VERIZON has started providing 17 public schools with Internet and video teleconferencing connection.
Yesterday, Verizon and Public School System officials spearheaded the groundbreaking ceremony for the Year 4 E-Rate Communications Wiring System project.
Anthony Mosley, acting general manager of Verizon, said the company should have the schools wired by the end of July.
“Verizon is undertaking a 17-school wiring project which includes the latest advances in fiber optic technology which will provide bandwidth and access to information, in each of the 17 schools’ classrooms,” Mosley said.
The ceremony was held at Garapan Elementary School.
Acting Gov. Diego T. Benavente lauded PSS, Verizon and other entities that helped made the project possible.
Eve Deleon Guerrero of Verizon said the company received a contract from PSS to provide over $1.177 million worth of materials and labor for upgrading inside wire and cabling facilities of the public schools.
The E-Rate is a federal program.
Herman T. Guerrero, chairman of the Board of Education, said the new technology will give students, teachers and administrators the opportunity for distance learning, teacher training and community outreach programs.
“We were able to get an 89 percent discount rate. Essentially, this translates to an 11 percent cost for PSS. The total award amount for Year 4 equals $2.4 million,” Guerrero said.
Dr. Norman Okamura, the Hawaii-based consultant of PSS for the E-Rate program, and Education Commissioner Rita H. Inos also took part in the project’s groundbreaking ceremony
