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June 23, 2003

Missouri Awards Relay Contract for the Deaf to Sprint

From: Sprint - Jun 23, 2003

Missouri Awards Relay Contract for the Deaf to Sprint

Media Contact:
Steve Lunceford, 703-295-5700
Steve.lunceford@mail.sprint.com

Overland Park, Kan. — June 23, 2003

Following a competitive bidding process, the State of Missouri has awarded Sprint (NYSE: FON, PCS) a three-year multimillion-dollar contract to be its provider of Telecommunications Relay Services (TRS) for the deaf. Sprint was the incumbent provider of relay services for the state, previously winning contract awards in 1991 and 1996. The latest contract award includes continued operation of Sprint's Independence, Mo., relay call center, which employs over 100 relay operators and other staff.

"We're extremely pleased to continue to provide Relay services to Missouri residents," said Mike Ligas, region vice president, Sprint Relay. "This latest contract win highlights the type of service and hard work the Sprint Relay team puts forth each and every day to millions of deaf and hard of hearing Americans."

The new agreement is expected to deliver high quality services to the state while providing a wide range of assistive communications technologies for the deaf, hard of hearing, deaf-blind and speech impaired. Sprint's experience in the field also provides the assurance that all services delivered will meet or exceed Federal Communications Commission mandates for TRS.

Sprint will provide relay service to allow citizens who are deaf, hard of hearing, deaf-blind or speech disabled to communicate with hearing persons on the phone through traditional, online or video relay services. Sprint relay services are available within Missouri by dialing 711 or one of several toll-free numbers; video relay services for the state will be available through www.USAVRS.com .

Traditional relay services involve a relay operator serving as an intermediary for phone calls between a deaf user and a hearing party. The operator speaks words typed by a deaf user on a text telephone (TTY) or via the Internet, and relays the hearing person's spoken response by typing back to the deaf user. Video relay service ( www.USAVRS.com ) uses a similar process but enables the deaf user to communicate in American Sign Language via a computer with a Web camera instead of typing.

Sprint Government Systems Division ( www.sprint.com/gsd ) is based in Herndon, Va., and offers the full range of Sprint product and service offerings for federal and state government customers. Sprint Relay began in 1990 and provides state-of-the-art technology, a full range of features and highly trained, professional staff to ensure users are able to communicate easily and effectively every time they place a relay call. Relay service is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, with no restrictions on the number of calls placed or call length. Sprint's national Internet Relay service is available at www.sprintrelayonline.com; its national Video Relay Service, a joint venture with Communication Services for the Deaf, is available at www.USAVRS.com. For questions about Missouri Relay, contact Matt Gwynn, Account Manager at 816-478-5415 (TTY) or email at matthew.gwynn@mail.sprint.com .

About Sprint Sprint is a global communications company serving more than 26 million business and residential customers in over 70 countries. With approximately 72,000 employees worldwide and nearly $27 billion in annual revenues, Sprint is widely recognized for developing, engineering and deploying state-of-the-art network technologies, including the United States' first nationwide all-digital, fiber-optic network and an award-winning Tier 1 Internet backbone. Sprint provides local voice and data services in 18 states and operates the largest 100-percent digital, nationwide PCS wireless network in the United States.