Charles Industries, Corning Cable Systems Jointly Promote RDUP-Accepted Fiber Pedestal Solution; Industry Leaders Offer Customers Best-in-Class Field-Proven Fiber Pedestal Products

Business Wire, June 5, 2006

ROLLING MEADOWS, Ill. & HICKORY, N.C. -- Charles Industries, Ltd. and Corning Cable Systems, part of Corning Incorporated's (NYSE:GLW) Telecommunications segment, have established a strategic relationship to provide best-in-class Telcordia and RDUP (formerly RUS) accepted fiber pedestal solutions.

As a result of this strategic relationship, Corning Cable Systems will discontinue the manufacture of its RDUP-accepted pedestal line and instead will collaborate with Charles to offer these pedestals to customers. Charles will provide their time-proven pedestal products, while Corning will continue to offer the industry-leading fiber connectivity solutions within the pedestal.

Charles fiber pedestals are optimized for use with Corning Cable Systems fiber management, including OptiSheath(TM) Advantage Terminals. The two companies will also work together on current and future pedestal designs to ensure the fiber management is optimized to support Corning fiber terminals. This allows both companies to focus on their core strengths, providing the best value to the customer. Customers will be able to purchase the pedestals through both Corning Cable Systems and Charles.

"With Charles' industry-leading pedestal design capabilities and Corning's industry-leading fiber management knowledge, this relationship is a win-win for carriers using fiber pedestals in their networks," said Dr. Bernhard Deutsch, director of marketing and market development for Corning Cable Systems public networks.

"Charles' and Corning's complementary roles in this strategic relationship provide the industry the best combination of product performance, range of application, customer service and overall value for OSP fiber pedestal solutions," said Dick Hood, vice president of Charles Industries' outside plant business unit

Through its Evolant(R) Solutions for Access Networks, Corning Cable Systems offers specialized portfolios of innovative products and services that enable customers to cost-effectively deploy fiber in the last mile. For additional information on Corning Cable Systems, contact a customer service representative at 1-800-743-2675, toll free in the United States, or ( 1) 828-901-5000, international, or visit www.corning.com/cablesystems.> Charles Industries was the first manufacturer to introduce non-metallic buried distribution pedestals to the telecommunications industry. Charles fiber pedestals offer superior environmental and flood protection of fiber distribution points with the advantage of above-grade, re-enterable access. For additional information on Charles, contact a customer service representative at 847-806-6300 or visit www.charlesindustries.com.

About Charles Industries, Ltd.

Charles Industries, Ltd., is a privately held, diversified manufacturing and technology company servicing telecommunications, marine and industrial markets. Founded in 1968, the company is ISO 9000 and TL 9000 certified and employs more than 600 professionals in its Rolling Meadows, Illinois, corporate headquarters and six U.S.-based manufacturing plants. For further information, please visit www.charlesindustries.com or call (847) 806-6300.

About Corning Incorporated

Corning Incorporated (www.corning.com) is a diversified technology company that concentrates its efforts on high-impact growth opportunities. Corning combines its expertise in specialty glass, ceramic materials, polymers and the manipulation of the properties of light, with strong process and manufacturing capabilities to develop, engineer and commercialize significant innovative products for the telecommunications, flat panel display, environmental, semiconductor, and life sciences industries.