CAPE GIRARDEAU, MISSOURI, OCTOBER 29, 2004 – Big River Telephone Company today announced a definitive agreement to acquire Clas.net of Cape Girardeau, Missouri. Clas.net is a leading Internet Service Provider serving the Southeast Missouri market and was one of the pioneers in bringing dial-up Internet service to the area. The acquisition of Clas.net 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 Telephone is the only local telephone company that is positioned to take the customers of Clas.net to the next level of information movement and management”, said Gene Magnus, President of Clas.net. “I am proud of what we have accomplished as an Internet Service Provider in the region and extremely confident that Big River Telephone will expand even more on our success.”

Big River Telephone’s acquisition of Clas.net further emphasizes the company’s commitment to be the premier telecommunications company in the area. The company continues to expand and deliver to customers solutions that allow organizations to use technology to improve their communication needs. Big River’s recent 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.

“Big River is excited about the opportunity to add Clas.net 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. A stronger Southeast Missouri is a benefit to all”.

Upon close of the acquisition, the Clas.net organization will move to the Big River Telephone facility at 24 S. Minnesota.