PRIMARY NETWORK RETURNS IN PURCHASE OF BUSINESS INTERNET SERVICE FROM Mpower

ST. LOUIS, MO. (May 22, 2001): The founders of Primary Network, a leading regional Internet company, have acquired more than 5,000 business customers in the St. Louis and Kansas City areas as part of a purchase agreement with Mpower Communications Corp.

"Our reacquisition of Primary Network and its important Internet business base means we are returning this service to its core market and putting our corporate Internet customers first," said Brian Matthews, a founder of Primary Network and CEO of CDMventures.com. "Our customers will have a transparent transition that will give them high quality service and a reliable partner for the future."

Matthews and the other owners of Primary Network sold their business to Mpower last year in a deal valued at about $145 million. Mpower expanded its interests into telephone service and digital subscriber line, DSL, service to businesses. The founders of Primary Network decided to buy back the Internet service component after Mpower announced plans to shutdown the Internet and telephone service and lay off 275 employees nationwide.

"We believe that Primary Network is an excellent business service that values its customers and will remained focused on its main core competency," Matthews said. "We will keep our eye on the ball."

Terms of the purchase from Mpower were not disclosed, but Matthews said the agreement included the right to relaunch the Primary Network name. Current customers of Mpower will receive bills from Primary Network starting in June. Customers with questions or seeking more information about the transition can log on to www.primary.net.

Matthews said the new Primary Network will begin with approximately 25 employees and rapidly expand its employee base to keep up with demand.

"We are excited that we were able to reacquire the essential business of Primary Network under favorable terms and with the conviction that we can make this the best Internet service available for business." Matthews said.