Excluding the non-recurring portion, revenue for the first quarter of 2001 was $75.9 million. Telecom services revenue was $28.4 million and data services revenue was $47.5 million on a normalized basis for the first quarter of 2001. This compares to telecom services and data services revenue of $13.1 million and $32.2 million, respectively during the first quarter of 2000.

The Company’s total access lines in service were 501,029 as of March 31, 2001, an increase of 15% over the fourth quarter of 2000. Line installations in the telecom services segment represented 82% of new line installations during the quarter. With this strong performance, the telecom segment now accounts for 44% of the total line base as of March 31, 2001, compared to 39% as of December 31, 2000.

We are pleased to announce that we had another great quarter, making this the 13th consecutive quarter that we have met or exceeded revenue and EBITDA expectations, commented Robert Taylor, president and chief executive officer of Focal. Our results this quarter demonstrate that our business is healthy and growing. Momentum continues to build in our telecom services segment, yielding a dramatic increase in both revenue and lines.

Operational Highlights

During the quarter, the Company launched service in Baltimore, its 21st market. Focal continues to roll out its Focal Internet eXchange platform across its markets. During the first quarter, the Company launched Focal Internet eXchange service in three new markets: Seattle, Los Angeles and Orange County. The Company now offers managed Internet access, colocation and private peering services in twelve tier-one markets.

Recent Developments

The Company announced on March 29th and April 18th that it had entered into regionwide interconnection agreements with BellSouth Corporation and Verizon Communications, Inc., respectively. These agreements establish, among other provisions, inter-carrier compensation rates for traffic exchanged between the companies’ networks in 17 states. Focal’s existing and planned markets that are covered under these agreements are: Boston, New York, Northern New Jersey, Philadelphia, Washington D.C., Northern Virginia, Baltimore, Atlanta and Miami.

We are pleased with the progress we have made dealing directly with the incumbents on the interconnection issues covered under these agreements, commented Robert Taylor. These agreements provide us with a level of certainty for reciprocal compensation in some of our largest markets and highlight the fact that market-based solutions can be reached.

Focal also recently entered into a nationwide network interconnection agreement with Sprint Corporation’s local telephone companies. Additionally, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) recently announced a new nationwide reciprocal compensation transition plan for all local traffic. Reciprocal compensation refers to the compensation exchanged between carriers for handling local traffic received from one another’s networks. This plan, along with Focal’s recent interconnection agreements with Incumbent Local Exchange Carriers (ILECs), has dramatically clarified the regulatory environment for the Company.

Financial Highlights

Revenue was $81.9 million during the first quarter of 2001, an 81% increase over revenue of $45.3 million during the first quarter of 2000 and a 22% increase over revenue of $67.4 million during the fourth quarter of 2000. Revenue during the first quarter of 2001 included approximately $6.0 million in non-recurring revenue. Excluding the non-recurring portion, revenue for the first quarter of 2001 was $75.9 million, an increase of 68% and 13% over the first quarter of 2000 and the fourth quarter of 2000, respectively. On a normalized basis, telecom services revenue rose 19% to $28.4 million and data services revenue increased 9% to $47.5 million over the fourth quarter of 2000.

Earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) during the first quarter of 2001 was $3.8 million. Normalized EBITDA for the first quarter was $(2.1) million. Focal reported a net loss for the first quarter of 2001 of $33.5 million, or a net loss of $0.55 per share, compared to a net loss of $20.8 million, or a net loss of $0.35 per share, during the first quarter of 2000.

For the second quarter of 2001, Focal expects to report revenue of $83-$85 million and an EBITDA loss of ($1.5) to ($2.0) million. The Company is reconfirming its full year 2001 targets of revenue between $375-$400 million and an EBITDA margin between 0% to 5%.