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Optical Solutions Awarded Fiber-to-the-Premises Contract From Oregon Cooperative

Posted on: Tuesday, 3 August 2004, 06:00 CDT

Molalla Communications Company is introducing FiberPath(R) to New Residential Area

Optical Solutions Inc. today announced it has been selected by Oregon-based Molalla Communications Company (MCC) to deploy its FiberPath(R) 500 FTTP system in a new residential subdivision of Molalla, a community of 5,700 residents located at the foothills of the Cascade Mountains, approximately 30 miles south of Portland.

Optical Solutions' FiberPath 500 equipment and networking solution is the market leader in the FTTP industry, with live installations in nearly 80 communities nationwide. The system delivers unprecedented bandwidth capacity for voice, video and data applications via direct-fiber connections to the home or business.

"As a cooperative, we are focused on doing what's in the best interest of our members, who are also our owners," said Michael East, MCC president and CEO. "Fiber is an integral part of our strategic plan to provide members with advanced services in the future."

In its initial deployment, Molalla Communications will offer voice and high-speed data services to as many as 100 customers in Lexington Estates, a new housing development. Service to several customers starts this week.

"Three years ago we completed a five-year construction plan to install fiber throughout our network service area," East said. "Now, with the proven business case for FTTP, our long-term plan includes deployment of fiber all the way to customers' doorsteps in our new subdivisions. It's an exciting move toward securing our future and assuring long-term customer satisfaction."

Established in 1913, Molalla Communications serves approximately 5,400 members and maintains 7,000 access lines within a 308-square-mile service area. The cooperative provides a complete range of telecommunication services, including local and long-distance telephone, broadband Internet, and advanced calling features such as voice mail and caller ID.

Ed Lettenmaier, chairman of MCC's board of directors and long-time resident of Molalla, said the board's philosophy is clear: "We need to be in a position to deliver advanced services at a competitive price, with the highest-quality customer service possible. If we don't, someone else will," he said.

Historically, MCC's member adoption rates for new services have kept pace with the national average of larger metropolitan cities. "Our members want it all -- a quality rural lifestyle and state-of-the-art telecommunication services," Lettenmaier said. "We do our part to accomplish that goal everyday."

"Molalla has distinguished itself among telecommunications providers in the area for its high standard of operations and service," said Brian Brown, senior vice president of sales and service at Optical Solutions. "Through their diligent planning and ultimate selection of FiberPath, they proved no better business case exists for providing multiple communications services at competitive prices over one network."

About Optical Solutions

Optical Solutions Inc. is driving the gigabit passive optical network (GPON) evolution with its FiberPath(R) 500 fiber to the premises (FTTP) solution. FiberPath 500 incorporates GPON for broadband delivery of voice, video and high-speed data directly to the home and broader community. Optical Solutions leads the market with more than 60 percent of the installed base of PON systems in North America. These systems are fully operational and generating revenue. Optical Solutions' customers are facilities-based service providers, including independent telephone companies, competitive and incumbent local exchange carriers, utilities, municipalities and housing developers. For more information, please visit: www.opticalsolutions.com

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