Qwest Signs Distance-learning Deal with State

By Mark Coddington, Grand Island Independent

3/11/07

Qwest Communications announced a $15 million deal with the state of Nebraska on Thursday that would allow it to update much of the state's outdated distance-learning equipment.

The five-year contract will allow the state's school districts to use more bandwidth through Internet Protocol (IP) and Ethernet connections, said Rex Fisher, president of Qwest Nebraska.

"Nebraska has always had one of the most progressive distance-learning networks in the nation," Fisher said. "What this contract is about is taking that network to the next level."

The new networks are scheduled to be rolled out to about 80 sites statewide over the next two years. Schools across northeast Nebraska, including Wheeler Central, are expected to see improvements this summer. All other Central Nebraska schools serviced by Qwest are scheduled to be upgraded in 2008.

Qwest's current distance-learning system is 11 years old and relies on a video-based system that allows little flexibility in directing and adjusting bandwidth, said Roger Adams, a sales manager for Qwest's Government and Education Solutions group.

Bandwidth required by Internet use has exploded in recent years and has made that system largely obsolete for most cutting-edge uses, Adams said. But the new system will allow greater bandwidth for tasks such as streaming video or more in-depth research and development.

In a statement, Lt. Gov. Rick Sheehy, chairman of the Nebraska Information Technology Commission, praised the deal as an innovative and cost-effective distance-learning solution.

"The state of Nebraska is committed to using technology to ensure that students have access to the best possible education, regardless of where they live," he said.

Qwest, whose headquarters are in Denver, provides telephone and Internet services in 14 western and Plains states. It serves 63 communities in Nebraska.