Com21 Expands Advisory Board
Adds CTO Emeritus And Two Industry Experts
MILPITAS, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 11, 1999--Com21, Inc. (Nasdaq:CMTO - news), a major provider of
communication solutions for the data and telephony over cable market, is pleased to announce that Mark Laubach, its CTO
Emeritus, Dan Pike, Senior Vice President of Technology of Prime Cable, and Tom Gillett, President of ALTA Comm, have
joined the Com21 Advisory Board.
Mark Laubach recently left his role as CTO after five years of ''start-up hours'' defining Com21's early product architecture.
Mark felt it time ''to recharge his batteries.'' His chosen replacement as CTO is John Pickens Ph.D., Laubach's friend and
colleague over the last two years. Mark continues as an advisor to Com21, but is now focusing on catching up with his
personal life and writing a book on cable data technology. He now formally joins Com21's Advisory Board as Chairman.
Mark describes being ''delighted at the opportunity of continuing to work with old friends and colleagues at Com21 on new
technology and business opportunities, without the day to day pressures.''
Dan Pike is the Senior Vice President of Technology of Prime Cable and a frequent contributor to industry activities such as
NCTA, CableLabs and SCTE, whose judgment in both technology and business aspects of the business has made him
among the most respected people in the cable industry.
Paul Baran, Chairman of Com21 says, ''I have known Dan Pike for 14 years, and find him among the neatest guys that I
know -- a true Southern Gentleman whose company everyone enjoys and who is generous with his time. Dan offers perhaps
the clearest understanding of the cable industries economics and underlying technology. He has a wonderful sense of humor,
delivered in a 'back home' Texas style that causes everyone to laugh as we absorb his superb common sense at work.''
Tom Gillett, President of ALTA Comm, is another significant addition to the Advisory Board who brings valuable experience
in the intersection of cable, telephony and new venture development. Tom originally was with GTE in their early combined
cable and telephony ventures. Later, he was a key individual in the establishment of CableLabs. More recently, Tom has
been a principle in investing and development of xDSL and other new business opportunities.
Buck Gee, VP of Marketing for Com21, says that ''Having Tom on the Advisory Board with his enthusiasm and rich
knowledge of the cable and telephony industry and investment community is very important to us. He already has provided
significant insights as we position ourselves to offer telephony products that ride on our cable access technology platform.''
Peter Fenner, Com21's President and CEO, stated, ''With the addition of these three professional individuals we believe we
have a great world-class Advisory Board. The breadth of the experience of our Advisory Board has been of great help in
the past in providing an outside view of the developments in computer data transmission, usage, cable delivery, telephony
infrastructure and the myriad other factors needed for success in this field. We listen to their advice very carefully, and
benefit from their different perspectives. Expanding our Advisory Board will provide increased breadth of knowledge in
addressing the many opportunities opening up in this very dynamic and rapidly changing technological and business
environment.''
These three new members of the Com21 Advisory Board join the present Advisory board consisting of:
Walter Ciciora is a technology consultant specializing in cable television, consumer electronics and telecommunications and
was previously Vice President of Technology for Time Warner Cable. He has held numerous chair and presidential positions
with a number of influential industry technical committees including CableLabs, NCTA, IEEE Consumer Electronics Society,
and the joint NCA-EIA Engineering Committee.
Steve Dukes is the VP of Digital Broadband Technology for MediaOne, and was formerly the VP of Technology for TCI
and simultaneously was the CEO of MCNS Holding, LCC responsible for the management and development of the Data
Over Cable Systems Interface Specification (DOCSIS).
David J. Farber is the Alfred Fitler Moore Professor of Telecommunications Systems, University of Pennsylvania; and is a
member of numerous boards, including Electronic Frontier Foundation, Internet Society, CS and Tailboard of the National
Research Council.
Dennis Fernandez, patent attorney, advises the company regarding intellectual property issues and is a former venture
capitalist.
Robert B. Liepold was an advisor to senior corporate management on telecom services and product companies and was
formerly Executive Vice President, United Telecommunications Inc. (now Sprint); and President of United Communications
Systems.
John C. McDonald was formerly Executive Vice President of Technology for Contel Corporation, and former board
member of Contel, GTE and McCaw Cellular Communications.
William D. Houser, formerly Vice Admiral (USN, retired), former Vice President of Comsat General Corp. Later President
of PacketCable, which later morphed into Statacom and acquired by Cisco. Was an early founder of Com21 in 1992.
About Com21
Com21, Inc. is a leading global provider of system solutions to the broadband access market. The company's products
enable cable operators and service providers with the abilities to provide high-speed, cost-effective Internet access to
corporate telecommuters, small businesses, home offices and residential users. Com21 is ranked as the No. 1 cable modem
supplier in Europe based on a 1998 survey conducted by California-based market research firm RHK (Ryan Hankin Kent).
Com21 is the third largest supplier of cable modem technology worldwide with 126,000 modems shipped through March
31, 1999 based on independent market research studies conducted by GartnerGroup's Dataquest (1H'98), The Dell'Oro
Group, and Cahners In-Stat Research Group. Com21 ComPORT® cable modems are commercially deployed worldwide
in cable systems passing 9.8 million households.
Founded in 1992, Com21 stock is publicly traded on Nasdaq under the symbol CMTO. The ISO 9001 certified company
is headquartered in Milpitas, California, and maintains international sales and support locations in Canada, Germany, Japan,
Latin America and The Netherlands. For more information, visit Com21's web site @ www.com21.com.
Safe Harbor Act Clause
This press release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and
Section21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and is subject to the safe harbors created by those sections. These
forward-looking statements include statements related to the ability of Com21's to continue to meet marketing, technology
and customer demands and to introduce telephony products within commercially viable terms. Actual results may differ
materially due to a number of factors, including numerous technological, operational and financial challenges associated with
deploying, manufacturing, marketing distributing and servicing broadband products. The matters discussed in this press
release also involve risks and uncertainties concerning Com21's products and services described in Com21's filings with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). In particular see the risk factors described in Com21's Prospectus dated
pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the Securities Act of 1933 dated February 23, 1999, and the Company's Form 10K for the
fiscal year ended December 31, 1998. Com21 assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking information contained
in this press release.
Note to Editors: Com21, Inc.®, ComUNITY ACCESS® System, and NMAPS, are registered trademarks or trademarks
of Com21, Inc., Milpitas, California, U.S.A.
Contact:
Com21 Public Relations
Mia Bradway, 408/953-9787 or 408/953-9299
mbradway@com21.com
www.com21.com
or
Text 100 Public Relations (Europe)
Fiona Dennis or Antonia Christie
+44(0) 181 242 4112/4123
fionad@text100.co.uk or antoniac@text100.co.uk |
