FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Kym Smith

CSS Communications

851 Coho Way, Suite 308

Bellingham, WA 98225

360-671-4878

www.csscommunications.com

ksmith@csscommunications.com

CSS Expands Rural Communications Coverage,

Licenses Whatcom PUD Fiber Network.

BELLINGHAM, WA., - April 9^th, 2003 - As part of an ongoing commitment to resolve last mile communication problems, and increase regional availability of data services, CSS Communications (CSS) has entered into a license agreement with the Whatcom County Public Utility District #1.

The license grants CSS the ability to extend services over the Whatcom PUD fiber infrastructure.

This is CSS’s third municipal partnership, preceded by agreements with the Port of Bellingham and the City of Mount Vernon. CSS will combine the Whatcom PUD fiber assets with the other municipal fiber networks and CSS’s regional communications infrastructure.

Municipal networks support schools and improve public and private services. The results are more efficient systems including; traffic control, public works, Police, Fire, Emergency Management (EMS), and support for homeland security initiatives. In the private sector, the increased availability, and reduced costs of high performance communications create economic development.

“Working together we are reducing data and Internet costs and expanding the services available to public and private entities,” said Ray Poorman, Chief Technology Officer, CSS Communications.

The CSS network provides Gigabit connectivity to businesses and allows branch offices to connect at local area network (LAN) speeds. Telecommuters benefit by having direct access to the corporate office from anywhere in the region. CSS’s existing Internet backbone, Fiber Optics, ATM, Frame Relay, T1, DSL, and Wireless networks provide economical high speed communications to more rural locations than any other provider in the region.

CSS is delivering services now. All interested parties should contact CSS to be included in the planning and deployment process.

About CSS

Founded in 1988, CSS Communications is a pioneer of integrated communications services, headquartered in Bellingham, Washington with additional facilities located in Mount Vernon and Seattle. CSS provides a wide variety of integrated communications services in Northwest Washington. CSS leads the industry in Municipal Fiber Optic network deployment and last mile communications systems. www.csscommunications.com