EXHIBIT 99.1

                                  PRESS RELEASE

              ACTERNA CORPORATION ANNOUNCES EXTENSION OF EXPIRATION
              DATE FOR COMBINED CASH TENDER OFFERS FOR OUTSTANDING
                              NOTES OF ACTERNA LLC

         Germantown, MD, July 23, 2002 - Acterna Corporation (Nasdaq: ACTR)
today announced the extension of the expiration date of the cash tender offers
for up to $155 million, on a combined basis, in principal amount of the
outstanding 9 3/4 percent Senior Subordinated Notes due 2008 of Acterna. The
tender offers, which are being made by Acterna LLC (Acterna) and CD&R VI
(Barbados), Ltd. (CD&R Barbados), are described in the Offers to Purchase dated
June 24, 2002.

         The tender offers, which were previously scheduled to expire at
midnight, New York City time, on Monday, July 22, 2002, have been extended to
expire at midnight, New York City time, on Monday, August 5, 2002, unless
further extended. Payment for Notes validly tendered and not validly withdrawn
will be made promptly following expiration of the offers.

         At the close of business on July 22, 2002, $89,014,000 principal amount
of the Notes had been validly tendered, representing Notes with an aggregate
purchase price of approximately $19.6 million.

         CD&R Barbados' offer is subject to a number of conditions that are set
forth in the Offers to Purchase, including the purchase by Acterna of the first
$63 million in principal amount of the Notes tendered.

         Acterna's offer is subject to a number of conditions that are set forth
in the Offers to Purchase, including obtaining consent from the lenders under
the credit agreement governing Acterna's senior secured facility to amend or
waive certain of its provisions. On July 15, 2002, Acterna announced that it
reached agreement with the lender group for an amendment to its credit
agreement. Under the amendment, the lenders, among other things, will approve
the sale of Acterna's Airshow business to Rockwell Collins and consent to a
change to certain financial covenants in the credit agreement upon completion of
the Airshow sale. The amendment will also permit the Company to use $24 million
to purchase the Notes in the Acterna's offer.

         The effectiveness of the amendment is subject to a number of
conditions, including approval by the administrative agent for the lenders under
the credit agreement of arrangements governing a proposed investment by CD&R
Barbados of all future cash interest received, on an after tax basis, on all of
the Notes held by CD&R Barbados in new senior secured convertible notes of
Acterna LLC and satisfaction of customary closing conditions.



          Miller Buckfire Lewis & Co., LLC is acting as the exclusive Dealer
Manager. Inquiries relating to the tender offer should be directed to Marc D.
Puntus at MBL at 212-895-1819. Requests for additional copies of the tender
offer materials may be directed to MacKenzie Partners, Inc., the Information
Agent, at (800) 322-2885.

         This press release does not constitute an offer to purchase the Notes.
The tender offers are made solely by the Offers to Purchase.

                                      * * *

         About the Offerors

         Based in Germantown, Maryland, Acterna Corporation is the holding
company for Acterna, Airshow, da Vinci Systems and Itronix. Acterna is the
world's second largest communications test and management company. The company
offers instruments, systems, software and services used by service providers,
equipment manufacturers and enterprise users to test and optimize performance of
their optical transport, access, cable, data/IP and wireless networks and
services. Airshow supplies in-flight passenger information systems to the
aviation industry while da Vinci Systems designs and markets video color
correction systems to the video postproduction industry. Itronix sells
ruggedized computing devices for field service applications to a range of
industries. Additional information on Acterna is available at
http://www.acterna.com.

         CD&R Barbados is a Barbados company holding an International Business
Company license. All of the capital stock of CD&R Barbados is owned by Clayton,
Dubilier & Rice Fund VI Limited Partnership, an affiliate of Acterna that is
managed by Clayton, Dubilier & Rice, Inc.

         This press release contains forward-looking statements within the
meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section
21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which reflect Acterna's
current judgment on certain issues. Because such statements apply to future
events, they are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual
results to differ materially. Important factors that could cause actual results
to differ materially are described in Acterna's reports on Form 10-K and 10-Q on
file with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

         Contacts

         Investor Contact:  Maria Henry, Acterna Corporation, 301-353-1550,
                            ext 1207

         Media Contact:  Jim Monroe, Acterna Corporation, 301-353-1560,
                         ext. 4366