Bell Atlantic's interactive video distance learning network

Computer Industry Report, Feb 10, 1995

In October of 1994, the state of Maryland selected Bell Atlantic and AT&T to provide state schools with an interactive video distance learning network. The contract calls for Bell Atlantic to provide its distance learning service, tariffed since mid-1993, to nearly 230 schools and 40 public institutions at a discount for the first three years of use. The service provides two-way, full-motion video from one site to up to three other sites, all of which can interact simultaneously.

Initially, institutions will pay a monthly fee of $1,365 for local service and $2,370 thereafter. AT&T will provide schools with long-distance connectivity for a flat fee of $2,050 per month for five years.

Schools covered by the contract include high schools, community colleges, and four-year public colleges. If all the schools order service, the Bell Atlantic contract will be worth approximately $28 million. It would take three years to equip each school with fiber and classroom equipment.

Bell Atlantic announced plans earlier this year to provide these schools with one distance-learning classroom per site free of charge. Each classroom will be linked to Bell Atlantic's OC-3 fiber-optic network via three DS-3 fiber links connected to a Northern Telecom codec. Premises equipment and fiber links will cost Bell Atlantic approximately $50,000 per classroom.

Pacific Bell and Southern New England Telephone have also chosen AT&T as their broadband network systems integrator. However, both telephone companies are deploying hybrid fiber/coax networks and will be using AT&T's HFC 2000 product, which consists of a network interface unit that mounts on a customer's home or at curbside, a fiber node, and a different type of HDT.