EDINBURG, Va. (Map) - EDINBURG, Va., Dec. 15 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Shenandoah Telecommunications Company (Shentel) (Nasdaq: SHEN), www.shentel.com, an established provider of telephone, Internet and cable television services throughout Virginia's northern Shenandoah Valley, announced plans to boost customer support, improve telecommunications infrastructure, and provide new and expanded cable TV services to former Rapid Communications customers located in service areas throughout West Virginia and Alleghany County, Virginia.

Shentel's planned rollout follows the company's December 1 acquisition of assets and customers from Colorado-based Rapid Communications. Currently, Shentel provides a combination of voice, video and data services in Virginia's northern Shenandoah County and in surrounding communities. Shentel is also a Sprint affiliate providing wireless services in Virginia and Western Pennsylvania. Shentel began in 1902 as Farmers' Mutual Telephone System, a rural cooperative owned by its subscribers in Shenandoah County, Virginia.

Earle A. MacKenzie, Chief Operating Officer, Shentel said, "As a local company with more than 100 years of experience in serving customers in the region, we are excited to be expanding our services in the area. We firmly believe that we are in a good position and well equipped to handle the needs of our new and future customers in West Virginia and nearby areas. Starting immediately, we are investing the time, the resources and the dollars needed to improve customer service, forge strong partnerships with the local communities and upgrade our network."

MacKenzie said, "Over the next two years, Shentel has extensive plans to bring state-of-the-art broadband digital services to service areas throughout West Virginia and Alleghany County, Virginia. These upgrades include faster Internet speed and digital video recording, or 'DVR', and other services, such as digital programming. Shentel also plans to launch additional services including video on demand, high definition TV, and voice services. Customers will have the option to subscribe to cable, Internet and telephone services -- also known as 'triple play' -- as a bundled service offering."

Shentel's announcement and plans affect customers in the following West Virginia towns: Alum Bridge, Anstead, Belington, Boone County, Broad Run, Clay, Craigsville, Dingess, Drennan, Franklin, Gassaway, Gilboa, Glenville, Grantsville, Harrisville, Harts, Hillsboro, Marlington, Page/Scarbro, Pennsboro, Petersburg, Richwood, Summersville, Webster Springs, West Union and Weston. Also included is Allegany County, Virginia.

For more information, please visit http://www.shentelnow.com or call 1-800-409-1203.

About Shenandoah Telecommunications

Shenandoah Telecommunications Company (www.shentel.com) is a holding company that provides a broad range of telecommunications services through its operating subsidiaries. The Company is traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol "SHEN." The Company's operating subsidiaries provide local and long distance telephone, Internet and data services, cable television, wireless voice and data services, alarm monitoring, and telecommunications equipment, along with many other associated solutions in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern United States.