Exhibit 99.2
Citizens Communications
3 High Ridge Park
Stamford, CT 06905
203.614.5600
Web site: www.czn.net
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contacts:
Financial Community Media
Alan H. Oshiki, Assistant Vice President Brigid M. Smith, Assistant Vice
Corporate Communications President Investor Relations
(203) 614-5629 (203) 614-5042
[email protected] [email protected]
Citizens Communications Now Providing Telephone
Service To More Than 130,000 Minnesota
Residential and Business Customers
STAMFORD, Conn., Sept. 5, 2000 - On Aug. 31, Citizens Communications (NYSE:CZN,
CZNPr) completed the purchase of approximately 133,000 telephone access lines in
Minnesota from GTE (now Verizon Communications, NYSE:VZ). The purchase is part
of 1999 agreements to acquire nearly 1 million telephone access lines from GTE
and U S WEST (now Qwest. NYSE:Q). The Minnesota transaction, the second of these
purchases to close, follows the closing of Nebraska on June 30.
On July 12, Citizens Communications entered into a definitive agreement to
acquire Frontier Corp.'s 1.1 million telephone access lines from Global Crossing
Ltd. (NASDAQ:GBLX) which, along with the acquisitions agreed to with GTE and U S
WEST, will bring the number of access lines that Citizens will serve to more
than 3 million. All of these transactions are expected to be completed within 12
months.
Citizens Communications now owns and operates all of GTE's local telephone
exchanges in Minnesota. All customer accounts have been transferred to Citizens
Communications. Additionally, all 125 GTE personnel in Minnesota have now become
employees of Citizens Communications.
About Citizens Communications
Citizens Communications provides telecommunications services to more than 1.1
million customers in 15 states. In 1999 and 2000, Citizens agreed to purchase
over 2 million additional access lines in 19 states. Citizens also owns 85.66%
of Electric Lightwave, Inc. (NASDAQ:ELIX), a facilities-based, integrated
communications provider that offers a broad range of services to
telecommunications-intensive businesses throughout the United States. More
information about Citizens can be found at www.czn.net.
This document contains forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and
uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those
expressed or implied in the statements. These and all forward-looking statements
(including oral representations) are only predictions or statements of current
plans that are constantly under review by the company. All forward-looking
statements may differ from actual results because of, but not limited to,
changes in the local and overall economy, changes in market conditions for debt
and equity securities, the nature and pace of technological changes, the number
and effectiveness of competitors in the company's markets, success in overall
strategy, changes in legal or regulatory policy, changes in legislation, the
company's ability to identify future markets and successfully expand existing
ones, the mix of products and services offered in the company's target markets,
the effects of acquisitions and dispositions and the ability to effectively
integrate businesses acquired. These important factors should be considered in
evaluating any statement contained herein and/or made by the company or on its
behalf. The foregoing information should be read in conjunction with the
company's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission including,
but not limited to, reports on Forms 10-K and 10-Q. The company does not intend
to update or revise these forward-looking statements to reflect the occurrence
of future events or circumstances.
