Subject: fyi, Corporate interest in e-rate
Curt Priest (cpriest@juno.com)
Date: Fri, 10 Apr 1998 12:22:34 EDT
To: ROUNDTABLE@CNI.ORG Subject: fyi, Corporate interest in e-rate Message-Id: <19980410.122139.4239.4.cpriest@juno.com> From: cpriest@juno.com (Curt Priest) Date: Fri, 10 Apr 1998 12:22:34 EDT
[forwarded under Section 107(a) of the 1976 Copyright Act on Fair Use]
Curt Priest
<cpriest@juno.com>
Technology Leaders Collaborate to Offer K-12 Educators Free Technology
Planning Seminars Microsoft, Dell, Sprint and NCS Provide Technology
Information, Planning Tools <>
April 9, 1998
_________________________________________________________________
REDMOND, Wash., April 8 /PRNewswire/ via NewsEdge Corporation --
Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq: MSFT), Dell Computer Corp. (Nasdaq: DELL),
Sprint Corp. (NYSE: FON) and National Computer Systems (NCS) (Nasdaq:
NLCS) today announced that they will begin offering free seminars this
month to help K-12 educators reap the benefits of the $2.25 billion in
federal E-Rate discounts for connecting their schools to the world's
classroom -- the Internet. At the daylong " Technology Solutions:
E-Rate Planning and Preparation" seminars, educators in 10 cities will
see the latest hardware, software and networking strategies and learn
more about the Schools and Libraries Universal Service Program
(E-Rate) federal funding.
"As schools build Internet connectivity, they will realize the vision
of a Connected Learning Community where all students and educators
have access to technology and information online to support learning,"
said Kathryn Yates, director of K-12 programs for Microsoft.
"Microsoft is collaborating with Sprint, Dell and NCS to sponsor these
free E-Rate planning seminars so that educators will have the
information they need to develop school technology plans that work
with their existing technology, grow as their needs change and support
both instruction and administration."
The E-Rate federal funding program is designed to ensure that schools
and libraries have affordable access to telecommunications and
information services. The fund of up to $2.25 billion annually
provides discounts on technology purchases for schools building their
information technology infrastructures or establishing high-quality
Internet connections. Applications for the discounts require an
up-to-date technology plan and competitive bids from suppliers.
Discounts range from 20 percent to 90 percent, depending on the
school's economic need and location. The "Technology Solutions: E-Rate
Planning and Preparation" seminars are designed both for educators
from the 35,000 K-12 schools that have already submitted E-Rate
applications and for those applying before the April 15 deadline.
K-12 administrators, district and site technology coordinators and
information system managers who attend the seminars will get an
overview of the technology building blocks for schools and guidance
for planning a technology infrastructure that supports teaching and
learning. They will also learn more about tools to connect schools to
homes and communities over local area networks (LANs), wide area
networks (WANs) and the Internet.
"Seminar attendees will gain valuable knowledge about planning
technology infrastructure as well as strategic information about how
to best leverage the discounts available through the Universal Service
Fund for Schools and Libraries Program," said Steve Faulkner, director
of education markets for Sprint. "Participants will receive Sprint's
Education Tool Kit on Technology, a guide to simplifying education
technology planning and preparing grant applications."
Attendees at the daylong seminars also will receive Microsoft's
Connected Learning Community Technology Roadmap, a guide for building
a school's technology infrastructure. At the end of the 10-city
seminar series, all attendees may have a chance to win a Dell
Latitude(R) CP notebook.
"The E-Rate program offers schools a tremendous opportunity to
integrate technology into the classroom," said Tom Fitzgerald,
director of Dell's K-12 division. "Through the seminars, we're helping
schools capitalize on this opportunity by providing them guidance on
which hardware technologies are E-Rate eligible, and on using the
technology to build an infrastructure that enhances the teaching and
learning process."
NCS is the nation's single largest developer and provider of financial
management, student information and instructional management software
and services to the K-12 education segment. Robert L. Bowen, president
of the education software and services division at NCS, said the
seminars give K-12 educators an opportunity to learn how to use
available technology products and services to expand and enhance the
quality of the education experience.
"NCS Education is committed to helping schools succeed," Bowen said.
"We want these seminars to show schools how to use student information
and administrative data supported by NCS software in order to cut
waste, conserve budget, and justify and expand appropriate technology
use in their schools. "
K-12 educators can make reservations at one of the free seminars by
sending a fax to 206-441-6369 or calling 888-236-6605 (8 a.m. to 5
p.m. PDT). For more information on the seminars, visit
http://www.microsoft.com/education/k12/erate.htm.
About the Sponsors
Dell Computer Corp.
Ranked in the top 200 of Fortune 500 companies, Dell Computer Corp. is
the world's leading direct computer systems company, based on revenues
of $12.3 billion for the past four quarters. Dell designs and
customizes products and services to end-user requirements and offers
an extensive selection of peripherals and software through the
DellWare(R) program. Information on Dell and its products can be
obtained through its toll-free number, 800-388-8542, or by accessing
the Dell World Wide Web server at http://www.dell.com/.
Sprint Corp.
Sprint is a global communications company -- at the forefront in
integrating long-distance local and wireless communications services
-- and one of the world's largest carriers of Internet traffic. Sprint
built and operates the United States' only nationwide all-digital,
fiber-optic network and is the leader in advanced data communications
services. Sprint has $15 billion in annual revenues and serves more
than 16 million business and residential customers.
National Computer Systems
For almost four decades, National Computer Systems has helped school
systems manage the process of education cost-effectively through the
efficient use of new technologies. Through the NCS Education division,
based in Mesa, Ariz., the company is the nation's single largest
developer and provider of financial-management, student information
and instructional-management software and services to the K-12
education market. NCS is also the world's largest commercial processor
of student assessment tests, serving more than 40 state K-12 programs.
Microsoft Corp.
Microsoft's sponsorship of the "Technology Solutions: E-Rate Planning
and Preparation" seminars and overall commitment to helping teachers
use technology to improve teaching and learning are part of its
continuing efforts to help create a global Connected Learning
Community in which all students and educators have access to
technology and information online to support learning today and for a
lifetime.
Founded in 1975, Microsoft is the worldwide leader in software for
personal computers. The company offers a wide range of products and
services for business and personal use, each designed with the mission
of making it easier and more enjoyable for people to take advantage of
the full power of personal computing every day.
"Technology Solutions: E-Rate Planning and Preparation" Seminar
Schedule
* Austin, Texas Thursday, April 2
* Raleigh, N.C. Tuesday, April 7
* Chicago, Ill. Monday, April 20
* Orlando, Fla. Thursday, April 23
* Pittsburgh, Pa. Tuesday, April 28
* Santa Monica, Calif. Thursday, April 30
* New York, N.Y. Monday, May 4
* Denver, Colo. Thursday, May 7
* Washington, D.C. Thursday, May 14
* Waltham, Mass. Wednesday, May 27
NOTE: Dell is a registered trademark and DellWare is a registered
service mark of Dell Computer Corp. Microsoft is either a registered
trademark or trademark of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or
other countries. Other product and company names herein may be the
trademarks of their respective owners.
SOURCE Microsoft Corporation
/CONTACT: press only, Lisa Wolfe, 312-664-5008, or lisawolfe@monyek.com,
or Erika Fishman, 312-664-5008, or erikafishman@monyek.com, both of
of Grant/Jacoby/Marcy Monyek Public Relations Division, for Microsoft
Corp./
/Web site: http://www.dell.com/
/Web site: http://www.microsoft.com/
(MSFT DELL FON NLCS)
[Copyright 1998, PR Newswire]
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