“Cash for Country Classrooms” Connects Rural Schools and Communities

Press release, 28-Aug-07, Farmside, Christchurch, NZ

Schools throughout New Zealand will soon benefit from a new initiative designed to encourage broadband uptake in rural communities.

“Cash for Country Classrooms”, is being rolled out nationwide through rural schools and communities during August and September by broadband provider Farmside.

The programme rewards a customer’s school of choice with a donation of $50 for every new Farmside satellite broadband or wireless rural broadband connection sold.

Designed to raise awareness of the availability of rural broadband, “Cash for Country Classrooms” will reward schools while providing rural families with access to virtually instant broadband via satellite.

Farmside managing director, Tony Baird, says approximately 70-80% of rural homes are unable to access the benefits of broadband via their Telecom landline.

“For many rural families, satellite and wireless technologies are the only option for accessing broadband, but many are unaware that satellite broadband is available in their area,” he says.

TUANZ chief executive Ernie Newman says the organisation is supportive of any initiative that helps increase rural access to broadband services.

"In many ways, access to fast internet services is more important for country families because it acts as an equaliser – they can be on a high country station in the McKenzie Country and have access to online services, entertainment and communication around the world like anyone in an urban centre.

"This is the first generation where the children have led the way adopting new technology, and to hold back country based students does no favours to our rural communities."

Through Project Probe, schools around the country have had broadband services installed, but frequently students go home to only dial up access.

According to principal of Barton Rural School, Steve Zonnevylle, having home based broadband access is of great importance for today's students.

"Rural families are crying out for the opportunity to extend this great learning resource into their own homes so that their children can have both the excitement of the new age, and the equitability of their urban cousins.

"It is great to see pro-active companies such as Farmside supporting education throughout rural New Zealand through the cash for country schools programme and the new satellite broadband service. "

Farmside satellite broadband services are provided throughout New Zealand via the IPSTAR satellite, the biggest and most advanced communications satellite in space, launched in 2005.

Baird says the cash donations may help to some degree to make up for Telecom ending the School's Connection programme which had run for a number of years.

"We are planning to extend this initial project in the future once we are able to also offer voice services, which will further benefit those schools registered with the programme," he said.

Schools wishing to participate in the programme can register on the Farmside website www.farmside.co.nz and families wanting more information should call 0800 32 76 74

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