HiWAAY: Information/Internet Services

HiWAAY Acquires Local Internet Service Provider NetMaster

Huntsville, Ala. (November 9, 1999) - HiWAAY Information Services today announced the acquisition of the Decatur, Ala.-based NetMaster Internet Services, Inc. HiWAAY and NetMaster have agreed to the continuation of services for NetMaster customers on the HiWAAY network.

G. Patrick Helpingstine, president and CEO of NetMaster, said of the acquisition, "It became challenging for us to operate in the highly competitive Internet market and we decided to discontinue our service. We, at NetMaster, wanted to ensure our customers will continue receiving quality service and felt HiWAAY offers that level of premier service our customers deserve."

Helpingstine will join the HiWAAY staff as a full-time corporate sales representative and will continue to assist NetMaster customers during and after the transition. "I am looking forward to becoming a part of HiWAAY," Helpingstine said.

According to HiWAAY's General Manager Mark Derrick, "HiWAAY is proud to have Patrick join our staff. His knowledge of the Internet will not only benefit HiWAAY, but our customers as well."

Transition to the HiWAAY network will happen immediately and should be complete by December 1. HiWAAY will continue its frozen price policy through the end of the year for NetMaster customers.

To help former NetMaster customers in the transition, HiWAAY has provided documentation on switching over to the HiWAAY network at www.hiwaay.net/faq/netmaster. If there are any questions not answered at this site, NetMaster customers can call 888/244-9229 or send an e-mail to support@hiwaay.net.

NetMaster Internet Services, Inc. was formed in June 1995 to provide local Internet access to most of Morgan and Lawrence county residents and businesses. NetMaster has a customer base of more than 700 customers-residential, commercial and educational.

HiWAAY Information Services is a full-service Internet Service Provider (ISP) providing dial-up and dedicated Internet access, web site hosting and web design services. HiWAAY was established in 1994 to serve the North Alabama region. HiWAAY has grown to become Alabama's largest ISP and now offers Internet access covering most of the state. For more information about HiWAAY or the details of the acquisition, you may visit the HiWAAY web site at www.hiwaay.net or call 256/650-4900.