Qwest to Deliver Dedicated Fiber Network to Denver-area School District

Cherry Creek School District No. 5 Leverages E-Rate for Network Upgrade

DENVER, Aug. 20, 2009 – Cherry Creek School District No. 5 (CCSD) will upgrade its schools and administrative offices to a dedicated fiber network designed by Qwest Communications (NYSE: Q). Using Qwest’s data networking solution, CCSD plans to consolidate existing technologies while offering students, parents, teachers and administrators greater access to the district’s resources to prepare students with 21^st century skills.

KEY FACTS

• The 10-year, $11 million agreement connects 65 schools, the district office and its maintenance facility using Qwest GeoMax, a dedicated fiber networking solution. The network will be in place for the 2010-2011 school year.
• Qwest will deliver speeds ranging from 1 to 10 Gbps to each CCSD site. The added bandwidth will allow the district to centralize many technologies in its data center, expand services and provide greater access to online learning resources.
• More than half of the funding for CCSD’s network upgrade comes from the federal E-Rate program. E-Rate provides discounts to assist schools and libraries in the United States to obtain affordable telecommunications and Internet access. The remaining funds were approved by voters in November 2008.
• Qwest’s added bandwidth will enable the school district to provide wireless network access at school campuses and school support sites. CCSD is adding 1,000 wireless access points to ensure students and school district employees can connect to network resources using their own computers.
• The Qwest network upgrade also will centralize CCSD’s electronic student records system and consolidate the system from multiple servers to CCSD’s data center. This will enable expanded access and information continuity to the district.
• CCSD plans to use Qwest’s network to support a virtualized desktop infrastructure (VDI). With VDI, operating systems and applications will be streamed on-demand from the school district’s data center to each desktop, reducing administration and limiting the need to constantly upgrade hardware.

SUPPORTING QUOTES

Ben Startzer, chief information officer for Cherry Creek School District No. 5: "CCSD needed a network platform capable of delivering multiple technologies throughout the school system. With a dedicated fiber network, students and teachers can access the district’s educational resources from anywhere, at any time. The extra bandwidth will keep us at the forefront as technology continues to change how we educate."

Sharon Montgomery, vice president, Qwest Government and Education Solutions: "Technology is an essential part of today’s classroom experience, allowing teachers and students to approach learning in ways that previously were not possible. But it takes bandwidth, and Qwest’s data networking solutions help school districts promote innovative learning by giving students and teachers access to online learning resources."

SUPPORTING RESOURCES

• FCC Web site: E-Rate
• Video: Why Do Business With Qwest?
• Qwest Website: Government and Education Solutions
  

About Qwest Business

Qwest Business is a choice of 95 percent of Fortune 500 companies, offering a comprehensive portfolio of data and voice networking communications solutions to enterprises, government agencies and educational institutions of all sizes. The Qwest network backbone covers the entire continental United States and has one of the largest fiber footprints in the U.S., capable of supporting 40 Gbps data transmission rates. Go to Qwest.com/business to see why enterprises coast-to-coast rely on Qwest for first-class communications solutions and to learn more about Qwest’s commitment to perfecting the customer experience.

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Contact Information

Ted Wietecha
303-965-4433
ted.wietecha@qwest.com