December 21, 2004

The Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) today amended the license of Talk America Inc. to provide basic local exchange service. It also granted a temporary license to XO Communications Services Inc. to provide basic local exchange service.

Talk America on Oct. 13 filed an application to amend its license to provide basic local exchange service to include all exchanges currently served by SBC Michigan and Verizon North Inc. and Verizon North Systems.

Talk America is headquartered in Reston, Va.

In Case No. U-14311, the MPSC found Talk America's application to be in the public interest. The expansion of the license is conditioned on compliance with the Commission's anti-slamming procedures, the number portability provisions of the Michigan Telecommunications Act, and the Commission's number reclamation process.

The Commission also granted a temporary license to XO Communications Services, Inc. to provide basic local exchange service in the LATA exchanges served by SBC Michigan, Verizon North Inc. and Verizon North Systems, finding it in the public interest. The company on Dec. 3 filed an application for a license, requesting a temporary license at the same time. Its temporary license is subject to the same conditions mentioned above.

XO Communications Services is headquartered in Reston, Va.

The MPSC is an agency within the Department of Labor & Economic Growth.

Case No. U-14311, U-14376

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