D&E Communications Merger With Windstream Receives Approval by the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission

EPHRATA, PA -- D&E Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ: DECC) ("D&E") today announced that the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (the "PUC") approved the merger of Windstream Corporation and D&E. The decision by the PUC provides the final regulatory agency approval of the merger agreement.

"With the action taken today by the PUC, I am pleased to report that we have obtained all of the required approvals to the merger agreement," said James W. Morozzi, President and Chief Executive Officer of D&E Communications. "We anticipate closing the transaction by the end of next week," said Morozzi.

About D&E

D&E is an integrated communications provider offering high-speed data, Internet access, local and long distance telephone, data, professional IT services, network monitoring, security solutions and video services. Based in Lancaster County, D&E has been serving communities in central Pennsylvania for more than 100 years. For more information, visit www.decommunications.com.

About Windstream

Windstream Corporation is an S&P 500 company that provides digital phone, high-speed Internet and high-definition video and entertainment services to residential and business customers in 16 states. The company has approximately 3 million access lines and about $3.2 billion in annual revenues. Windstream is ranked 4th in the 2009 Business Week 50 ranking of the best performing U.S. companies. For more information about Windstream, visit www.windstream.com.