VideoTele.com Furnishes Complete Headend For HickoryTech, Southern Minnesota’s Full-Service Communications Provider

LAKE OSWEGO, Ore. and MANKATO, Minn., May 21, 2001 - VideoTele.com, Inc. (VT.c), a Tektronix company (NYSE: TEK) and the single source for service providers deploying innovative home entertainment solutions via the broadband Internet, announces today an order from HickoryTech Corporation (NASDAQ: HTCO), a diversified communications company based in Mankato, Minnesota. HickoryTech purchased VideoTele.com Digital Headend (DHE) video and audio demultiplexers, encoders and marketing services, and an ATM switch. The video demultiplexers feature industry-leading QualViewÔ technology, VT.c's unique, patent-pending approach to bit rate management. The digital video headend equipment and marketing launch materials are enabling a competitive home entertainment offering from the Minnesota CLEC.

Marketing under the brand HickoryTech Digital TV, the telco is providing a full-service, broadband package that integrates local and long distance telephone, Internet and wireless data services with premium video and audio entertainment. HickoryTech has rolled out this bundled package, turning up customers in St. Peter, Minnesota. Using VT.c's technology, HickoryTech offers 135 television channels, 10 Pay-Per-View (PPV) channels and 40 channels of commercial-free, digital audio programming from MUSIC CHOICE.

The inauguration of HickoryTech's service marks the telco's first foray into the competitive video world where cable operators and telephone companies jockey head to head in the race to provide entertainment services directly to the home. With the installation of VideoTele.com’s technology, HickoryTech's high-speed DSL service surpasses the 750 MHz system offered by the competing cable operator in St.Peter. “Simplicity and a variety of premium channels were my main concern.

HickoryTech’s offering allows me to be selective in my channel choices. Compared to the local cable company, I would have had to buy pre-arranged channel packages at a set price,” explained Rick Tuomala, a new HickoryTech subscriber. “Now my Internet, phone and home entertainment are combined on one bill. Not only is it simple, it’s more affordable.”

When making the decision to invest in a broadband video company, HickoryTech compared VT.c with other vendors, but found that nothing rivaled VT.c's video heritage and customer accolades. "VideoTele.com was the clear choice for our bundled service offering," said Robert Alton, Chairman, President and CEO of HickoryTech. "Their equipment, superior content processing technology and on-site training greatly assisted us in our daunting task to build a complete headend from the ground up."

“VideoTele.com is committed to architecting superior content processing technology for the delivery of broadband services to all communities. We were pleased to be part of the installation that helped bridge the digital divide for the residents of St. Peter, Minnesota," said Douglas Shafer, VideoTele.com CEO. "Our collaborative efforts resulted in positioning HickoryTech as southern Minnesota's first full-service communications provider."

About the Companies
HickoryTech
HickoryTech is a diversified communications company headquartered in Mankato with 552 employees and operations in Minnesota and Iowa. The company is in its 104th year of operation with its roots in the local telephone exchange business. From this base, it has expanded into competitive local service, long distance, wireless communications, Internet, enterprise solutions and information solutions. To learn more about HickoryTech Corporation, please visit the company website at http://www.HickoryTech.com.

VideoTele.com
VideoTele.com is the single source supplier of Digital Headend solutions enabling home entertainment delivery via the broadband Internet. Building on 20 years of experience in video over telecommunications networks, VideoTele.com assists broadband providers with innovative products, strategic consulting and premier performance in system design, deployment and support. VT.c’s digital head-end solutions are used today at RBOCs, ILECs and CLECs, and VT.c is the number one provider of these products to Independent Operating Companies. Headquartered in Lake Oswego, Oregon, VideoTele.com is a subsidiary of Tektronix, Inc. Additional information on the company can be found by accessing the VideoTele.com Corporate website at: http://www.videotele.com.