Foundation Telecommunications, Inc. (FTI) Rural Satellite Broadband Tapped to Help Schools, University, Libraries, and Agencies Close Digital Divide

Foundation Telecommunications, Inc. (FTI) Rural Satellite Broadband Tapped to Help Schools, University, Libraries, and Agencies Close Digital Divide

TIPS/TAPS Purchasing Coop Makes FTI Internet and VoIP Services Available Across 45 States

OVERLAND PARK, Kan., Nov. 30, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Foundation Telecommunications, Inc. (FTI) announced that the TIPS/TAPS purchasing consortium has selected it to provide broadband Internet and VoIP (voice-over-IP) services to member educational entities and government agencies. TIPS/TAPS made the award through a competitive bid process.

The FTI proprietary two-way satellite service is uniquely engineered to provide reliable high-speed Internet and telephone services to rural geographically isolated schools, libraries and other government agencies unable to contract for Internet services from other providers.

FTI's satellite installations are multi-purpose educational telecommunications gateways for rural schools that deliver immediate access to Internet, free long distance telephone calls and educational television programming. The FTI satellite Internet installation is capable of providing telephone service through its "Foundation Fone" VoIP technology with free long distance calls throughout the US. In addition, the installation also provides access to the eight channels of SCOLA educational foreign broadcast services that are currently viewed by over ten million students nationwide.

Kim Thompson, TIPS/TAPS Cooperative Coordinator says of the award, "TIPS/TAPS is very excited about the partnership created with FTI as a leading national vendor for Internet Services. Our purpose is to offer a cooperative program that can provide substantial savings and best value for TIPS/TAPS Members and we believe FTI will help us achieve our purpose."

"Now with FTI's service, even the most geographically isolated rural schools, libraries and government agencies can gain Internet service that is equal or better than that enjoyed by their big city counterparts," said George Livergood, President of FTI. "The FTI multi-function satellite gateway will finally bridge the digital divide inherent in rural America's access to state-of-the-art telecommunications resources."

TIPS/TAPS is available for use by all public and private schools, colleges, universities, cities, counties and other government entities in 45 states. Participation of government entities will provide the legally required competition for contracts for commonly purchased items, thereby saving the individual government agency the cost of going through the competitive process.

About Foundation Telecommunications, Inc.

Founded in 1979, Foundation Telecommunications, Inc. provides International innovative telecommunications network solutions using leading edge technologies with a "customer first priority". FTI integrates total digital solutions incorporating the most appropriate technologies whether satellite, fiber, laser or wireless for the most appropriate customer solutions. From providing wireless MESH communications from deep in an Appalachian coal mine to the rest of the world to geographically remote automated high-performance wireless "Hot Spots", FTI is on the leading edge. For more information on FTI please visit http://www.ftionline.com.

About TIPS/TAPS

The Interlocal Purchasing System (TIPS/TAPS) is a purchasing support group for Government Entities and Schools in 45 states. For more information visit http://www.tips-usa.com/

About SCOLA

SCOLA is a non-profit educational organization that receives and re-transmits television programming from around the world in native languages. SCOLA also provides other language learning content on this Web site. Universities, Colleges, K-12 schools, cable systems, government language schools and individuals use SCOLA content for current news, language study and cultural enhancement. SCOLA content is available via satellite, the Internet and through participating cable providers. For more information on SCOLA visit http://www.scola.org or call (712) 566-2202 and speak with one of our helpful employees.

CONTACT:

George Livergood         

President/CEO         

Foundation Telecommunications, Inc.         

+1.800-833-3353         

glivergood@ftionline.com

Pushing Internet into Small Cable Systems: The Wireless “Last Mile”

Pushing Internet into Small Cable Systems: The Wireless “Last Mile”

The key to a successful implementation of high-speed Internet systems is no different than the proven formula for good cable television operations; large numbers of happy contented subscribers that receive reinforcement of the wisdom of their monthly purchase of services through good experiences with the technology. As in any business, large numbers of satisfied customers remain the one constant of the determination of “success.” Unlike conventional businesses, however, the cable operator must take the technology to the customer. Unlike conventional businesses, the cable operator must provide a wide range of flexible services capable of change with local market conditions. This is particularly true of small cable system operations given the limited numbers of homes passed by the cable plant together with the high fixed costs of new technologies.

Today, multi-megabit wireless technologies exist that allow the small cable operator to cost effectively extend the reach of the most profitable service offering available to the cable operator since the 60’s; that service being high-speed Internet. Typical last mile delivery of Internet services is accomplished via an upgraded two-way cable system. Some cable operator are able to accomplish this task with the addition of two-way electronics only while others must contend with aging cables and connectors configured in a sometimes unworkable two-way cable system architecture.

In the alternative, a number of wireless technologies are available that allow distribution of the two-way high-speed Internet services up to 30 miles in a line-of-sight path with short range coverage using technologies that are relatively immune from path obstructions such as trees or small structures. These technologies present the small cable operator an alternative to time consuming and sometimes costly system upgrades while concurrently extending the coverage area miles beyond the franchise boundaries.

Unlike the capital costs associated with a system wide upgrade in order to offer a service to a select few subscribers, the implementation of a wireless last mile to the Internet subscriber restricts the capital costs of installation solely to those the subscribe to the service. Concurrently, the relatively low capital costs associated with today’s wireless alternatives provide a means to extend the service to other franchise areas, surrounding homes that cannot be reached economically with cable plant extensions or businesses that may not ordinarily consider subscription to the cable services.

A wireless last mile solution provides many small cable operators an immediate solution to the provision of high-speed Internet services whether or not there are future plans to upgrade the system to two-way. At the same time, the “homes passed” by the wireless signal becomes significantly greater though a line-of-sight 30 mile radius coverage area of up to 2,800 square miles in the extreme case using “backhaul installations” and a 10 mile radius of coverage (300 square miles) with typical subscriber installations.

Finally, while it is unlikely that the entire cable channel line-up can be economically microwaved to a nearby community or cluster of homes, the two-way high-speed Internet signal may be easily cost justified for an “Internet Only” service in most areas.

As a result of the consideration of a wireless last mile solution, the small cable operator is now able to significantly increase the number of homes passed by the high-speed Internet service thus meeting the primary objective of successful business operations; large numbers of satisfied customers.