SANTA BARBARA, Calif. -- Occam Networks Inc. (NASDAQ:OCNW), a leading supplier of innovative Ethernet and IP-based loop carrier equipment to telecommunications companies, announced today that Bledsoe Telephone Cooperative has gone live with a major network upgrade to provide all voice, data and video services over a hybrid copper/fiber network. To implement this upgrade, Bledsoe has purchased multiple components of Occam's Broadband Loop Carrier (BLC) system. Most Bledsoe subscribers now have access to IP video and data as well as advanced voice services. Funds borrowed from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Utilities Programs, Telecommunications, commonly referred to as RUS, paid for this network upgrade.

Bledsoe, headquartered in Pikeville, Tennessee, is in the process of upgrading approximately fifty existing sites, including five central offices. Bledsoe has purchased and deployed Occam's BLC 6252 ADSL2 Plus blades and BLC 615X POTS-only blades.

"We said IP is the future more than three years ago and have been committed to building a single IP-based network since then," said Greg Anderson, general manager of Bledsoe Telephone. "Occam's equipment rose above the pack during our testing phase and has proven to be an excellent choice for our upgrade. Occam has also given us outstanding support to ensure the deployment has been smooth, on time and on budget."

"Our goal is to shorten our local loops so that no subscriber is more than 10,000 feet from a remote cabinet," said Anderson. "This means when we are complete with all phases of the project we will have added approximately 120 new pole-mounted cabinets and everyone will have access to the same advanced voice, video, and data services."

Occam Networks Inc. (OTC: OCNW - message board)