AT&T Grant Brings More Computers and
Wireless Access to Northeast Wisconsin

Rural residents will have more computer access starting this summer, thanks to a grant from the AT&T Foundation -- the corporate philanthropy organization of AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) -- awarded to Northeast Wisconsin Technical College.

AT&T has donated $23,572 to the NWTC Educational Foundation. The grant will provide two laptop computers and wireless Internet access at each of NWTC's five Regional Learning Centers in Crivitz, Luxemburg, Niagara, Oconto Falls and Shawano. As a result, NWTC expects to see a boost in the use of technology in each center, increased variety of learning activities, improved access to information, and greater efficiencies for thousands of students and staff who formerly had to spend valuable time waiting for a computer.

“Technology has become a key component in how we live, learn and work in today’s digitally driven world,” said AT&T Wisconsin President Scott T. VanderSanden, “Northeast Wisconsin Technical College, Senator Dave Hansen (D-Green Bay) and Senator Robert Cowles (R-Green Bay), who represent this area, work every day to bring new educational opportunities and experiences to students in Northeast Wisconsin’s rural communities. I am excited that AT&T is able to help them in their efforts.”

“The Internet gives us the ability to access knowledge and information at the click of a button,” said Sen. Cowles, a member of the Joint Committee on Information Policy and Technology. “The new technology resources being provided through this grant will greatly enhance NWTC students’ ability to learn and achieve.”

“Education is essential to our ability to succeed, and new technologies such as wireless Internet go far in enhancing students’ experiences in the classroom,” said Sen. Hansen. “I am pleased to see these technologies and the new opportunities they will bring being made available to our state’s rural residents.”

The grant will address several issues.

• Many rural areas in NWTC's District only have dial-up internet access for homes. This limits residents' ability to take online classes or to submit assignments that include large files with graphs, photos and charts.
• Due to limited resources and high demand, Regional Center computer labs are often used as classrooms, leaving students and faculty with few hours of lab access. For example, the Shawano computer lab is open only six hours per week.When labs are open, there often aren't enough computers to meet the need.
• One Regional Center has only one computer to serve 60 adjunct faculty members, limiting their ability to communicate with students, use technology as a teaching tool or create classroom materials.

Once the equipment is installed, students and faculty can bring their own computers and enjoy high-speed wireless internet access from anywhere in the center. Those who don't own laptops may check them out at each Regional Center's front desk for use in the center.

Dr. H. Jeffrey Rafn, President of NWTC, said the donation will greatly expand local residents' access to effective new tools for learning, which will support each region's ability to maintain globally-competitive businesses.

"Bringing more services to more communities has been one of this College's top priorities, and expanded access to computer learning has been among our customers' top priorities," Rafn said. "This will open up many new learning opportunities in the Regional Centers. Students can bring laptops into classrooms and use new online resources. They have high-speed access to help them exchange large files with instructors, regardless of distance. They can take a greater variety of courses close to home, which is vital to our vision of serving all learners with the services they want, where they want them.

Rafn added that the donation offers advantages far beyond helping students do more things more quickly. "One reason we're so excited about AT&T's support is that it allows more people to acquire the skills to succeed, innovate, and drive their communities’ economies. In fact, I'm confident our communities will find additional benefits that we haven't even thought about yet."

AT&T will be recognized for the donation during the NWTC Educational Foundation's annual Donor Recognition and Scholarship Awards Banquet on Wednesday, March 19, 2008.

Already, at least 100 students across the various centers have requested wireless Internet access. However, the grant could benefit the more than 4,400 students served at NWTC's regional centers. The equipment is tentatively scheduled to be in place in time for summer classes. Community members will be notified when the new services are available.

For News Information or Updates, Contact:
Casey Fryda, PR/Communications Specialist at 920-498-6288 or
Ann Malvitz, PR/Communications Specialist at 920-498-5593