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<title>Prepared By R.R. Donnelley Financial -- Form 8-K</title>
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<b>UNITED STATES </b></font></div>

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<b>SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION </b></font></div>

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<b>Washington, D.C. 20549 </b></font></div>

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<b>Form 8-K </b></font></div> <div><font Size="1">&nbsp;</font></div>

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<b>Current Report </b></font></div>

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<b>Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 </b></font></div>

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<b>Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):&nbsp;&nbsp;04/13/2006 </b></font></div>




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<b>EARTHLINK, INC. </b></font></div>

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<b>(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)</b></font></div>

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<b>Commission File Number:&nbsp;&nbsp;001-15605</b></font></div>

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<div Align="center"><font Face="times New Roman" Size="3" Color="#000000"><b>Delaware</b></font>
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<div Align="center"><font Face="times New Roman" Size="3" Color="#000000"><b>58-2511877</b></font>
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<b>(State or other jurisdiction of</b></font>
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<div Align="center"><font Face="times New Roman" Size="2" Color="#000000"><b>(IRS Employer</b></font>
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<b>incorporation)</b></font>
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<b>Identification No.)</b></font>
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<b>1375 Peachtree St., Atlanta, Georgia 30309</b></font></div>


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<b>(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)</b></font>
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<b>(404) 815-0770 </b></font>
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<b>(Registrant&#146;s telephone number, including area code)</b></font>
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<b> </b></font>
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<b>(Former name or former address, if changed since last report) </b></font>
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<b>Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:<BR><BR>
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<b>[&nbsp;&nbsp;]&nbsp;&nbsp;
Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)<BR><BR>

[&nbsp;&nbsp;]&nbsp;&nbsp;
Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)<BR><BR>


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Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))<BR><BR>


