Cox Communications brings Warwick Schools and Providence Journal-Bulletin together in distance learning partnership

Business Wire, Nov 16, 1995

WEST WARWICK, R.I.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 16, 1995--Cox Communications Inc. today announced the establishment of a partnership with the Warwick School Department and the Providence Journal-Bulletin that will afford two Warwick schools the expertise of the Journal-Bulletin journalists in a model distance learning project.

Using the interactive capabilities of Cox's $36.5 million advanced fiber optic network in Warwick, students at Toll Gate High School and Winman Junior High School will be linked with the West Bay news office of the Providence Journal-Bulletin. All equipment and network links are already in place and a curriculum is presently being developed that will allow Journal-Bulletin professionals to instruct and work with classes at both schools from their office. Students will see their Journal-Bulletin instructors live on a television monitor and be able to interact with them, asking questions and viewing materials that are scanned in at the Journal Bulletin office.

The interactive distance learning project is expected to begin in both schools at the start of the spring semester in January, once curriculum development is completed. The project is being funded by $75,000 in grants from Cox's corporate parent in Atlanta as part of the company's Model Technology Education Network program.

"We're very excited to be able to bring this capability to Toll Gate and Winman," said Craig Watson, Cox vice president and Rhode Island state manager. "Distance learning opens up thousands of possibilities for our children and for their teachers. It allows them to go places and to see things that they would not be able to otherwise, and it certainly can enhance any teacher's ability to present lessons in a new and fascinating way."

"We're very happy to be able to demonstrate Cox's technological capabilities and leadership in a way that benefits education in Warwick, and we're also grateful to the Providence Journal-Bulletin for joining us in this exciting venture," Watson said.

"The Warwick School Department is pleased to participate in this exciting technology partnership with Cox Communications and the Providence Journal-Bulletin. The learning opportunities which this innovative distance learning project will afford our students are limitless," said Robert Shapiro, interim superintendent of Warwick Public Schools. "This is another step in the Warwick School System's efforts to bring leading corporate citizens, such as Cox Communications and the Providence Journal-Bulletin, into our schools as educational partners."

"As the preeminent provider of news and information in the state of Rhode Island and nearby Massachusetts, we're pleased to partner with the leading edge technology of Cox Communications," said Howard Sutton, vice president/general manager of the Providence Journal-Bulletin. "We're delighted to participate in an initiative that will further promote print journalism at Winman and Toll Gate. Both already have terrific school newspaper staffs."

This venture represents the second time that Cox has partnered with Winman Junior High in an innovative distance learning project. In May of this year, Winman was one of three schools across the country to be linked with Shevington High School in Wigan, England via a sophisticated combination of Cox's fiber optic and satellite networks. The live distance learning videoconferencing was conducted in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the end of World War II. Mary Lynn Morin, a teacher at Winman, coordinated the the video conference from the Warwick end. Ms. Morin is also participating in the development of the curriculum for the journalism project. Her counterpart from Toll Gate High School is Richard M. Fucci of the school's English department.

Cox Communications Inc., headquartered in Atlanta, Ga., is the nation's fifth largest multiple system operator, serving more than 3.2 million customers across America. Cox is a fully integrated broadband communications company with interests in domestic and international cable distribution systems, programming networks and telecommunications technology. Locally, Cox now provides service to approximately 136,000 customers in Providence, North Providence, Cranston, Warwick, West Warwick, Coventry, East Greenwich, Johnston, Burrillville, Scituate and Glocester. Pending completion of its proposed TCI and East Providence acquisitions, the company will serve some 230,000 Rhode Island homes.

CONTACT: Patricia Sylvia, 401/821-1919, x240