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SouthernLINC Wireless Designated as Eligible Telecommunications Carrier in Alabama and Georgia

Posted on: Thursday, 7 May 2009, 11:19 CDT

LifeLine Call Manager plan available to qualifying, low-income consumers

ATLANTA, May 7 /PRNewswire/ -- SouthernLINC Wireless, a Southern Company (NYSE: SO), today announced that it has been designated as an Eligible Telecommunications Carrier (ETC) in Alabama and Georgia.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090507/CL13145)

By becoming an ETC, SouthernLINC Wireless is entitled to receive support dollars from the Universal Service Fund (USF) to operate, maintain and upgrade its network in the high-cost and rural portions of its Alabama and Georgia coverage areas.

In return, SouthernLINC Wireless must provide all of the services the USF program specifies. While the company was already offering most of these USF-specified services prior to receiving the ETC designation, the company recently launched the remaining services, which include the LifeLine Call Manager plan and Link Up Activation fee discount.

"The wireless industry plays an important role in providing telecommunications access to underserved populations," said Bob Dawson, president and CEO of SouthernLINC Wireless. "While some carriers are just now turning their attention to the rural markets, SouthernLINC Wireless has been dedicated to providing wireless communications services to customers in these areas for more than 13 years; receiving ETC status in Alabama and Georgia helps us continue this mission."

Available only to qualifying, low-income households in Georgia and Alabama, the LifeLine Call Manager plan currently provides 300 Anytime Cellular Minutes, including Regional Long Distance and unlimited Push To Talk two-way radio communication throughout the SouthernLINC Wireless Regional Calling Area. Other features included with the plan are caller ID, call forwarding, call waiting, call hold, directory assistance, 911 dialing and three-way calling. A one-year contract is required, and a one-time Link Up Activation fee also applies.

Full terms of the wireless service plan and eligibility requirements are listed at www.southernlinc.com/consumer/service_plans/lifeline.asp. Permissible usage allowance information can be found at www.southernlinc.com/promodetails.

The LifeLine Call Manager plan can be purchased at SouthernLINC Wireless Sales and Service Centers or through authorized SouthernLINC Wireless dealers.

The approval of the Alabama and Georgia applications marks the culmination of a four-year endeavor, as SouthernLINC Wireless originally requested ETC designation in September 2004. A separate effort is still underway to obtain ETC designation for Mississippi.

About SouthernLINC Wireless

SouthernLINC Wireless, a Southern Company (NYSE: SO), is an Atlanta-based regional wireless carrier with network coverage in the major metro and rural areas of Alabama, Georgia, southeast Mississippi and northwest Florida. SouthernLINC Wireless bundles multiple communication options, including Push To Talk two-way radio, cellular service, text messaging, wireless Internet access and wireless data, into one hand-held device. For more information, please call 1-800-818-LINC (5462) or visit www.southernlinc.com.

About Southern Company

With 4.4 million customers and more than 42,000 megawatts of generating capacity, Atlanta-based Southern Company is the premier energy company serving the Southeast. A leading U.S. producer of electricity, Southern Company owns electric utilities in four states and a growing competitive generation company, as well as fiber optics and wireless communications. Southern Company brands are known for excellent customer service, high reliability and retail electric prices that are below the national average. Southern Company has been listed the top ranking U.S. electric service provider in customer satisfaction for nine consecutive years by the American Customer Satisfaction Index. Visit our Web site at www.southerncompany.com.

SOURCE SouthernLINC Wireless

Source: PR Newswire

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