Optimum Lightpath and Westchester County Showcase Eight Years of Technological Innovation and Economic Growth with 'Westchester's Intelligent Network at Work' Movie

JERICHO, N.Y., March 26 /PRNewswire/ -- Optimum Lightpath(SM), a division of Cablevision Systems Corporation (NYSE: CVC), and an industry leader in providing advanced Ethernet-based data, Internet, voice, video transport solutions and managed services, today announced the premiere of "Westchester's Intelligent Network at Work" -- an original video production created by Optimum Lightpath in association with Westchester County. The film features commentary from government and business leaders in Westchester County regarding the impact the Westchester Telecom Network has had on their growth and success. Optimum Lightpath hosted the premiere event yesterday at the Central Plaza Cinema in Yonkers, NY. The movie can be viewed online at www.optimumlightpath.com/westchester .

"Our network puts us light years ahead of most other communities. When I came up with the idea of creating a broadband network in Westchester, my goal was to make the county into a world-class business destination," said County Executive Andy Spano. "Not only has it helped us get more business to locate here, but it has also exponentially improved the quality of life for Westchester residents, providing better and more accessible education, healthcare and government services."

Built in 2000, the Westchester Telecom Network is considered to be one of the most robust and sophisticated telecommunications networks in the world. The Network spans 56,982 fiber miles and delivers services to nearly 60 percent of the municipalities located within the County, including nearly 225 government buildings and more than 200 commercial buildings, as well as schools, libraries, healthcare institutions and public safety organizations. The Network has successfully maximized accessibility to government services, improved telecommunications reliability and transmission quality, reduced overall telecom costs by millions of dollars, and boosted overall economic development efforts in the County.

"We're pleased to join with Westchester County to showcase our successful relationship and demonstrate how the Westchester Telecom Network has contributed to the economic success, growth and vitality of the County," said Dave Pistacchio, Optimum Lightpath's Executive Vice President and General Manager. "We look forward to working with Westchester County to further expand upon its vision for a world-class, 21st century business environment."

Two of the Westchester County organizations leveraging the Westchester Telecom Network in innovative ways are Westchester Medical Center and the Rye Neck School District.

Westchester Medical Center, the region's advanced care and Level 1 Trauma Center, offers the latest advances in clinical care, serving more than 3.5 million people in the region. The Westchester Telecom Network enables enhanced communication and sharing of data that is helping Westchester Medical Center to save lives. One example of this is in the Westchester Medical Center's Trauma Center, which often receives trauma patients transferred from other hospitals.

"We've been able to communicate with hospitals that are an hour and a half away from here that send their patients to us by helicopter. We can reach across the network and actually go into their PACS systems and see their imagery that they have taken of trauma patients," said Ted Tully, Director of Trauma and Emergency Services, Westchester Medical Center. "This enables us to alert our surgeons, neurosurgeons and radiologists to let them know that a patient is coming in, so that the time between the patient arriving at the hospital and that patient being taken into the operating room is cut dramatically -- not by minutes but probably by hours. We are definitely saving lives with this type of communication."

The Network is also enabling real-time telemedicine consultations with inmates at the Westchester County Jail. This solution provides a way for emergency room doctors to examine inmates without having to transport them. Since its implementation in March 2007, the program has positively impacted public safety and cut inmate visits to the emergency room by more than 50 percent.

"It's better for patients because they are able to be treated sooner. With telemedicine, we can consult with emergency room doctors almost immediately," said John Moustakakis, CIO, Senior Vice President, Westchester Medical Center. "And it's better for the County because it eliminates the cost of unnecessary trips to the hospital."

The Westchester Telecom Network is also enabling schools in Westchester County -- such as the Rye Neck School District -- to utilize cutting-edge technologies to enable distance learning and various other interactive educational tools in its classrooms.

"Access to Optimum Lightpath technology has changed the complexion of how we deliver education. What is important is that students are engaged and the technology supports student achievement," said Valerie Feit, Enrichment Coordinator, Rye Neck Union Free School District. "With access to broadband, we are able to work with more complex software systems and expand our learning environment beyond the school walls. For example, we have been able to offer gifted students the opportunity to work with high quality content and instructors from Stanford University through the Educational Program for Gifted Youth (EPGY) -- this a very exciting application, and one that wouldn't have been possible without access to the Network."

Westchester County was recently recognized globally for its economic efforts by The Intelligent Community Forum (ICF) as one of the "top seven" most intelligent communities in the world. Gaining a place among the top seven is a major achievement toward greater recognition for Westchester's efforts to use broadband and information technology to attract leading edge businesses, stimulate job creation and generate sustainable economic growth.

About Optimum Lightpath

Optimum Lightpath, a division of Cablevision Systems Corporation (NYSE: CVC), and an industry leader in providing advanced Ethernet-based data, Internet, voice, video transport solutions and managed services over its Intelligent Enterprise Network, uses the power of its reliable and resilient fully fiber optic network to deliver these solutions to businesses throughout the New York metropolitan area. Since its formation almost 20 years ago, Optimum Lightpath has built an advanced fiber-to-the-business-premises network extending more than 2,750 route miles throughout the tri-state area with more than 2,500 fiber lit buildings. As a result of owning and maintaining this state-of-the-art network, Optimum Lightpath is able to reliably provide scalable, high-capacity IP-based Metro Ethernet services that support high bandwidth data, Internet, voice and video applications that dramatically improve the enterprise customer's quality of experience.

Optimum Lightpath has been recognized for ten straight years by the New York State Public Service Commission for delivering highly personalized customer service superior to the competition. This year, the Company was named 2008 Frost & Sullivan North American Ethernet Service Emerging Company of the Year. In 2007, Optimum Lightpath was named Heavy Reading's North American Ethernet Service Provider of the Year for Regional Innovation and named Best North American Regional Service Provider of the Year by the Metro Ethernet Forum (MEF). Optimum Lightpath was one of the first service providers in the world and the only North American MSO to earn Carrier Ethernet certification from the MEF. For more information, visit www.optimumlightpath.com .

About Cablevision

Cablevision Systems Corporation is one of the nation's leading entertainment and telecommunications companies. Its cable television operations serve more than 3 million households in the New York metropolitan area. The company's advanced telecommunications offerings include its iO TV(SM) digital television, Optimum Online(R) high-speed Internet, Optimum Voice(R) digital voice-over-cable, and its Optimum Lightpath integrated business communications services. Cablevision's Rainbow Media Holdings LLC operates several successful programming businesses, including AMC, IFC, WE tv and other national and regional networks. In addition to its telecommunications and programming businesses, Cablevision owns Madison Square Garden and its sports teams, the New York Knicks, Rangers and Liberty. The company also operates New York's famed Radio City Music Hall, and owns and operates Clearview Cinemas.

    Media Contacts:
    Nicholas Rae
    Optimum Lightpath
    516-803-1172
    nrae@optimumlightpath.com

    Jennifer Moritz
    Zer0 to 5ive for Optimum Lightpath
    917-748-4006
    jmoritz@0to5.com

    Jim Maiella
    Cablevision
    516-803-3947
    jmaiella@cablevision.com

SOURCE Optimum Lightpath

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