NEXTLINK Names David Runge President of NEXTLINKInteractive.

BELLEVUE, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 22, 1998--NEXTLINK Communications, Inc., one of the country's fastest growing providers of competitive local telephone services has appointed Dr. David Runge as President of NEXTLINK Interactive (NLI), the company's Portland, Oregon-based provider of interactive

NLI utilizes interactive voice response and Internet technologies to provide cost effective automated applications for businesses and government entities. Additionally, NLI is developing web service and e-commerce activities for numerous Fortune 500 customers across the United States.

"David is an extremely creative business leader and is yet another high-caliber telecommunications executive who has been attracted to NEXTLINK's entrepreneurial team," said NEXTLINK President George Tronsrue. "We intend to use the expertise we have developed at NLI as we evolve and implement our company wide data strategy. We also believe NLI's existing relationships with large customers will broaden NEXTLINK's customer base in our CLEC markets in the months ahead."

Prior to joining NEXTLINK, Runge was a partner in the Deloitte & Touche Consulting Group where he specialized in telecommunications and media. He has also served as President of Information Network Systems, a company that specialized in software that processed claims and warranties for many Fortune 500 companies. He has held executive positions with Information Strategy Partners, MCI Communications and AT&T.

Additionally, Runge has earned a doctorate in Management Studies from Oxford University where his dissertation resulted in the best selling business book Winning with Telecommunications. He holds a MBA from Drake University; and a BS in Electrical Engineering from the University of Iowa.

NEXTLINK Interactive, a subsidiary of NEXTLINK Communications (NASDAQ:NXLK), creates applications that enable consumers to receive information, seek assistance, order products and services, leave verbal messages, and a host of other capabilities that enhance the relationship between government and the public.

NEXTLINK Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ:NXLK) was founded by Craig McCaw in 1994 to provide local, long distance and enhanced communications services to commercial customers and is one of the fastest growing competitive telecommunications providers in the Nation. Headquartered in Bellevue, Wash., NEXTLINK currently operates 19 facilities-based networks providing switched local and long distance services in 33 markets in 10 states.