To: joeystockmarket who wrote (1737 ) 12/19/2001 10:42:17 AM From: GARY P GROBBEL Respond to of 3054 will do joey...and this for marc...i could say...i told you so (GG)...but i won't: (PR NEWSWIRE) Optelecom, Inc. Maintains Nasdaq SmallCap Listing Optelecom, Inc. Maintains Nasdaq SmallCap Listing GAITHERSBURG, Md., Dec. 19 /PRNewswire/ -- Optelecom, Inc. (Nasdaq: OPTC) today announced it received a favorable determination for continued listing on The Nasdaq SmallCap Market following an oral hearing held December 13th before a Nasdaq Listing Qualifications Panel. The Company is required to make a public filing on or before December 31, 2001, with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") and Nasdaq evidencing net tangible assets of at least $2,000,000 and/or shareholders' equity of at least $2,500,000. On or before April 1, 2002, the Company is required to file its form 10-K for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2001 with the SEC and Nasdaq evidencing net tangible assets of at least $2,000,000 and/or shareholders' equity of at least $2,500,000. The Company must be able to demonstrate compliance with all of the aforementioned requirements in order to maintain continued listing on The Nasdaq SmallCap Market. This press release may contain certain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. The actual results realized by the Company could differ materially from the statements made herein. Factors that might cause such differences include, but are not limited to, volatility and uncertainties in communications and defense, the primary two industries targeted by the Company; failure to develop and market fiber optic products; lack of reliable vendors, service providers, and outside products; poor military sales cycles; unforeseen changes in competing technologies and products; worldwide economic variances; poor or delayed research and development results; and disparities between forecast and realized sales. Additional factors are discussed in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10K, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Optelecom, Inc., designs, develops, manufactures, and markets high- bandwidth fiber optic-based communications systems for traffic monitoring, security/surveillance, and business video systems. Optelecom headquarters are located at 9300 Gaither Road, Gaithersburg, MD 20877; telephone 301-840-2121 or 800-29-FIBER. Investor inquiries should be directed to Mr. Rick Alpert at 301-948-7872. MAKE YOUR OPINION COUNT - Click Here tbutton.prnewswire.com SOURCE Optelecom, Inc. -0- 12/19/2001 /CONTACT: Rick Alpert, +1-301-948-7872, for Optelecom, Inc./ /Web site: optelecom.com (OPTC) CO: Optelecom, Inc.; Nasdaq ST: Maryland IN: TLS FIN OTC SU: *** end of story ***