(COMTEX) B: CABLE INDUSTRY DOUBLES THE DEPLOYMENT OF FREE, HIGH-SPEED CABLE MODEM
INTERNET SERVICE TO AMERICA'S SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES; 5,700 SCHOOLS AND Public
Libraries Now On-Line
WASHINGTON, Jan 13, 2000 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- More than 5,700
schools and public libraries across America are now receiving free,
high-speed cable modem Internet service as a result of the cable
television industry's commitment to education, NCTA President & CEO
Robert Sachs today told the nation's education technology leaders.
In a keynote address before the 2000 State Educational Technology
Leadership Conference at the Washington Marriott Hotel, Sachs announced
that cable's public service deployment of free, high-speed cable modem
service has more than doubled over the past year. Today, cable
companies are providing free, high-speed Internet service to schools
and public libraries in more than 1,100 communities across the country,
up from 692 communities and 2,500 schools and libraries in October
1998.
"The cable television industry is proud to play a role in both the
advancement of technology, and of learning," Sachs said. "Since its
inception in the late 1940's, the cable industry has brought an array
of new service to communities across America. And as our industry has
grown, we have provided the latest in technology and information to our
schools, providing new tools for teachers as they perform one of the
most important functions in our society -- educating our children,"
Sachs said.
In July 1996, before the federal government established the Universal
Service Fund, or E-rate program, the cable television industry
introduced Cable's High-Speed Education Connection, a nationwide
commitment by cable companies to provide free high-speed cable modem
service to elementary and secondary schools as cable companies upgraded
their facilities and rolled out advanced data services. In October
1998, cable expanded its education technology initiative to include
public libraries within a cable company's service area.
Recognizing the need for teacher training in order to derive the
maximum benefits of this new technology, the cable industry in
September 1997 introduced webTeacher(R) -- a comprehensive, interactive
online tutorial designed especially for teachers. Regardless of their
level of experience, from novice to expert, teachers can learn how to
navigate the Internet and integrate its many resources into their
classrooms and lesson plans.
webTeacher(R) is available to educators 24 hours a day. It can be used
either individually or as part of a group training session. The
webTeacher(R) web site (www.webteacher.org) receives 70,000 page views
every day, and beginning next week (January 17) webTeacher(R) will
become available in Spanish, as well.
The cable industry's commitment to education was manifested in 1989
with the creation of Cable in the Classroom, which provides schools
with a free cable connection and more than 540 hours of
commercial-free, educational programming every month. Now in its 11th
year, Cable in the Classroom provides shows produced by CNN, the
History Channel and Discovery Channel, among many others, delivering
topical, diverse information about current events, art, mathematics,
science, history and more. Cable in the Classroom also provides
training workshops that help teachers integrate these programs into
their classroom curriculum.
"The cable industry supports the precept that all children --
regardless of where, or under what economic circumstances they may live
-- should have equal opportunity to participate in the information
revolution," Sachs told the education technology leaders. "Working
together, the private sector, non- profit agencies and the government
have the resources to prevent our country from becoming a society of
information 'haves' and 'have nots.' Together, we can work to bridge
the 'digital divide'," Sachs said.
The State Educational Technology Leadership Conference brings together
the top education technology officials from the state departments of
education, U.S. Department of Education, the Administration and
National Science Foundation. This year's theme is "Preparing Teachers
to Meet the Challenges of New Standards with New Technologies."
The Conference is hosted by the Council of Chief State School Officers
(CCSSO), a non-profit organization composed of public officials who
lead the departments responsible for elementary and secondary education
in the states and the District of Columbia. CCSSO works on behalf of
the state agencies that serve pre- K-12 students throughout the nation.
Sachs' speech is available at www.ncta.com.
SOURCE National Cable Television Association
(C) 2000 PR Newswire. All rights reserved.
prnewswire.com
-0-
CONTACT: Scott Broyles of the National Cable Television Association,
202-775-3629
WEB PAGE: ncta.com
GEOGRAPHY: District of Columbia
INDUSTRY CODE: EDU
MLM
*** end of story ***
|
