Riverstone Networks (RSTN.PK) has received USDA Rural Utilities Service (RUS) listing for both its RS and Riverstone 15000 product lines, making it the first vendor of MPLS-based Ethernet routers to do so. A RUS listing permits Independent Operating Companies (IOCs) and Rural Local Exchange Carriers (RLECs) to deploy these products using RUS Broadband Loan and Grant programs. The RUS loan program is designed to increase the rate of broadband deployments to communities of up to 20,000 inhabitants, ensuring that rural consumers enjoy the same range of communications services that are available in urban and suburban communities. The program provides funding critical to the economic welfare of smaller communities by helping rural service providers deliver the high-caliber broadband connectivity needed for these communities to attract and retain jobs. "Broadband connectivity is a big issue for the nation's 1,000 rural operators, and naturally many are looking to Ethernet as a solution," said Michael Howard, principal analyst at Infonetics Research. "By listing Riverstone's MPLS Ethernet routers, RUS opens the door for these operators to use special funding to take advantage of this solution, which can give them the ability to not only offer more broadband-intensive services, but to do so over a less costly and potentially converged infrastructure." An active member of the Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH) Council, the mission of which is to provide education about, promote and accelerate FTTH networks, Riverstone is at the forefront of the municipal broadband movement in the United States. The company's products comprise the Ethernet routing infrastructure for the UTOPIA project in Utah, the largest planned independent FTTH deployment in the nation. "Even though life in a small town might be slower, that doesn't mean the Internet has to be," said Dan Middleton, Vice President, North American Sales, Riverstone Networks. "This listing is critical, providing smaller service providers with equal access to best-in-class technology that can easily be scaled up or down to meet their network needs. Moreover, it provides them with the infrastructure necessary to deliver a combination of quality voice, video and data services, bringing the true value of the Internet to the communities they serve." Riverstone Networks, Inc. (RSTN.PK) is a leading provider of carrier Ethernet infrastructure solutions for business and residential communications services. Riverstone's Ethernet router portfolio uniquely delivers the reliability that allows carriers to meet the triple play - voice, video and data - service requirements of their customers in a cost-effective and scalable way. Riverstone allows carriers to offer new services over existing revenue-generating networks permitting them to evolve to a next generation Ethernet infrastructure. Except for the historical information contained herein, the matters set forth in this press release, including without limitation statements regarding the use of RUS loans to fund and accelerate the future deployment of Riverstone equipment in rural networks, as well as the future deployment of the UTOPIA network, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date hereof and are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially. These risks and uncertainties include whether rural utilities choose to use RUS loans to purchase equipment other than Riverstone products, and the extent and timing of UTOPIA's future deployment plans, along with those risks and uncertainties detailed from time to time in Riverstone Networks' SEC reports, including the reports on Form 10-Q and Form 8-K filed on September 2, 2004 . The company assumes no obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements. Riverstone Networks is a registered trademark of Riverstone Networks, Inc. All other trademarks, service marks and trade names belong to their respective owners.