FRK Florida Rock Inds

Leading national aggregates, concrete provider will utilize Ethernet Local Loop, MPLS VPN solution to connect over 120 locations CHARLOTTE, N.C., Aug. 24 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- US LEC Corp. (NASDAQ:CLEC), a full-service provider of IP, data and voice solutions to businesses and enterprise organizations throughout the Eastern United States, today announced Florida Rock Industries, Inc. (NYSE:FRK) has chosen the company as its communications partner to implement a combined data networking and disaster recovery solution. Florida Rock is one of the nation's leading producers of construction aggregates; a major provider of ready-mixed concrete and concrete products in the Southeastern and Mid-Atlantic states; and a significant supplier of cement in Florida and Georgia. The company will utilize several US LEC services for secure and streamlined communications between 120 of its field locations, a centralized data center and its Jacksonville, Fla. Headquarters. "We needed a reliable and economical solution that allowed us to benefit from the newest technologies," said Roger Ferenbaugh, CIO for Florida Rock. "US LEC offered Florida Rock all of the elements we needed for superior, disaster-resistant performance -- large, scalable bandwidth, next-generation IP-based networking services and a dedicated team assigned to service our account." As the construction industry continues to evolve, Florida Rock required a solution to maintain its position as a market leader. Florida Rock relies on its network for communication, Internet access and critical business applications such as an industry leading, internally developed quote to invoice ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) system known as Producerware. "Large enterprises like Florida Rock continue to discover that US LEC is truly their partner in developing solutions that help them run their business better," said Aaron Cowell, US LEC CEO. "US LEC has the scope, the expertise and the commitment to ensure that our customized solutions meet the needs of our customers' growing business needs." Florida Rock tasked US LEC with designing a reliable, secure data networking solution to interconnect Florida Rock's locations with its centralized data center and Headquarters. US LEC delivered a solution built around its MPLS VPN and Ethernet Local Loop products; with additional components including a disaster recovery and business continuity solution; and remote network access for traveling workers. US LEC's MPLS VPN provides Florida Rock a "meshed" network design, offering improved reliability over traditional "hub and spoke" designs. Meshing eliminates network dependence on a central or "hub" location, improving network performance and viability. Additionally, Florida Rock can prioritize traffic traveling over its MPLS VPN network allowing the most important applications such as its Producerware system and traffic between its data centers priority over other traffic such as Internet use. Since the Florida Rock MPLS VPN network will include more than 120 of its field locations, a data center and its Headquarters, US LEC recommended its 100Mbs Ethernet Local Loop delivery solution at its Jacksonville, Fla. primary data center to provide networked locations access to business applications and the Internet. Using Ethernet Local Loop to deliver MPLS VPN allows Florida Rock to buy bandwidth incrementally in 1Mbs (megabits per second) intervals, up to 500Mbs. This delivers a solution that can grow with Florida Rock's needs, eliminating the purchase of unnecessary bandwidth with traditional T-1s and DS3s. Also since Ethernet Local Loop uses Ethernet technology common on its switches and computers, Florida Rock does not need to purchase special equipment to operate. Florida Rock will also co-locate their DR (Disaster Recovery) site at a US LEC data center. It will include a set of fail-over ready systems repeatedly updated from their primary site via the US LEC MPLS backbone. This will improve the Florida Rock business continuation capability should a catastrophe befall its primary data center. The step to put the DR site in a US LEC facility avoids connectivity risks with other scenarios and is the most economical way to provide sustained WAN and Internet access. Finally, the company's remote workers will have dial-in access to Florida Rock's MPLS VPN network. This will provide traveling workers with a safe, secure and reliable connection to the company's critical data and applications, improving productivity and worker availability. About US LEC Based in Charlotte, N.C., US LEC is a full service provider of IP, data and voice solutions to medium and large businesses and enterprise organizations throughout 16 Eastern states and the District of Columbia. US LEC offers advanced, IP-based, data and voice services such as MPLS VPN and Ethernet, as well as comprehensive Dynamic T(SM) VoIP-enabled services and features. The company also offers local and long distance services and data services such as frame relay, Multi-Link Frame Relay and ATM. US LEC provides a broad array of complementary services, including conferencing, data backup and recovery, data center services and Web hosting, as well as managed firewall and router services for advanced data networking. US LEC also offers selected voice services in 27 additional states and provides enhanced data services, selected Internet services and MegaPOP(R) (local dial-up Internet access for ISPs) nationwide. For more information about US LEC, visit http://www.uslec.com/. About Florida Rock Industries Florida Rock Industries, Inc. is one of the nation's leading producers of construction aggregates, a major provider of ready-mixed concrete and concrete products in the Southeastern and Mid-Atlantic states and a significant supplier of cement in Florida and Georgia. Except for the historical information contained herein, this report contains forward-looking statements, subject to uncertainties and risks, including the demand for US LEC's services, the ability of the Company to introduce additional products, the ability of the Company to successfully attract and retain personnel, competition in existing and potential additional markets, uncertainties regarding its dealings with ILECs and other telecommunications carriers and facilities providers, regulatory uncertainties, the possibility of adverse decisions related to reciprocal compensation and access charges owing to the Company, as well as the Company's ability to begin operations in additional markets. These and other applicable risks are summarized in the "Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Statements" and "Risk Factors" sections and elsewhere in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2005, and in subsequent reports, which are on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. US LEC is a registered service mark of US LEC Corp. US LEC and Design (R) is a registered service mark and trademark of US LEC Corp. StarNet(TM) and MegaPOP(R) are service marks of US LEC Corp. Media Contact: Marisa Puthoff, Edelman Public Relations, 404-262-3000, Corporate Contact: Brian Crenshaw, APR, US LEC, 704-319-1942, Investor Contact: James Stawski, US LEC, 704-319-1189, DATASOURCE: US LEC Corp. CONTACT: Media, Marisa Puthoff of Edelman Public Relations, +1-404-262-3000, or , or Corporate, Brian Crenshaw, APR, +1-704-319-1942, or , or Investors, James Stawski, +1-704-319-1189, or , both of US LEC Web site: http://www.uslec.com/

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