November 29, 2001

David Morris, 907-265-5396; dmorris@gci.com
Bruce Broquet, (907) 777-6660; bbroquet@gci.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

GCI FILES REQUEST TO PROVIDE LOCAL TELEPHONE SERVICE IN 10 ALASKA COMMUNITIES

Kenai Peninsula and Fairbanks Communities on List

ANCHORAGE, AK -- GCI (NASDAQ:GNCMA) announced today that it has filed a request with Alaska Communication Systems (ACS) to offer competitive local telephone service in the communities of Nenana, Ft. Greely, North Pole, Delta Junction, Kenai, Soldotna, Ninilchik, Homer, Seldovia and Kodiak. These communities comprise the Glacier State study area and have approximately 53,000 access lines.

"Residential and business consumers in Alaska have overwhelmingly embraced competitive local telephone service," said Gina Borland, GCI vice-president and general manager of local services. "We look forward to further extending the benefits of competition to other areas of the state."

Competition in the local telephone market was made possible by passage of the 1996 Telecommunication Act. This law recognizes that local telephone consumers are best served in a competitive market and derive benefits such as lower prices, better technology and customer choice.

GCI's announcement today comes three days after Alaska Superior Court Judge John Reese affirmed the Regulatory Commission of Alaska's (RCA) decision to allow local competition to go forward in most of ACS' service areas. As a result of the recent Court decision, competition is allowed to proceed. ACS is required to negotiate, and if necessary, arbitrate an interconnection agreement that will enable GCI and other providers to bring facilities-based competition to these communities. GCI expects that service could begin in some communities by fall 2003.

Since GCI first launched local telephone competition in 1997 consumers clearly have benefited. The price for the most commonly purchased telephone package has dropped 30 percent in Anchorage. GCI estimates this has saved its customers more than $10 million. In addition, GCI has constructed alternative telephone facilities utilizing a state-of-the-art digital switching platform connected via high-speed fiber optic rings and other transmission technologies.

This, in turn, has created the single greatest benefit of competition, customer choice. Consumers are able to select the service provider that best meets their needs. This is particularly timely for Anchorage consumers since ACS recently raised its rates 24 percent. As a result, ACS customers not willing to pay the increase are switching to GCI.

GCI is an Alaska-based integrated-communications provider delivering voice, video and data services through its fiber optic, satellite, hybrid fiber coax and metropolitan area network facilities. More information about GCI can be found at www.gci.com.