Digital California Project Blazes Trail of Ubiquitous Statewide Networking — Provides Nation with Revolutionary Model
for K–12 Broadband Access

(Cypress, CA April 19, 2004) To fanfare from residents of the rural North Coast of California, the triumphant final phase of this important initiative by the Corporation for Education Network Initiatives in California’s (CENIC’s) Digital California Project (DCP) was completed. After three years, CENIC has finally been able to obtain telecommunications circuits necessary for it to provide needed network connections to every county in the State -- enabling reliable, cost-effective access to advanced online teaching and learning resources and to state-of-the-art collaboration tools for K-12 educators and students.

Now spanning each of California’s 58 counties, DCP is the nation’s most powerful statewide, education-focused network. DCP network connections offer K12 educators and administrators the ability to access and use state-of-the art resources throughout California and the nation. The network enables cost-effective delivery of advanced curriculum, teacher development and service to schools regardless of size or location and provides districts a flexible growth path for continued high-quality, education-focused Internet connectivity.

"Thanks to the DCP, the Del Norte County Office of Education was able to bring the benefits of networking to its students. Without the DCP, students and teachers in our County would be on the other side of the digital divide," said Frank Lynch, County Superintendent of Schools for Del Norte County.

County offices of education and school districts across the State also benefit from "bulk" commercial Internet rates obtained as a result of the DCP. These high-volume rates were negotiated by CENIC for the entire education community in California and provide lower costs than individual districts or county offices can independently obtain.

"The connection of every county in California to DCP’s high-speed broadband capabilities represents both a major milestone for California’s research and education community and a revolutionary model for the rest of the nation. Never before has an undertaking so significant been so successful in building out advanced network capabilities and establish access to the kinds of information and resources that can greatly expand the learning potential of students," says Tom West, President of CENIC.

About CENIC

CENIC is a not-for-profit corporation serving the California Institute of Technology, California State University, Stanford University, University of California, University of Southern California, California Community Colleges and the statewide K-12 school system. CENIC’s mission is to facilitate and coordinate the development, deployment and operation of a set of robust multi-tiered advanced network services for this research and education community. More information about CENIC can be found at www.cenic.org.