Birch Expands Broadband Offerings Across Footprint

6 Mbps broadband to be offered in BirchNet CompleteSM value package, combining unlimited local and free nationwide calling.

Atlanta, GA – March 29, 2010 - Birch Communications, a leading IP-based telecommunications and managed services provider to small and medium businesses, announced today that it is beginning the expansion of its broadband high speed Internet service across its service footprint. Faster speed options, including 6 Mbps, complement Birch’s current portfolio of voice, broadband Internet and managed services products.

“Our small business customers demand reliable, affordable high speed access to the Internet, and we are meeting this demand by enhancing our broadband Internet suite of products,” said Vincent M. Oddo, Birch Chief Executive Officer & President. “Our new 6 Mbps product is an ideal solution for small business, and our BirchNet Complete value package with 6 Mbps broadband is simply the best value for small businesses today.”

The BirchNet Complete value package is designed for small- and medium-sized businesses. BirchNet Complete includes broadband Internet, unlimited local calling, unlimited local long distance, 15 phone features and free nationwide calling in one plan at an affordable price.

In the first phase of this expansion, 6 Mbps broadband is now available via the Birch IP Network which is the communications network built from the ground up by Birch, based upon an open, packet-based private IP network architecture. This proven, reliable technology effectively addresses today’s pressing challenges to improve overall network reliability, network management and bandwidth efficiency. The Birch IP Network operates in many markets within Tennessee, Georgia, Mississippi, Florida & Texas.

In the second phase of this expansion, in the second quarter of 2010, Birch will expand the 6 Mbps broadband offering to many cities within the additional states of Alabama, Kentucky, Louisiana, North Carolina and South Carolina.

In the final phase to be completed later in 2010, 6Mbps will be available throughout the rest of the core Birch footprint, including many cities within the additional states of Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Indiana, Illinois, Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, Nevada, Ohio, Oklahoma and Wisconsin.

“Birch understands that many of our small business customers need faster broadband speeds to compete effectively in today’s economy,” said Chris Aversano, Birch Chief Operating Officer. “We are dedicated to providing a wide variety of affordable broadband and voice options to our customers coupled with our superior, award-winning customer service.”

According to Inc. magazine in its 2004 and 2009 ranking, Birch was recognized as one of the fastest growing private companies in the United States. This expansion of our broadband capabilities is another part of Birch’s aggressive growth strategy to expand the Birch IP Network geographically, deliver broadband products that meet the increasing bandwidth needs of its small business customers and provide the bottom-line value our small business customers need to maintain their competitive edge.

About Birch Communications
Headquartered in Atlanta, GA, Birch Communications is one of the largest IP-based telecommunications and managed services providers serving small business customers in 32 states in the Southeast, Southwest and Midwest. Birch is the first in its class to deploy a private IP-Network utilizing soft switch technology to deliver innovative, high quality, affordable voice and broadband communications services to small- and medium-sized business customers. Please visit www.birch.com for more information.

Contact:
Greg Corwin, Marketing Director
greg.corwin@birch.com
816.300.1686