News & Press Releases:

February 17 , 2009 (Youngstown, OH) – DRS LLC, a leading information technology service provider specializing in managed services, data center design and operations, voice over IP (VoIP), and information technology support and service, today announced it has entered into an agreement with the Columbiana County Port Authority for exclusive commercialization and use of the Port Authority’s ownership interest in the ACCESS fiber optic network. The network is comprised of approximately 250 miles of fiber optic cable, which runs throughout Columbiana and Mahoning counties. In addition to the fiber, DRS will also manage a twenty-two thousand square foot technology complex, which is also owned by the Columbiana Port Authority and located in Leetonia, OH under a long-term lease agreement. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

The agreement will allow DRS to provide a more cost effective broadband access to local businesses and entities in the northeastern Ohio and Western Pennsylvania regions. Mike Meloy, president of DRS said, “The fiber assets fit nicely into our business model and will allow us to offer lower priced broadband access to businesses in the local community. This arrangement further advances the move toward the cloud computing model which is the direction the IT industry is heading.” The cloud computing model should allow businesses to realize savings and be more competitive in the global market place. Mr. Meloy further explained, “by having lower cost connectivity, companies can move much, if not all of their IT infrastructure off site and focus on their core competencies’ while realizing the benefits of the use of the highest quality technology products and services in which DRS provides. Furthermore, by consolidating server and storage space many companies will see utility costs fall dramatically as well as lessen their impact on the environment. This allows companies to save money and focus their time and resources on their core business.”

This agreement will also allow for a partnership between the commercial world and the world of public education. John LaPlante, executive director of ACCESS, said, “This new direction will allow for the sharing of resources between DRS and ACCESS, significantly enhancing the services offered to the school districts in Mahoning and Columbiana counties.” Mr. LaPlante indicated that ongoing discussions are being held with DRS for potential collaborations on data center co-location, office space consolidation, redundant Internet connections, and fiber plant maintenance and upkeep.

With regard to the technology complex located in Leetonia, Mr. Meloy noted that the facility provides the Company with “a state of the art technology complex, which will allow the Company to showcase it’s data center design and operation to new and existing customers”. Because the location is a point of presence along the fiber optic network, the facility will serve as a warm disaster recovery site for DRS customers and has the unique potential to attract other technology companies or call center operations. Mr. Meloy added that two tenants have already been secured for the facility. DRS is in the process of finalizing an acquisition of a local company which they plan to relocate to Leetonia and One Community, a northeastern Ohio nonprofit entity which operates and maintains fiber optic networks, has also committed to lease 1,000 square feet in the facility.

About DRS, LLC
The company has been locally owned and operated in the area for over 10 years and is based in Youngstown, OH. DRS, LLC is a leading information technology firm specializing in managed services, data center design and operations, VoIP, and help desk services. DRS has been recognized nationally from CRN Magazine and the Pittsburgh Business Times as a fastest growing technology firm based on employees and sales. They also employ a number of engineers on staff certified in many different practices that allow customers to augment there current IT staff as needed. DRS has over 200 years of experience in its executive and engineering staff and partners with the leading technology firms in the industry including Cisco, Microsoft, HP, EMC, and VMWare. In addition, DRS’s expertise, resources and customer service has cultivated a loyal customer base over the years. DRS’s corporate offices are headquartered in Youngstown, OH and have offices in Pittsburgh and Akron. Website: www.drsllc.net. Phone: 330-259-4900 Toll-Free: 1-877-527-3423

About ACCESS
Based in Canfield, ACCESS is one of twenty-three Data Acquisition Sites licensed by the Ohio Department of Education. ACCESS is a membership organization, wholly owned by its member districts and governed by a Board of Directors elected by the membership. ACCESS serves 26 school districts in Columbiana and Mahoning County, two educational service centers, 20 non-public schools and two Special Education Regional Resource Centers. ACCESS finished construction of the fiber optic network in 2005, and uses it to provide Internet services including VoIP, as well as application services, including fiscal, student, and library services to local schools and school districts. For further information logon to the ACCESS website. Website: www.access-k12.org Phone: 330-702-9820.