[&nbsp;&nbsp;]&nbsp;&nbsp;
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
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Information to be included in the report</b>
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<b>Item 1.01.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement</b></font>
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On April 13, 2006, the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of EarthLink, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("EarthLink"), adopted the EarthLink, Inc. Stock Option Plan for Inducement Awards Relating to the Acquisition of New Edge Holding Company (the "Inducement Award Plan").  The Inducement Award Plan is a stock option plan established to permit inducement awards of stock options to new employees in connection with EarthLink's acquisition of New Edge Holding Company, a Delaware corporation ("New Edge").  Pursuant to the Inducement Award Plan, 657,000 shares of EarthLink's common stock are reserved for issuance.  The Inducement Award Plan was adopted without stockholder approval in reliance on the "inducement grant exception" provided under Rule 4350(i)(1)(A) of the NASD Marketplace Rules.<p>The Inducement Award Plan is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.1 and incorporated herein by reference.</font>
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<b>Item 8.01.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Other Events</b></font>
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On April 13, 2006, the closing occurred under the previously-announced Agreement and Plan of Merger (the "Merger Agreement"), dated as of December 12, 2005, by and among EarthLink, New Edge and New Edge Merger Corporation ("MergerCo"), a Delaware corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of EarthLink.  <p>Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, EarthLink acquired New Edge in a merger transaction for consideration consisting of 2.6 million shares of EarthLink common stock and $114.3 million in cash, including cash to be used to satisfy certain liabilities.  Following the closing of the merger, New Edge became a wholly-owned subsidiary of EarthLink and continues to operate as an independent company under its current name.  The Merger Agreement was attached as Exhibit 2.1 to EarthLink's Current Report on Form 8-K dated December 12, 2005 and is incorporated herein by reference.<p>On April 13, 2006, EarthLink issued a press release announcing the closing under the Merger Agreement.  The press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and incorporated herein by reference.</font>
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<b>Item 9.01.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Financial Statements and Exhibits</b></font>
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(c) &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Exhibits <p>Exhibit No.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;  Description </div><div align="left" style="text-indent:4%"> </div><div align="left" style="text-indent:4%">10.1&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; EarthLink, Inc. Stock Option Plan for Inducement Awards Relating to the Acquisition of New Edge Holding Company </div><div align="left" style="text-indent:4%">99.1&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Press release issued by EarthLink, Inc., dated April 13, 2006</font>
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<b>Signature(s) </b></font>
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Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto
duly authorized. </font>
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	EARTHLINK, INC.</font>
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	Date: April 13, 2006</font>
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	By:</font>
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	<div Style="margin-left:2%; Text-indent:-2%"><font Face="times New Roman" Size="2" Color="#000000">
	/s/&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Kevin M. Dotts</font>
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	Kevin M. Dotts</font>
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	<div><font Face="times New Roman" Size="2" Color="#000000">Chief Financial Officer</font>
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<b>Exhibit Index </b></font>
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	<b>Exhibit&nbsp;No.</b></font>
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	<b>Description</b></font>
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	EX-10.1</font>
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	EarthLink, Inc. Stock Option Plan for Inducement Awards Relating to the Acquisition of New Edge Holding Company </font>
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	EX-99.1</font>
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	Press release issued by EarthLink, Inc., dated April 13, 2006</font>
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{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "EARTHLINK INC", "cik": "0001102541", "assigned-sic": "7370", "irs-number": "582511877", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "001-15605", "film-number": "06759839"}, "business-address": {"street1": "1375 PEACHTREE STREET", "street2": "SUITE 400", "city": "ATLANTA", "state": "GA", "zip": "30309", "phone": "4048150770"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "1375 PEACHTREE STREET", "city": "ATLANTA", "state": "GA", "zip": "30309"}, "former-company": {"former-conformed-name": "WWW HOLDINGS INC", "date-changed": "20000104"}}
Prepared By R.R. Donnelley Financial -- Form 8-K
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Form 8-K
Current Report
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):  04/13/2006
EARTHLINK, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Commission File Number:  001-15605
Delaware
58-2511877
(State or other jurisdiction of
(IRS Employer
incorporation)
Identification No.)
1375 Peachtree St., Atlanta, Georgia 30309
(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)
(404) 815-0770
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
[  ]  
Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
[  ]  
Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
[  ]  
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
[  ]  
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
Information to be included in the report
Item 1.01.    Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement
On April 13, 2006, the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of EarthLink, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("EarthLink"), adopted the EarthLink, Inc. Stock Option Plan for Inducement Awards Relating to the Acquisition of New Edge Holding Company (the "Inducement Award Plan").  The Inducement Award Plan is a stock option plan established to permit inducement awards of stock options to new employees in connection with EarthLink's acquisition of New Edge Holding Company, a Delaware corporation ("New Edge").  Pursuant to the Inducement Award Plan, 657,000 shares of EarthLink's common stock are reserved for issuance.  The Inducement Award Plan was adopted without stockholder approval in reliance on the "inducement grant exception" provided under Rule 4350(i)(1)(A) of the NASD Marketplace Rules.
The Inducement Award Plan is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.1 and incorporated herein by reference.
Item 8.01.    Other Events
On April 13, 2006, the closing occurred under the previously-announced Agreement and Plan of Merger (the "Merger Agreement"), dated as of December 12, 2005, by and among EarthLink, New Edge and New Edge Merger Corporation ("MergerCo"), a Delaware corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of EarthLink.
Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, EarthLink acquired New Edge in a merger transaction for consideration consisting of 2.6 million shares of EarthLink common stock and $114.3 million in cash, including cash to be used to satisfy certain liabilities.  Following the closing of the merger, New Edge became a wholly-owned subsidiary of EarthLink and continues to operate as an independent company under its current name.  The Merger Agreement was attached as Exhibit 2.1 to EarthLink's Current Report on Form 8-K dated December 12, 2005 and is incorporated herein by reference.
On April 13, 2006, EarthLink issued a press release announcing the closing under the Merger Agreement.  The press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and incorporated herein by reference.
Item 9.01.    Financial Statements and Exhibits
(c)         Exhibits
Exhibit No.     Description
10.1          EarthLink, Inc. Stock Option Plan for Inducement Awards Relating to the Acquisition of New Edge Holding Company
99.1          Press release issued by EarthLink, Inc., dated April 13, 2006
Signature(s)
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto
duly authorized.
EARTHLINK, INC.
Date: April 13, 2006
By:
/s/    Kevin M. Dotts
Kevin M. Dotts
Chief Financial Officer
Exhibit Index
Exhibit No.
Description
EX-10.1
EarthLink, Inc. Stock Option Plan for Inducement Awards Relating to the Acquisition of New Edge Holding Company
EX-99.1
Press release issued by EarthLink, Inc., dated April 13, 2006