EXHIBIT 20
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AvTEL
Communications
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130 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
Cremona Drive --------------------- -------------------------------
Santa Barbara
California Mary McCarthy, OPUS Group
93117 (310) 440-8600
805-685-0355 tel.
805-685-9685 fax AvTEL Communications Acquires WestNet Communications
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Santa Barbara California, February 25, 1997 -- AvTel
Communications, Inc. (OTC: AVCO) today announced the acquisition of
WestNet Communications, Inc., (www.west.net) a rapidly-expanding
Ventura, California-based provider of high-speed Internet access, web
site development and data warehousing. The terms of the transaction
were not disclosed.
According to James P. Pisani, Chief Operating officer of AvTel,
this acquisition will substantially increase AvTel's revenue and
customer base as well as further extend its network reach into the
business-intensive Southern California markets of Ventura, Thousand
Oaks, Westlake Village, Simi Valley, Moorpark and portions of the San
Fernando Valley.
"WestNet's excellent reputation for service and reliability has
contributed to its consistent growth in customer base," commented Mr.
Pisani. "Individual customers will continue to receive high-quality
local access and support, enhanced with new and innovative services,
while business and corporate customers gain access to a wide variety
of broadband voice and data telecommunications services."
Howard Tamaroff, former Chief Financial Officer of WestNet,
commented, "This is an exciting opportunity for WestNet and its
customers. The combined resources of AvTel, its subsidiaries and now
WestNet, highlight the evolution of competition in the
telecommunications industry. Through this acquisition, increased
support and service can be offered to the collective customer base."
AvTel Communications is a non-facilities based
telecommunications carrier that provides a comprehensive array of
broadband network services integrating voice, data and video
networking solutions for small- to mid-sized business customers. AvTel
markets a variety of products and services tailored around its
PointStream private-line facilities, Framelink Frame Relay Facilities,
and Internet access through its subsidiaries.
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