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Rapid Link Awarded Approximately $2.8 Million Grant From the California Advanced Services Fund (CASF)

OMAHA, NE -- (Marketwire) -- 07/16/09 -- Rapid Link Incorporated (OTCBB: RPID stock news) announced today it has received a grant from the California Advanced Services Fund (CASF) of approximately $2.8 million in matching funds. The grant will support the expansion of Rapid Link's broadband network footprint as part of its "Mother Lode" project, which will bring advanced broadband services to five counties in Northern California.

The CASF was established by the Public Utilities Commission of the State of California in 2008 to provide matching funds of up to 40% of the total project costs for the deployment of broadband infrastructure in unserved and underserved areas in California. Rapid Link's application for funding under the CASF was chosen among more than 50 project proposals submitted to the Commission since 2008.

"This funding is a significant milestone in our efforts to bring broadband communications services to more communities, business and homes," said Chris Canfield, Chief Executive Officer, Rapid Link Incorporated. "Through the CASF program, the State of California has demonstrated its commitment to bridging the digital divide and offering its constituents better access to and better selection of telecommunications services."

In addition to its networks in California, Rapid Link operates wide-area broadband networks in Georgia, Missouri, Nebraska, and Washington, DC. The Company intends to seek additional funding through the ARRA Broadband Stimulus Program, which includes the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) Broadband Initiatives Program (BIP) and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Utilities Service (RUS) Program.

About Rapid Link Incorporated

Rapid Link Incorporated is a Diversified Communication Services company, supplying bundled internet and voice services to Business and Residential customers. Rapid Link offers broadband access via its own facilities to ensure fast and reliable delivery of its content. As a leading licensed WiMAX carrier, Rapid Link is on the cutting edge of this exciting new technology. We are one of the only carriers that can offer an end-to-end solution for our customers without a dependency on any other company's resources.

For more information, visit www.rapidlink.com.

"Safe Harbor" Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: With the exception of historical information, the statements set forth above include forward-looking statements that involve risk and uncertainties. The Company wishes to caution readers that a number of important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Those factors include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties such as the failure to satisfy contractually agreed upon closing conditions that may delay or prevent the closings of subsequent debt financings contemplated by the applicable agreements; the risk factors noted in the Company's filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, such as the trading price of the Company's common stock reaching levels that would cause funding to occur; the rapidly changing nature of technology, evolving industry standards and frequent introductions of new products, services and enhancements by competitors; the competitive nature of the markets for the Company's products and services; the Company's ability to gain market acceptance for its products and services; the Company's ability to fund its operational growth; the Company's ability to attract and retain skilled personnel; the Company's ability to diversify its revenue streams and customer concentrations; and the Company's reliance on third-party suppliers.