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TelCove Supports Pennsylvania's Commitment to Broadband Infrastructure Projects for Underserved Areas
CANONSBURG, Pa., May 13 /PRNewswire/ -- TelCove's build out of over 5,000 route miles of fiber optic network continues to provide the reliability of services that support the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's commitment and investment in bringing broadband technologies to underserved communities across the state.
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20030423/TELCOVELOGO )
TelCove's redundant SONET network and the company's experienced and committed resources that ensure success with implementation, monitoring, and maintenance, support the Commonwealth's critical applications.
The North Central Six-County Telecom Infrastructure Development Project is one of the latest efforts to spur economic, workforce, and educational development by linking rural and distressed communities of Pennsylvania to 21st century technology. By linking the cities of St. Mary's and Ridgway through an 11-mile build, for a total build of 29 route miles of TelCove's advanced, secure fiber optic network, this project provides a six-county area with telecommunications services once only available at less than desired performance and costs.
TelCove's network currently provides a 12 meg Internet connection to power a wireless Local Area Network (LAN) in Cameron, Clearfield, Elk, Jefferson, McKean, and Potter counties. This initiative, driven by the North Central LDD, will deploy broadband services to these six counties with endpoints to such facilities as 911 centers, courthouses, and educational facilities, as well as local businesses and hospitals.
"Through the broadband wireless system, developed by the North Central Pennsylvania Regional Planning and Development Commission (NCPRPDC), we offer the infrastructure required to meet the information technology needs of numerous customers in the business, education, health care, and public service sectors and communities in our rural six-county region. The capacity offered by partnering with TelCove to provide 21st century technology to this region means that all of our communities will be able to compete in the global marketplace and succeed because of this enhanced technology resource," according to Jim Swanson, Director of Information Systems for NCPRPDC.
Through the Capital Area Intermediate Unit (CAIU) Wide Area Network connectivity project, high-speed broadband services will be available to 24 school districts and two vocational technical schools in Cumberland, Dauphin, Perry, and Northern York counties, benefiting more than 50,000 children in the first year. TelCove will be delivering the network connectivity for the project that utilizes Commonwealth matching funding for infrastructure upgrades and deployment and integrates wireless technology to increase service coverage across a broad four-county area. The project is recognized by the Pennsylvania Department of Education as a model project for other education opportunities across the state and supports Governor Edward G. Rendell's technology-focused educational and economic development strategy for Pennsylvania. The proposed ATM network provides potential for full 45M connectivity to all 24 school districts and two vo-tech schools.
"The beauty of this project is that coordinated efforts are bringing collaborated infrastructure for many uses to an underserved region of Pennsylvania," said Michael Golden, director of Educational Technology for the Pennsylvania Department of Education. "At the same time, it is creating a compelling business case for the service provider by aggregating regional demand."
"The wide area network project is the culmination of almost three years of research and planning. We are pleased to be able to partner with the state of Pennsylvania and TelCove to deliver high quality content to students, educators, parents, and citizens across our region," said Dr. Glenn W. Zehner, executive director for the Capital Area Intermediate Unit. "We will be able to bridge the digital divide that has existed for many years. This project would not have been possible without the vision of our Capital Area Board of Directors, local school directors, superintendents, and technology directors from the 24 school districts and two vocational-technical schools."
"We are very excited about both of these projects as they will prove a very good model for Pennsylvania and beyond," said Ed Gallagher, TelCove's regional vice president for Pennsylvania. "Everyone talks about bringing 21st century technology to rural America. Everyone talks about bringing broadband to schools. TelCove is actually doing it. Our company is pleased to be part of these efforts that will positively impact the Commonwealth and its citizenry."
The North Central Internet and the CAIU projects are expected to benefit the Commonwealth as did the I-Tec-99 Corridor project, completed last year, which also made advanced telecommunications services more readily accessible to schools, municipal offices, and business parks in nearby communities. The purpose of the I-Tec-99 Corridor project was to extend and enhance the network infrastructure from state College in Centre County to Altoona in Blair County, along the I-99 corridor.
The Ben Franklin Technology Development Authority (BFTDA) has been TelCove's partner on all three projects by providing funding. The BFTDA provided a $500,000 grant for the CAIU project in 2003, a $135,000 grant for the North Central Six-County Telecom Infrastructure Development project in 2002, and a $167,000 grant for the I-Tec 99 Corridor project in 2002.
The BFTDA is a state-funded network dedicated to fostering technology innovation, strengthening the Commonwealth's economy, and creating and retaining high-salary jobs that require high skill levels.
"A vibrant and sustained telecommunications system will be a key infrastructure element for a new Pennsylvania by providing economic growth and educational opportunities to hospitals, schools, businesses, and organizations throughout the state," said Richard Overmoyer, Deputy Secretary of the Technology Investment Office at the PA Department of Community and Economic Development, which oversees the BFTDA. "Public-private partnerships are a great way to help communities throughout the Commonwealth and make Pennsylvania a hotbed for broadband innovation to attract investment and new companies."
About TelCove
Founded in 1991, TelCove is a leading provider of business critical telecommunications services that offers enterprise companies and carriers superior Internet, Data, and Voice solutions via its reliable, secure, and independently-owned metropolitan and intercity fiber optic network. TelCove operates throughout 50 markets in the eastern half of the United States. For more information on TelCove, please visit http://www.telcove.com/ .
Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20030423/TELCOVELOGOAP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
TelCove
CONTACT: Sherry Davis Guth, Senior Director, Marketing and Communicationsof TelCove, +1-724-743-9525
Web site: http://www.telcove.com/
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