Press Release

SUNNYVALE, Calif., Mar 20, 2002 (BUSINESS WIRE) --

HFC Systems and Award Winning DiviCom(R) Encoders Deliver Exceptional Results in the Most Demanding Environments

General Communication Inc. (Nasdaq:GNCMA) has deployed a DiviCom(R) MV50-based digital video encoding system from Harmonic Inc. (Nasdaq: HLIT) to broadcast the Iditarod; the "Last Great Race on Earth." General Communication (GCI), the official communications provider for the Iditarod, used Harmonic equipment to broadcast the climactic finish of the grueling, multiple day and night, trans-Alaskan race on location in Nome, Alaska. GCI's subscribers were able to watch the exciting finish `live' from the comfort of their own homes. The broadcast was distributed to Alaskan television stations as well as national networks.

Founded in 1979, GCI introduced long-distance competition to Alaska and has since grown to be one of the nation's premier integrated telecommunication providers. GCI is the state's largest provider of Internet and cable TV services as well as a competitive local exchange carrier in Anchorage, Fairbanks and Juneau. GCI uses Harmonic's hybrid fiber/coax (HFC) solutions throughout its broadband network.

"We aim to continually innovate and deliver competitive new subscriber services across a distributed network that is challenged by significant geographical and environmental conditions. Harmonic has been an outstanding broadband solutions partner to GCI," said Brian Lichner, GCI Regional Inside Plant Engineer. "Their HFC systems are tough enough to get the job done throughout our Alaska-wide network. The DiviCom encoders have also served us well in extreme situations such as the Iditarod."

"GCI's support of the Iditarod is a testament to their pioneering development of an innovative portfolio of video, voice and data services," said Yaron Simler, President of Harmonic's Convergent Systems Division.

The DiviCom MPEG-2 video compression system is located in Nome, Alaska. The Iditarod finish was broadcast from GCI's baseband routing system to other broadcasters via baseband fiber optic links. A satellite uplink was used to distribute the broadcast to national networks.

    About the 2002 Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race

Each team of 12 to 16 dogs and their musher race over 1150 miles of the roughest, most beautiful terrain Mother Nature has to offer. The Iditarod begins in Anchorage, in south central Alaska, and ends in Nome on the western Bering Sea coast. Visit www.iditarod.com for more information.

    About GCI

GCI (Nasdaq: GNCMA) is an Alaska-based integrated communication provider delivering voice, video and data services through its fiber optic, satellite, hybrid fiber coaxial and metropolitan area networks. GCI's home site is www.gci.com.

    About Harmonic Inc.

Harmonic Inc. is a leading provider of digital video, broadband optical networking and IP delivery systems to cable, satellite, telecom and broadcast network operators. Harmonic's open standards-based solutions for the headend through the last mile enable customers to develop new revenue sources and a competitive advantage by offering powerful interactive video, voice and data services such as video-on-demand, high definition digital television, telephony and Internet access.

Harmonic (Nasdaq:HLIT) is headquartered in Sunnyvale, California with R&D, sales and system integration centers worldwide. The Company's customers, including many of the world's largest communications providers, deliver services in virtually every country. Visit www.harmonicinc.com for more information.

This press release contains forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, GCI's aim to innovate and deliver new services, within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. In addition, actual results could differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of the risk factors set forth in documents that Harmonic files with the SEC, including reports on Form 10-K and 10-Q.

Editor's Note: Product and company names used here are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.

CONTACT:          Aries MarketMasters                  
                  Dawn Danaher, 714/378-5841                      
                  (Media Relations for Harmonic)         
                  danaher@keymaster.com                
                  or
                  StreetConnect                    
                  Michael Newman, 408/542-2760 
                  (Investor Relations for Harmonic)  
                  mnewman@stct.com                

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