Rural Telephone Selects Clearfield for Fiber Management Solutions

Extreme Temperature Resilience and Service Reliability Cited as Reasons

MINNEAPOLIS, MN -- (MARKET WIRE) -- 02/27/08 -- Rural Telephone Service Company, Inc., a Kansas-based telecommunications provider of high-speed internet, cable, and telephone services, selected Clearfield, Inc. (NASDAQ: CLFD) to provide fiber management solutions for its residential and business customers throughout Northwest and North Central Kansas.

Clearfield, formerly known as APA Cables & Networks, is a leader in fiber management solutions. The company will assist Rural Telephone in deploying an active FTTH solution, using Clearfield's Fiber Management Products in their Central Offices and Remote Active Gear Cabinets. In addition, Rural Telephone is utilizing Clearfield's Riser Rated Patchcords in their Central Offices and Ruggedized Patchcords in their OSP Cabinets.

"Clearfield's products are reliable, tough and cost competitive. They are always willing to customize certain fiber management solutions so we can meet our goal of keeping our customers happy, plus keep our offices looking professional," said Rural Telephone Service Central Office Engineer Dan Wahlmeier. "The 'Ruggedized' jumpers that Clearfield offers are another step we take towards service reliability in the field where extreme temperatures can cause havoc. Clearfield's top notch customer service and outstanding products are the two main reasons we choose not to look anywhere else for fiber products."

About Rural Telephone Service Co., Inc.

Rural Telephone Service, www.ruraltelephone.com, and its subsidiary Nex-Tech are recognized as leaders in Northwest Kansas' increasingly diverse and competitive field of telecommunications. Serving the area since 1951, the company and its subsidiary provide high-speed internet, cable TV, local and long distance telecommunications, and business telephone systems. Rural Telephone serves 39 telephone exchanges with more than 14,000 access lines in Northwest and North Central Kansas.

About Clearfield, Inc.

Clearfield, Inc., formerly APA Cables & Networks, designs and manufactures the FieldSmart fiber management platform, which includes its latest generation Fiber Distribution System (FDS) and Fiber Scalability Center (FSC). The FDS and FSC product lines support a wide range of panel configurations, densities, connectors and adapter options, and are offered alongside an assortment of passive optical components.

More information about Clearfield, Inc., its products and its people can be found at www.ClearfieldConnection.com.

Forward-looking statements contained herein are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Litigation Reform Act of 1995.

Contact:
Gary Young
612-247-8123
garydyoung@comcast.net