Nashua, NH // 2007-05-31

PacketFront's total FTTH solution accepted by USDA's Rural Utilities Service

PacketFront, the pioneer of open-access broadband networking, announced today that its complete Fiber-To-The-Home (FTTH) solution has attained Technical Acceptance by the United States Department of Agriculture’s Rural Utilities Service (RUS). By achieving Technical Acceptance, rural FTTH and tele-communication projects are now able to implement the PacketFront solution with the assistance of grants and loans from RUS. PacketFront is the first fully integrated FTTH solution to attain Technical Acceptance from RUS.

The key component in PacketFront's FTTH solution is the award-winning BECS control and provisioning system. BECS makes it possible for operators to build and run fully automated broadband networks with self-provisioning capabilities, in both open-access and retail business models. End users are able to self-subscribe to their own broadband services through a web-based portal, without any manual interaction between the service provider or network operator. This keeps operational costs low for the delivery and support of the services, while passing on to the consumer the savings from increased efficiencies. The PacketFront solution also consists of the SMT and HMT management tools for customer care and helpdesk responsibilities, as well as the ASR portfolio of Advanced Services Routers and the DRG family of customer premises equipment. The complete PacketFront FTTH solution has been Technically Accepted by RUS.

"We are thrilled to have attained Technical Acceptance from RUS for our total FTTH solution," said Matt Wenger, VP Sales for the Americas of PacketFront Inc. "This will only strengthen our commitment to providing successful broadband solutions, both technically and economically, to rural America."

Proven in over 150 communities worldwide, the PacketFront solution provides a cost-efficient infrastructure for the delivery of advanced broadband services such as telemedicine, distance education, television, telephone, Internet, and more. PacketFront’s expertise is in delivering a fully successful broadband network, based on advanced technology and solid economic principals, fulfilling the community’s goals and objectives. PacketFront’s customers include the largest, most successful community and utility fiber networks in the world, as well as property developers, carriers and cable companies. Several of these customers have won prestigious industry accolades such as the Cornerstone Awards for "Municipal Area Network of the Year", "Most Advanced Fiber to the Premise Network", "Best Use of Fiber to Bridge the Digital Divide", and "FTTH and FTTB with Most Advanced IP Services".

RUS provides funding to rural communities for deploying the most advanced broadband systems that support the delivery of vital community services, such as distance learning and telemedicine. By having access to these broadband applications, communities have an opportunity to improve quality of life and continue to grow. The Broadband Access Loan program provides loans for funding the costs of construction, improvement, and acquisition of facilities to provide broadband service to eligible rural communities. The Distance Learning and Telemedicine program continues its charge of bringing electronic educational resources to rural schools and improving health care delivery in rural America. Lastly, the Community Connect Grant program provides financial assistance to eligible applicants that will provide currently unserved areas with broadband service that fosters economic growth and public safety services.