SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- Furthering its leadership role in pioneering Ethernet technology for networked applications and communications, Extreme Networks, Inc. (Nasdaq: EXTR), today announced its founding role in the Ethernet in the First Mile Alliance (EFMA). Craig Easley, director of service provider marketing for Extreme Networks will serve as president of the EFMA with responsibility for overseeing the strategic direction and execution of alliance activities.

The goal of the EFMA is to promote Ethernet within the first mile of subscriber access networks resulting in faster, simplified broadband services for both business and consumer markets. The EFMA will support the Ethernet in the First Mile (EFM) standards effort conducted in the IEEE's P802.3ah Task Force, supported by more than 100 leading companies worldwide. Easley joins Peter Linder of Ericsson Communications on the EFMA board of directors along with five other representatives from leading service provider and telecommunications vendors.

"The adoption of a universal standard by the IEEE will propel efficient and cost effective Ethernet technology where legacy access technologies have been unsuccessful," said Easley. "The charter of the alliance stems from the clear demand from end-users, service providers and equipment vendors to foster interoperable technology and create network equipment based on Ethernet for improved delivery of broadband services."

In a separate release:

FREMONT, Calif. -- Alloptic, Cisco Systems, Elastic Networks, Ericsson, Extreme Networks, Finisar, Intel, NTT, and World Wide Packets Unite to Promote Ethernet Access Standard

The Ethernet in the First Mile Alliance (EFMA) announced its formation today. With a mission of promoting Ethernet subscriber access technology and supporting the related IEEE standard effort, the Alliance was founded by nine industry-leading network infrastructure and service providers. In addition, the EFMA announced that the IEEE has authorized the formation of the 802.3ah Ethernet in the First Mile (EFM) Task Force, which is chartered with developing the technical standard for Ethernet in the First Mile. The formation culminates a year-long technical investigation supported by more than 80 companies around the world.

The goals of the EFMA are to:

-- Support the EFM standard effort conducted by the IEEE 802.3ah Task Force,
-- Contribute technical resources to facilitate convergence and consensus of technical specifications,
-- Promote industry awareness, acceptance, and advancement of the EFM standard and products, and
-- Provide resources to establish and demonstrate multi-vendor interoperability and encourage and promote interoperability events.

"Intel supports the EFMA's goal to bring Ethernet's bandwidth, ease-of-use, and cost benefits to bear on the access bottleneck," said Sean Riley, General Manager of the Enterprise Components Division at Intel. "The formation of the EFMA to support the 802.3ah EFM Task Force brings us one step closer to achieving the vision of ubiquitous broadband Ethernet access."

Extreme Networks Inc.

Ethernet in the First Mile Alliance (EFMA)