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Integra Telecom Marks Fourth Consecutive Year On Inc. 500 List of Fastest Growing Private Companies

Ranked 344 with Five-Year Sales Growth of 541 Percent

PORTLAND, Ore. - Oct. 21, 2004 - Integra Telecom, a leading provider of all-in-one communications services for small and mid-sized businesses, ranks 344 on the 2004 Inc. 500 list. Integra achieved 541 percent sales growth in the past five years, with sales growing from $18.9 million in 1999 to $120.9 million in 2003.

This is the fourth consecutive year Integra has been named to the Inc. 500 list - a rare achievement among Inc. 500 companies. Integra's history of consistent revenue growth recently allowed the company to close on a $170 million refinancing deal to repay its original debt funding. In contrast with numerous telecom companies that have restructured debt or filed for bankruptcy, the deal establishes Integra as the first major competitive local exchange carrier since 2000 to repay in full its original debt funding.

"Quality of service is the core of our business model, and our consistent growth demonstrates the market's demand for a customer service-focused alternative to the traditional telephone monopolies," said Dudley Slater, chief executive officer. "We are delighted to be named once again to the Inc. 500 list and owe our success to our dedicated employees and the thousands of customers who choose Integra."

The companies that made this list have thrived despite continued stagnation in the economy, posting an average year-over-year sales growth of 265 percent. Inc. 500 companies posted aggregate 2003 revenue of $12.6 billion, and 82 percent of them were profitable. And while the United States shed 410,000 jobs in 2003, Inc. 500 companies provided employment for more than 70,000 people. "The best thing you can say about this year's crop of Inc. 500 entrepreneurs is that they didn't buy into the hype," said Inc. editor-in-chief John Koten. "When people were practically giving away funding in the late 1990s, these companies didn't overextend, and when everyone hit the panic button a few years later, they stayed calm and seized opportunity."

About Integra Telecom

Integra Telecom is a fast-growing, integrated communications carrier committed to providing a local, high-quality service alternative to the incumbent, monopoly Baby Bell telecom providers. Thousands of commercial customers in the upper Midwest, Mountain and Pacific Northwest regions rely on Integra's voice and data service and embrace the company's practice of providing a local, user-friendly relationship for all voice and data needs. Integra is a privately held company employing approximately 600 people and serving more than 220,000 access lines. Primary equity investors in the company include Bank of America Capital Investors, Boston Ventures, Nautic Partners and Shaw Ventures. Integra Telecom is a registered trademark of Integra Telecom Inc.

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