FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Optek Technology, Inc. Joins the TIA's Fiber Optics LAN Section

March 21, 2002 -- Arlington, Va. - Optek Technology, Inc., a manufacturer of optoelectronics, sensors and infrared devices, has joined the Fiber Optics LAN Section (FOLS) of the Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA). The FOLS is a consortium of leading manufacturers of optical fiber, cable and components that was formed eight years ago to provide users with information about the benefits of optical fiber in premises networks. Other FOLS members include 3M/Volition, AMP/Tyco Electronics, Corning Incorporated, Corning Cable Systems, Leviton Voice & Data, Micro Linear Corporation, OFS, Panduit, Ortronics, Sumitomo Electric Lightwave, and Transition Networks.

Many of our products, including transmitters, receivers and transceivers, bring valuable benefits to LANs, said Gary Cawley, senior marketing and applications engineer at Optek Technology. We feel that joining FOLS will give us additional exposure to potential customers, as well as enable us to help shape the future of fiber in network infrastructures and horizontal cabling applications.

We are delighted that Optek has joined our membership, said John Struhar, chair of the FOLS and Distinguished Member of Technical Staff at OFS. The strength of FOLS lies in the diversity of our members and our ability to bring a unified and informed opinion to the marketplace.

Struhar added that Optek would offer a valuable perspective to discussions on the recently ratified TIA/EIA-785 standard for Short Wavelength Fast Ethernet (100BASESX), as the company has standards-compliant products that it is already marketing.

For more information on the Fiber Optics LAN Section and to learn how to join, please contact Andy Dryden at TIA at adryden@tia.eia.org or (703) 907-7633, or download an application from our web site at http://www.fols.org.

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The Fiber Optic LAN Section (FOLS) of the Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) is a consortium of leading fiber optic cable, component and electronics manufacturers. The FOLS focuses on educating end users and influencers about the technical advantages and affordability that optical transmission brings to local area networks and fiber-to-the-desk applications. Member companies of the FOLS include 3M/Volition, AMP NETCONNECT, Allied Telesyn, Aura Networks, Berk-Tek, Belden Wire & Cable, CommScope Inc., Corning, Corning Cable Systems, Leviton Voice & Data, GarrettCom, Inc., Lucent Technologies, Micro Linear, Panduit, Ortronics, The Siemon Company, Sumitomo Electric Lightwave, Sun Conversion Technologies, and Transition Networks.

TIA is the leading trade association servicing the communications and information technology industry, with proven strengths in market development, trade shows, domestic and international advocacy, standards development and enabling e-business. Through its worldwide activities, the association facilitates business development opportunities and a competitive market environment. The association provides a market-focused forum for its more than 1,100 member companies that manufacture or supply the products and services used in global communications. TIA represents the communications sector of the Electronic Industries Alliance (EIA). Visit TIA online at http://www.tiaonline.org.

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Note: The opinions expressed in this release are those of the Fiber Optics LAN Section of the Telecommunications Industry Association and are not necessarily those of the entire TIA membership.