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TOPAZ Connecting Schools and Rural Areas Ahead of Schedule with Broadband (PHOENIX
– SEPTEMBER 25, 2001) Governor
Jane Dee Hull's commitment to connect rural communities with high-speed
broadband telecommunications access was highlighted by today's announcement of
the results from the State of Arizona’s Invitation For Quotes (IFQ). Last
year, 60 of Arizona’s communities were connected with broadband – compared
to 186 communities with broadband offerings today.
Broadband is defined as connectivity at 1.5 megabits per second –
roughly equivalent to cable modem speeds. Rick
Zelznak, the Director of the Government Information Technology Agency and State
Chief Information Officer said, “We are driving the demand for build-out to
schools, government offices and communities.
By pooling our resources, the demand for service will pull the last mile
of connectivity into every school and eventually to businesses and homes.” Originally
intended to connect the top 87 communities by population in Arizona, the
Telecommunications Open Partnerships for Arizona (TOPAZ) program will be
offering broadband services to 186 communities by the new year. The
nationally recognized, first of its kind, School Facilities Board (SFB) award of
a $27.9 million contract for the Application Service Provider (ASP) will provide
powerful, on-line educational tools and resources for teachers and students and
offer content, courseware and reference materials including over 250 software
titles online. Applications
such as this drive the demand for broadband services. Zelznak
is coordinating the Governor’s effort to bring broadband statewide and said,
“Technology thrives on ‘demand drivers’ such as distance learning or
telemedicine. Dr. Geiger and the School Facilities Board are light
years ahead on education technology and the creation of on-line educational
content. We must have a
telecommunications backbone to deliver the goods.”
“Schools
and communities across Arizona have a heightened need for Internet access.
Some communities have access to broadband telecommunications, but we are
working to make it the rule, not the exception.” Zelznak added. These
new high-speed broadband services will ultimately lead to increased educational
opportunities and will enhance economic development for the rural parts of the
State. Recently,
the SFB and GITA asked the contractors under State contract to respond to an
Invitation For Quotation (IFQ) to specifically address telecommunication
connectivity in rural Arizona. “Connecting”
all of Arizona, and especially rural Arizona, is a priority for Governor Hull.
The Telecommunications Open Partnerships of Arizona (TOPAZ) initiative,
coordinated by the Government Information Technology Agency (GITA), encourages
schools, political sub-divisions, tribal governments, and other non-profit
entities to purchase telecommunication services from statewide carrier services
contracts. These contracts provide widespread competition, advantageous pricing
and availability, high quality services, and enforceable Service Level
Agreements. In addition, communities are able to leverage their combined
“buying power” to encourage carriers to provide telecommunications
availability to otherwise underserved areas of the State.
For
more information, contact Rick Zelznak at rzelznak@azgita.gov
or (602) 340-9698, ext. 215 or Brad Tritle at btritle@azgita.gov
or (602) 340-9698, ext. 204
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