Corning Incorporated (NYSE:GLW) and Lightwave today announced the opening of nominations for the 13^th annual FTTXcellence Award, recognizing individuals from North America and Latin America who have demonstrated exceptional leadership in the deployment of optical access networks. This year’s award will be presented to the winner on Tuesday, June 14, at the 2016 FTTH Connect Conference and Expo in Nashville, Tennessee.

“The optical fiber networks enabling high-speed internet are transforming the world’s ability to connect and collaborate, fueling crucial social interaction and economic development,” said Kim Hartwell, senior vice president and chief commercial officer, Corning Optical Communications. “The FTTXcellence Award recognizes those extraordinary individuals dedicated to bringing fiber to as many customers as possible, making a significant and lasting contribution to the telecommunications industry and society.”

“The impact of even the smallest of innovative ideas can be felt all across the Americas,” added Stephen Hardy, editorial director and associate publisher of Lightwave. “If you know someone who deserves to be recognized for making the deployment of high-speed FTTx technology faster, easier to deploy, and more reliable, nominate them today.”

To be eligible for the award, candidates must be nominated by a peer. Nominees may include individuals at carriers and system operators, home developers, utilities, municipalities, or other organizations that have launched an FTTx project; individuals at vendors or research organizations whose work has benefited FTTx technology development; elected officials or policymakers who have made a significant positive impact in the regulatory or legal arena; and other deserving individuals. Nominations can be submitted online, and Friday, April 29, 2016, is the deadline. A panel of judges from Lightwave, Corning and the FTTH Council will select the winner from the submitted nominations.

In addition to an awards ceremony at the FTTH Conference, the winner will be honored with a donation in his or her name to US Ignite, a non-profit, public-private partnership whose mission is to make the U.S. the world leader in applications and services for ultra-fast, software-defined networks. The winner will also receive a decorative glass piece from the Corning Museum of Glass and will be profiled in an article on the Lightwave website.

For more information on the FTTXcellence Award, visit Lightwave’s awards page.

For additional information on Corning’s products and services, contact a customer service representative at 1-800-743-2675, toll free in the United States; or (+1) 828-901-5000, international; or visit us online.

Forward-Looking and Cautionary Statements 
This press release contains "forward-looking statements" (within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995), which are based on current expectations and assumptions about Corning's financial results and business operations, that involve substantial risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially. These risks and uncertainties include: the effect of global political, economic and business conditions; conditions in the financial and credit markets; currency fluctuations; tax rates; product demand and industry capacity; competition; reliance on a concentrated customer base; manufacturing efficiencies; cost reductions; availability of critical components and materials; new product commercialization; pricing fluctuations and changes in the mix of sales between premium and non-premium products; new plant start-up or restructuring costs; possible disruption in commercial activities due to terrorist activity, armed conflict, political or financial instability, natural disasters, adverse weather conditions, or major health concerns; adequacy of insurance; equity company activities; acquisition and divestiture activities; the level of excess or obsolete inventory; the rate of technology change; the ability to enforce patents; product and components performance issues; retention of key personnel; stock price fluctuations; and adverse litigation or regulatory developments. These and other risk factors are detailed in Corning's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the day that they are made, and Corning undertakes no obligation to update them in light of new information or future events.

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About Corning Incorporated
Corning (www.corning.com) is one of the world’s leading innovators in materials science. For more than 160 years, Corning has applied its unparalleled expertise in specialty glass, ceramics, and optical physics to develop products that have created new industries and transformed people’s lives. Corning succeeds through sustained investment in R&D, a unique combination of material and process innovation, and close collaboration with customers to solve tough technology challenges. Corning’s businesses and markets are constantly evolving. Today, Corning’s products enable diverse industries such as consumer electronics, telecommunications, transportation, and life sciences. They include damage-resistant cover glass for smartphones and tablets; precision glass for advanced displays; optical fiber, wireless technologies, and connectivity solutions for high-speed communications networks; trusted products that accelerate drug discovery and manufacturing; and emissions-control products for cars, trucks, and off-road vehicles.

About Lightwave
For more than 30 years, Lightwave (www.lightwaveonline.com) has delivered trusted technical, application and business insights to senior-level decision makers for optical communications worldwide. Our email newsletter, online and event content serves technology vendors, communications carriers and major enterprises with a complete and nuanced picture of the optical communications business environment. Lightwave is a valued information source for information related to FTTx, networking, equipment design, MSO optics, and test and measurement for corporate executives, department heads, project managers, network engineers and others making strategic decisions that are critical to the success of their businesses. Lightwave is a unit of PennWell Corporation (www.pennwell.com).