New President/COO at Consolidated

Consolidated Communications Inc. (NASDAQ: CNSL) announced today that Bob Udell has been promoted to President and Chief Operating Officer of Consolidated Communications and will be joining the company’s Board of Directors, effective immediately.

Udell has held the position of COO since May 2011 and is a 20-year veteran of Consolidated, having also previously held executive positions at TXU Communications, McLeodUSA and Bell Atlantic.

Bob Currey will continue as the company’s Chief Executive Officer and has been named Chairman of the Board of Directors, succeeding Dick Lumpkin, who remains on the board.

“The company has had great success under the leadership of Dick Lumpkin and our Board, and Bob Udell and I are looking forward to continuing that track record of accomplishments into the future,” said Currey. “The contributions Dick has made as the Founder of this company and to our industry are second to none. I’m thrilled he will continue to serve on the Board and provide his insight to help shape and ensure the ongoing success of the company.”

Lumpkin has served as the Chairman of the Board since December 31, 2002. His family has led the company since its creation in 1894 as Mattoon Telephone Company. He is the great-grandson of the company’s original founder, Iverson A. Lumpkin.

The company also announced the promotion of Michael Smith to Chief Marketing Officer and Tom White to Chief Technology Officer.

“The changes and promotions in our executive team are part of our deliberate, long-term succession plan,” said Currey. “I have great confidence in Bob Udell and the team’s ability to continue to grow and succeed.”

Consolidated Communications provides phone, Internet and TV service to residential and commercial customers in six states and employs more than 1,700 people in Illinois, Texas, Pennsylvania, California, Kansas and Missouri.