MCI Welcomes Washington, DC to THE NEIGHBORHOOD

Revolutionary, Any-Distance Phone Service, Offers Nation’s Capitol All-Inclusive, Feature-Rich Benefits for One Price On One Bill

ARLINGTON, Va.– July 25, 2002 – For years, District residents have been excluded from many things – including a large-scale choice in their local phone service provider. Today, that has changed. Effective immediately, all District residents may join The Neighborhood built by MCISM, a new nationwide phone business that is revolutionizing the communications industry and that is creating a new era of competition by unifying local and long-distance service. The Neighborhood is already available in portions of Virginia and Maryland.

The brand’s flagship offering, Neighborhood Complete, provides unlimited calling within the U.S., whether across the street or across the country. Plus, it provides a complete suite of calling and messaging features from one company, on one bill for one fixed monthly price.

“In a city that showcases some of America’s greatest symbols of freedom and liberty, The Neighborhood is a natural addition because it brings freedom of choice, a revolutionary new service, and a compelling new brand to all DC residents,” said Wayne Huyard, Chief Operating Officer, MCI group (NASDAQ: MCWEQ). “The Neighborhood is a ground-breaking new business designed to unite historically separate local and long-distance services. In fact, The Neighborhood built by MCI establishes a new all-distance communications category and represents a new level of telephone service. At long last, DC residents are free from the local monopoly.”

ALL DOMESTIC CALLS ARE EQUAL

The Neighborhood is the first nationwide service to free callers from the constraints of per minute rates, time of day restrictions, and unnecessary boundaries between local and long-distance service. District consumers who select Neighborhood Complete will enjoy the convenience of a single company and a single invoice for all home phone service; the most popular calling features - Caller ID, Call Waiting, Voicemail, Three-Way Calling, and Speed Dial - and the ability to take advantage of partner reward benefits, including frequent flyer miles or free movie video rentals.

For $49.99 per month, plus applicable taxes and surcharges, in Washington, DC, Neighborhood Complete provides all-inclusive, any-distance home voice phone service, including all local, local toll, in-state and state-to-state calling along with a full package of features. The entire U.S. effectively becomes one local calling area and the entire country becomes one neighborhood.

WORKING TO ACHIEVE THE VISION OF THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS ACT OF 1996

The Neighborhood built by MCI is the communications industry’s first large scale, credible threat to the local phone monopolies’ lock on the consumer calling market because it is the only enterprise to truly offer a fully integrated service across the country. With The Neighborhood now available in 34 states and the District of Columbia, MCI has become the first communications company to truly fulfill the vision of the “any-distance” future outlined by the Telecommunications Act of 1996.

“The launch of The Neighborhood continues to receive a very positive response from consumers across the country, clearly illustrating the pent-up desire for a truly competitive communications marketplace as originally envisioned in the Telecommunications Act of 1996,” said Huyard. “Now, consumers in the original 32 launch states, plus the recent additions of North Carolina, New Jersey, and Washington, DC, ensure that more Americans are reaping the benefits of integrated, any-distance phone service as well.”

HOW TO JOIN THE NEIGHBORHOOD

To join The Neighborhood, Washington, DC residents should call 1-800-285-FREE or visit http://www.TheNeighborhood.com.

ABOUT MCI

MCI group (NASDAQ: MCWEQ), an operating unit of WorldCom, Inc., is a leading provider of residential voice, advanced messaging and commercial communications services. MCI group offers a robust portfolio of products, including local, international and long-distance voice services, advanced messaging, and wholesale voice, dial-up Internet and data services. For more information, go to http://www.mci.com.