Foundation Telecommunications, Inc. (FTI) Rural Satellite Broadband Tapped to Help Schools, University, Libraries

Foundation Telecommunications, Inc. announced that the TIPS/TAPS purchasing consortium has selected it to provide broadband Internet and VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) 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 research with free long distance calls throughout the US. Just in case, the installation as well 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 in other words equal or better than that enjoyed by their big city counterparts," said George Livergood, President of FTI. "The FTI multi-function satellite gateway will in short bridge the digital divide inherent in rural America's access to state-of-the-art telecommunications resources."