Cox Partners with Fairfax County in Launch of One of Virginia's First Broadband Pilot Programs

Program Provides High-Speed Broadband Computer Connections to Local Underserved Families

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May 06, 2010, 04:00 ET

HERNDON, Va., May 6 /PRNewswire/ -- On Monday, May 10, 2010, at 6:00 p.m., Cox Communications and Fairfax County are partnering to hold a "cable connecting" event to launch Broadband CNCT (Computers & Neighbors Coming Together). The ceremonial cable connection will be held at the Kingsley Commons CLCP Center located at 7308 Arlington Blvd in Falls Church, Virginia. (MapQuest link)

Through this initiative, homes of school-aged children from the Kingsley neighborhood will receive high-speed broadband connection; this discounted service is provided by Cox. Also, Fairfax County Community and Recreation Services and Fairfax County Public Schools will provide computer training services to participating families. This pilot is intended to serve as a model that can be replicated throughout Fairfax County and beyond.

Gary McCollum, Senior Vice President and General Manager Cox Virginia said, "We are pleased to be part of this important effort in the journey to fully bridge the digital divide. Cox has spent years promoting sustainable broadband adoption through efforts such as our own A+ Program as well as partner activities such as Cable in the Classroom. We recognize that this work is of critical importance to a very vulnerable population – middle school-aged children in underserved neighborhoods that do not receive broadband service. Through this exciting partnership, we can leverage our technology platform to meet the goal of ensuring that our youth have the tools to learn, grow and prosper."

Invited dignitaries to the event include the Honorable Robert McDonnell, Virginia Governor; the Honorable Gerry Connolly, Representative 11th Congressional District; Sharon Bulova, Chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors; and Mr. McCollum.

Cox has been very active in the broadband arena. Several of Cox's past endeavors include the following:

Cox submitted the paper Improving the U.S. Broadband Experience: How to Give more Americans Faster, Better, and Safer Broadband by 2012 in response to the FCC's National Broadband Plan Notice of Inquiry. In it, we proposed that the FCC adopt 10 pilot projects aimed at low-income households with school-age children by 2010, and use that experience to launch a national program by 2012.
Cox also submitted a second paper, Improving the U.S. Broadband Experience: Practical Next Steps for Near-Term Results, with guidance on the execution of adoption programs. Our recommendation came from direct experience.
Since 2002, Cox has been the broadband partner with Santa Barbara County, California's school district, targeting low-income children in the 4th to 6th grades.
And since 1997, Cox has partnered with the Lemon Grove School District in California with the provision of high-speed Intranet connectivity between the district and students' homes.

For more information about the Broadband CNCT pilot, contact Karen Fuentes of the Fairfax County Office of Public Private Partnerships at [email protected], or call 703-324-5176.

For more information about Cox's A+ Program and other broadband initiatives, contact Felicia Blow at 222-8432 or [email protected].

About Cox Communications

Cox Communications is a multi-service broadband communications and entertainment company with more than 6.2 million total residential and commercial customers. The third-largest cable television company in the United States, Cox offers an array of advanced digital video, high-speed Internet and telephony services over its own nationwide IP network, as well as integrated wireless services. Cox Business is a full-service, facilities-based provider of communications solutions for commercial customers, providing high-speed Internet, voice and long distance services, as well as data and video transport services for small to large-sized businesses. Cox Media offers national and local cable advertising in traditional spot and new media formats, along with promotional opportunities and production services. Cox Communications wholly owns and operates the Travel Channel. More information about the services of Cox Communications, a wholly owned subsidiary of Cox Enterprises, is available at www.cox.com, www.coxbusiness.com, and www.coxmedia.com. In Hampton Roads, Cox has more than 400,000 basic cable subscribers.

SOURCE Cox Communications