since 1997, replaces Wayne Perry as chief executive officer. Perry
will continue to serve as NEXTLINK's vice chairman and member of the board of directors.
''NEXTLINK has been very successful in achieving its goals during the past three years and the opportunity ahead of us is
huge,'' Hooper said. ''The business is integral to Craig McCaw's telecommunications investment strategy and we intend to
continue its rapid geographic and technological expansion to allow us to provide end-to-end communications services to our
customers.''
Hooper brings to NEXTLINK years of operational experience including serving on the board of directors and as Co-CEO,
with McCaw, of Teledesic, which is building a global broadband ''Internet-in-the-Sky'' satellite communications network.
Prior to Teledesic, Hooper was CEO of McCaw Cellular Communications, which later became AT&T Wireless Services
after the company was sold in 1994.
''Steve's leadership and operational skills will ensure NEXTLINK will take advantage of the overwhelming opportunities that
are becoming more obvious to us every day in this world of IP-centric, broadband data and voice communications,'' said
NEXTLINK founder Craig O. McCaw.
During the past year, NEXTLINK has made several bold moves toward expanding its capabilities to deliver broadband
services throughout North America. In July of last year, the company reached an agreement for the exclusive right to use a
16,000 mile, inter-city longhaul fiber network to connect its local networks. Then in February, NEXTLINK announced it
would purchase WNP Communications to become the largest holder of LMDS wireless spectrum in North America, with
coverage of approximately 95 percent of the population in the top 30 cities in America.
''NEXTLINK is developing high capacity, wired and wireless, IP-centric networks that will have a major impact on the future
of communications in the United States and throughout the world,'' said Hooper.
Perry, who has served as the company's CEO for the past two years, will focus on NEXTLINK's business development and
strategy. ''I have enjoyed my time leading the wonderful team at NEXTLINK and cannot think of a more capable person to
pass the baton to than Steve Hooper. I believe it will have an extremely positive impact on our company.''
NEXTLINK Communications, Inc. was founded by Craig McCaw in 1994 to provide local, long distance and enhanced
communications services to commercial customers and is one of the fastest growing competitive telecommunications providers
in the nation. Headquartered in Bellevue, Wash., NEXTLINK currently operates 23 facilities-based networks providing
switched local and long distance services in 38 markets in 14 states. It has contracted for the exclusive right to use a
16,000-mile inter-city longhaul fiber network to connect its local fiber networks throughout the United States and Canada.
NEXTLINK is also North America's largest owner of LMDS (local multipoint distribution service) frequencies, with licenses
serving approximately 95 percent of the population in the nation's top 30 markets.
The statements contained in this release, which are not historical facts, are ''forward-looking statements'' (as such term is
defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995). Management wishes to caution the reader that these
forward-looking statements, regarding matters that are not historical facts, are only predictions and are subject to risks and
uncertainties. No assurance can be given that the future results will be achieved. Such risks include those identified in the
Company's S-1 on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and also include, but are not limited to, the Company's
ability to successfully market its services to current and new customers, to design and construct fiber optic networks, install
cable and facilities, including switching electronics, connect the networks to customers and interconnect with existing local
exchange carriers, all in a timely manner, at reasonable costs and on satisfactory terms and conditions. |
