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In three years, Merit Network extendsthe reach of its middle-mile fiber-optic network by 2,300 miles usingCommScope fiber solutions

After receiving $128 million in federal funding to revitalize broadbandInternet access across rural Michigan, Merit Network, Inc., needed the rightfiber and materials partner. Some RFP finalists were too large to provide thecustom, hands-on approach Merit needed. Others, while smaller and moreagile, couldnt deliver on the magnitude of its vision for the REACH-3MCinitiative.

Headquartered in Ann Arbor since 1966, Merit owns and operates Americas longest-running research and education network. Governed by Michigans major public universities,Merits network backbone is a strategic collaboration and innovation asset. It connectsuniversities, K-12 schools, libraries, health care, government institutions and other nonprofitsacross the state.

SUCCESSSTORY/MeritNetwork

In three years, we expanded our fiber-opticbackbone by 59%from 1,700 to morethan 4,000 miles. Theres absolutely no waywe could have accomplished this feat withoutCommScopes size, agility, unique approachto delivery and scalable broadband

solutions.

Greg Monroe

Grants, Development andCommunications Specialist, Merit Network

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CommScope delivers

Given all of these complicating factors, Merit placed tremendous importance on finding a cost-effective, flexible, responsive fiber-optic partner who could maintain high availability of variousreel-sizes to ensure timely materials delivery.

During the evaluation process, the Merit team visited CommScopes international headquarters

in North Carolina. They left impressed and convinced by the companys size and scalability.But the most compelling differentiator was delivery method.

CommScope delivered fiber directly to the job site in specialized semi-trucks equipped withdedicated cranes, then offloaded the materials at no additional charge. Delivery charges fromother vendors would have cost Merit an additional $1 million.

Mike Fleming, CommScopes Central Region Sales Director, explained, We are the onlynetwork infrastructure provider in the world with a cable transport fleet capable of not onlydelivering cable reels to a site, but also unloading them via our cargo-master lift-gate service.Merit definitely appreciated this convenience.

Prior experience and a diverse range of solutions ultimately convinced Merit that CommScopetruly understood complex broadband deployments.

CommScope was excellent to work with in finalizing the purchasing agreement, said BobStovall, Vice President of Network Operations and Engineering, Merit Network. Together, wesecured a win-win contract that locked in purchases at a consistent rate for the entire project,protecting us from rising raw materials costs.

CommScope provides flexible TeraSPEEDand OFNR fiber solutions

Merit purchased all project materials from CommScope. Based on network traffic distances,Merit selected SMFE 28 E+, dispersion-unshifted, singlemode fiber that met ITU G.652.Dspecifications.

Merit also selected OFNR cable for the central office entrance facility, including terminationinside colocation facilities. The OFNR is riser-rated, enabling deployment directly from themainline access point of the entrance lateral into the facility itself. OFNR can also be deployedthrough fire-stops, plenum walls, raised computer floors, and more. Ultimately, the solutions go-anywhere quality translated to vital cost- and time-savings.

Merit completes REACH-3MC

Three years later, Merit had expanded its fiber backbone by 59 percent. Since REACH-3MCbegan on January 1, 2010, Merits membership has grown by 41 percent, from 218 to 307.The project added dedicated 1 Gbps connectivity to 143 community institutions. While 271current members enjoy dedicated connections to Merits backbone, the initiative will eventuallyenable another 900 public institutions to connect. The project also added 12 new colocationfacilities in Michigans Upper Peninsula.

This significant expansion of Merits footprint also acts as a cost-cutting mechanism, providingbetter, cheaper service to more constituents in more areas. In fact, more than 1 million homesand 55,000 businesses will benefit as direct customers of a REACH-3MC ISP. ISPs can alsoaccess 51 central office facilities to leverage the infrastructure of existing ILECs for improvedservice.

CommScope was excellent to work with,especially during the final testing phase ofthe project. In the few instances where issuesarose, they fully honored all manufacturer

warranties for defects and performanceissues.

Bob Stovall

Vice President,

Network Operations and Engineering,

Merit Network

Without the federal funding assistanceprovided by ARRA and the right networkinfrastructure solutions partner, the REACH-3MC project would have taken well over 10years to complete.

Don Welch

President and CEO, Merit Network

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1 Gbps is only the beginning

As a middle-mile project, the aim of REACH-3MC was not to directly connect every homeand business in a certain service area, but to build backhaul into an entire region. Thanks tothe success of REACH-3MC, both new and existing Merit members benefit from 21st centurybroadband in remote and rural areas.

Since the solutions provided by CommScope are capable of delivering speeds of 10, 40,even 100 Gbpsand network speed and capacity can be increased with simple upgradesMerit is also now ready to take control of its broadband future. As Merit and sub-recipientsadd laterals to complete the last mile for end-users, businesses and community institutions,CommScope will remain a welcomed, vital network infrastructure provider.

Your success is our story

As a trusted resource and partner around the world, were invested in you: your people, yournetworks, your success. It inspires us to build relationships and infrastructureconnect peopleand technologies across protocols, oceans, and time zonesand share what we learn alongthe way. Well never stop connecting and evolving networks for the business of life at home, atwork, and on the go. This is our promise to you.

THIS IS COMMSCOPE.

We recognize that Merit reviewed severalworthy candidates during the RFP process.We were honored and delighted to beselected as the sole fiber provider for theREACH-3MC project.

Mike Fleming

Central Region Sales Director,CommScope

www.commscope.comVisit our website or contact your local CommScope representative for more information.

2014 CommScope, Inc. All rights reserved.

All trademarks identified by or are registered trademarks or trademarks, respectively, of CommScope, Inc.This document is for planning purposes only and is not intended to modify or supplement any specifications or warranties relating to CommScope products or services.

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