News Details

Windstream Awarded $12 Million U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Contract

September 17, 2013

LITTLE ROCK, Ark., Sept. 17, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Windstream (Nasdaq:WIN), a leading provider of advanced network communications, announced today that it has been awarded a contract to provide voice, data, and Internet services for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in its Region 4 area, encompassing 11 states in the northeastern United States. The contract is for a baseline amount of $12 million but can extend to as much as $20 million over five years.

Prior to this contact, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) contracted with hundreds of vendors providing local service to thousands of its facilities throughout the United States. In 2013, the VA took steps to eliminate the administrative expenses associated with the number of telecommunications vendors by creating four geographic regions, each with multiple Veterans Information Service Networks, and contracting with a single vendor for each region. The VA's Region 4 was the first of these consolidated procurement contracts to be awarded.

"As the largest national competitive local exchange carrier (CLEC), Windstream was ideally positioned with our network footprint and coverage to deliver both the costs savings anticipated by the Department of Veterans Affairs, but also with an increase in service quality," said Mike Magliato, vice president and general manager of federal markets at Windstream. "Additionally, our federal government portal, developed to support federal initiatives such as the VA contract consolidation, will ensure that the ongoing management and resources expended by the VA nationwide will significantly decrease. We believe this is truly a win — for both the federal government as well as the veterans of our country."

Region 4 oversees more than 300 VA facilities, including VA hospitals, clinics, cemeteries, and call centers, among others. Windstream was selected for this critical contract for several reasons, including:

  • The company has a strong history of providing superior voice, data, and Internet services to the federal government, and as the telecommunications provider of choice, provides service to nearly every government agency.
  • Windstream provides end-to-end solutions, allowing it to deliver services without engaging third party vendors.
  • Windstream's technical expertise in network communications technology and managed services, as well as its custom portal for automated business transactions, meets the federal government's requirements.  

Windstream expects to have Region 4 products and services fully implemented by the end of 2013.

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About Windstream

Windstream (Nasdaq:WIN), a FORTUNE 500 and S&P 500 company, is a leading provider of advanced network communications, including cloud computing and managed services, to businesses nationwide. The company also offers broadband, phone and digital TV services to consumers primarily in rural areas. For more information, visit www.windstream.com.

CONTACT: Tanja Jameson

         501-748-7236

         tanja.jameson@windstream.com

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