LITTLE ROCK, Ark., March 10, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Windstream (Nasdaq:WIN), a leading provider of advanced network communications and Cisco Gold Partner, announced today that it has achieved a Customer Satisfaction Excellence Gold Star from Cisco. This designation recognizes Windstream for delivering outstanding customer service to customers in the United States.

"Windstream's strong partnership with Cisco is something we are very proud of, and we are honored to once again be recognized by our enterprise customers for providing the excellent customer experience that stems from our 'smart solutions, personalized service' brand promise," said Joseph Harding, executive vice president and enterprise chief marketing officer for Windstream. "The Windstream team is dedicated to collaborating with our partners and to designing and implementing unique network technology solutions that help our customers succeed. Receiving Cisco's Channel Customer Satisfaction Excellence Award is indicative of this dedication."

Cisco measures the customer satisfaction levels achieved by its Gold, Silver, and Premier Certified partners based on regional target goals, providing a weighted average of a partner's pre- and post-sales support over a rolling 12-month period. Partners that achieve outstanding customer satisfaction are awarded the Customer Satisfaction Excellence Gold Star and can be found using the advanced search menu in the Cisco Partner Locator.

The Cisco Resale Channel Program provides a framework for partners to build the sales, technical, and Cisco Lifecycle Services skills required to deliver Cisco solutions to end customers. Through the program's specializations and certifications, Cisco recognizes a partner's expertise in deploying solutions based on Cisco advanced technologies and services. Using a third-party audit process, the program validates partner qualifications such as technology skills, business best practices, customer satisfaction, and presales and post-sales support capabilities - critical factors in choosing a trusted partner.

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About Windstream

Windstream, a FORTUNE 500 and S&P 500 company, is a leading provider of advanced network communications and technology solutions, including cloud computing and managed services, to businesses nationwide. The company also offers broadband, phone and digital TV services to consumers primarily in rural areas. For more information, visit the company's online newsroom at news.windstream.com or follow on Twitter at @WindstreamNews.

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CONTACT: Windstream Media Contact:
         
         Tanja Jameson, 501-748-7236
         tanja.jameson@windstream.com