BIG RIVER TELEPHONE ACQUIRES CASCADENET OF FARMINGTON

Cape Girardeau, MO, October 20, 2005— Big River Telephone Company today announced a definitive agreement to acquire CascadeNet of Farmington, Missouri. CascadeNet is a leading Internet Service Provider serving the Farmington market.   The acquisition of CascadeNet will allow Big River Telephone to further deliver advanced Internet Protocol (IP) voice, data and multimedia services to the region. With this acquisition, Big River Telephone strengthens its solutions portfolio for the broadband communications market enabling customers to gain access to new technologies using next generation of Voice over IP (VoIP) applications and services.

“Big River is excited about the opportunity to add CascadeNet to our growing company.  Customers are the reason why we are in business and we look forward to providing our new customers with the superior service that our existing customers receive”, stated Kevin Cantwell, President of Big River Telephone. “The use of technology will allow our customers to grow and will reap huge benefits for the region”.  Big River Telephone’s acquisition of CascadeNet further emphasizes the company’s commitment to be the premier telecommunications company in the region.  The company continues to expand and deliver to customers solutions that allow organizations to use technology to improve their communication needs.  Big River’s deployment of a VoIP platform has allowed it to quickly roll out new IP based applications like teleconferencing, voice mail, and a host of other solutions.
“One of the areas that CascadeNet prided itself in was being locally owned and operated with a ‘down-home’ feel,” said Keith Johnson, President of CascadeNet.  “We wanted to be that regular person that you would see around town.  Big River Telephone falls into this category.”

Big River Telephone, with over twenty years of experience, is one of the oldest competitive telephone company providers in the country, as well as the largest in the region. The Cape Girardeau-based company operates an Advanced Digital Network that delivers local, long distance, data, VoIP, and Internet services to residences and businesses. Big River Telephone brings network service solutions to its customers and has the capabilities to meet businesses needs throughout the United States. More information is available at http://www.bigrivertelephone.com.