ESCH Eschelon Telecom (MM)

(NASDAQ:ESCH): Eschelon Telecom, Inc., a provider of integrated communications services to small and medium sized businesses in the western United States, today announced the opening of the Tucson, Arizona market, the third of six planned new markets in 2007. Eschelon has expanded its network facilities into Tucson and has opened a new office to house sales, customer service and technical personnel. �We have been selling services in Tucson since the acquisition of Mountain Telecom last November,� stated Byron Cantrall, Eschelon�s Director of Sales for Arizona. �Now, with our expanded network capabilities we are able to offer a complete suite of products in both Phoenix and Tucson and can interconnect locations for customers that have sites in both markets. This is very important to our customers with multiple Arizona locations.� The new office, located at 6373 E. Tanque Verde Rd, Suite 200 in Tucson, AZ, 85719 will immediately house twelve Eschelon associates, primarily in sales and customer service functions. That number is expected to grow with the Tucson base of customers. Eschelon currently employs 130 associates in the state of Arizona and approximately 1,440 nationwide. �We have been anxious to expand into Tucson,� commented Jon Secrest, Eschelon�s Vice President of Marketing. �It�s a vibrant, growing community with many small and medium sized businesses. These are exactly the kinds of customers we built our company to serve.� Tucson area businesses interested in learning more about Eschelon products and services can call the new office at 520-352-5069. Eschelon is also planning an open house for local business leaders later in the month and a Tucson Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce event in the fall. Eschelon began offering telecommunications services in Arizona in 2000. In November of 2006, Eschelon acquired Tempe-based Mountain Telecommunications. About Eschelon Telecom, Inc. Eschelon Telecom, Inc. is a facilities-based competitive communications services provider of voice and data services and business telephone systems in 53 markets in the western United States. Headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the company currently employs approximately 1,470 telecommunications/Internet professionals, serves over 65,000 business customers and has approximately 655,000 access lines in service throughout its markets in Minnesota, Arizona, Utah, Washington, Oregon, Colorado, Nevada, Montana and California. For more information, please visit our web site at www.eschelon.com. Forward Looking Statements This announcement contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The forward-looking statements are based on Eschelon Telecom�s current intent, belief and expectations. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. Actual results may differ materially from these forward-looking statements because of the company�s history of losses, ability to maintain relationships with RBOCs, substantial indebtedness, intense competition, dependence on key management, changes in government regulations, and other risks that may be described in the company�s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Existing and prospective investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of today�s date. Eschelon Telecom undertakes no obligation to update or revise the information contained in this announcement, whether as a result of new information, future events or circumstances or otherwise.