ConnectSouth expands it's Senior-Management Team. Dr. Ralph Freeman, former VP IS for Splitrock joins ConnectSouth as Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer.

ConnectSouth Communications, Inc., a well-funded start-up high-speed Internet and Web service provider, today announced that Dr. Ralph Freeman has joined its senior management team and will help guide the business toward its May 1 market launch. In addition, Michael Hoff has joined ConnectSouth as General Counsel. Hoff formerly served as corporate counsel for Globeset.

ConnectSouth, established in October 1999 with a "record setting" $100 million in equity funding, has hired more than 150 people for its Austin and regional-based operations. ConnectSouth expects to grow its workforce to more than 340 by the end of 2000.

"At present, we are in a very serious countdown mode for our May 1 business launch date," said Jeff Mucci, ConnectSouth President and Chief Executive Officer. "Our senior management team is key to building our network and serving customers, and I am excited with the world-class professional talent that we have assembled."

ConnectSouth will offer turn-key Internet solutions, high-speed DSL connectivity and a variety of superior web-based business tools for small to medium-sized businesses. Specifically tailored service offerings include e-business and e-commerce tools, Web site and domain hosting, virtual e-mail, Intranets and Extranets, virtual private networks, firewalls, and remote network access via switched Internet.

In addition, ConnectSouth has an aggressive expansion plan and is moving ahead rapidly to deploy service in approximately 80 traditionally underserved markets across the Sunbelt region.

The existing senior management team includes: Doug Black, Senior Vice President, Engineering and Operations, formerly senior vice president network service for RLS Communications and worked with MCI WorldCom Metro; Leonard Conn, Chief Technology Officer, formerly president and chief executive officer for the IONET Division of PSINET; Cheré Heintzmann, Senior Vice President, Sales and Marketing, formerly vice president of marketing for AT&T Wireless; and Michelle Friesenhahn, Vice President, Human Resources, formerly director of human resources for Trilogy and pcOrder.com.

Other existing members are: Chris Hugman, Vice President, Implementation, formerly vice president and general manager for Prime Telecom and General Manager for Brooks Fiber; Olin Kropog, Vice President, Sales, formerly director of sales for Petrocom and Regional Manager for MCI; Mary Mayles, Vice President, Provisioning, formerly director of service delivered for ICG Communications and GTE; Tim Tomlinson, Vice President, Inside Sales and Call Center Operations, formerly developed and implemented call centers for GTE and EDS; and Christopher Nines, Director of Strategic Planning, formerly a venture capital officer at Hibernia Capital.

"The senior management team is comprised of experienced Internet, software and telecommunications industry professionals, most of whom already have worked in successful start-up business environments," said Mucci. "This is a great executive team that places ConnectSouth in a competitive position to offer our customers the kind of proven products and services that will help them use the Internet to grow their businesses."

In January, Mucci announced that the company had obtained a $100 million equity commitment from an investment group led by Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Private Equity that included Fleet Equity Partners and Waller-Sutton Media Partners. The investment makes ConnectSouth one of the best funded regional DSL players in the country and gives ConnectSouth the capability to build a broadband, high-speed DSL network that will eventually serve approximately 80 cities with more than 5 million business customers.

ConnectSouth's May 1 market launch will inaugurate service in Austin, Waco, Birmingham, Mobile, Tulsa, Oklahoma City, Biloxi and New Orleans.

ConnectSouth Communications, Inc. (www.connectsouth.com), headquartered in Austin, Texas, is an "e-enabler," providing a full range of high-speed connectivity and Internet tools for small and medium-sized businesses in traditionally underserved cities and towns. ConnectSouth is one of the best-funded companies of its kind, with over $100 million in committed equity from Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Private Equity, Fleet Equity Partners and Waller-Sutton Media Partners.