PAETEC Communications Inc. (Booth 208) announced in January that it had signed a definitive agreement to purchase American Long Lines Inc., a privately owned telecommunications company based in Horsham, Penn., serving primarily small and medium business customers in the Mid-Atlantic region. The deal includes the facilities, employees and customer base of American Long Lines.

This agreement is a great strategic fit for us as it enhances our business model with a synergistic partner, says E.J. Butler, PAETEC co-COO and head of wholesale markets. The leadership at American Long Lines recognized the efficient, cost-effective way we run our business and, therefore, the ultimate value we provide our customers.

Our employees and customers should feel confident that they are moving to a company that shares our values of providing exceptional customer service, says Doug Derstine, president of American Long Lines. We have long considered PAETEC to be a leader in the competitive telecommunications landscape, and we look forward to joining and contributing to such a growing force in the industry.

Following a successful 2004 that saw the company introduce new products and services that grew its base by more than 110 percent, and IT tools that resulted in its online customer usage increasing by more than 200 percent, PAETEC is looking to recruit resellers serious about working with a company dedicated to helping them be more successful. PAETECs product portfolio already includes all the traditional voice elements as well as Internet, MPLS and IPSec VPNs. Very soon, PAETEC will be rolling out the IP gateway network and metro-based products as requested by its customers. Add to this more sales support aids, increased reseller training, more co-marketing activities and enhanced reseller specific incentives, and PAETEC delivers a well-rounded package enabling its resellers to be more successful. Later in 2005, PAETEC will be unveiling more initiatives borne out of collaboration with its resellers.