Press Release

Waste Management Helps Local Kids Get Wireless
Donates a Transmission Tower to Provide Wireless Connectivity to Antelope Valley School District


Palmdale, Calif: January 24, 2005 Antelope Valley Union High School District was looking at spending hundreds of thousands of dollars it didn't have in order to offer standard T1 internet connectivity to its 24,000 students, administrators, and staff. The district needed a cost effective solution that would ensure that all of their students had every resource and tool necessary to compete and excel in the global workforce.

The School District and their local high-speed wireless communications company, Skylynx Communications, Inc. found a cost-saving solution; an abandoned tower and building on Waste Management’s Antelope Valley Landfill in Palmdale that could house a perfect "line of site" antenna. The location would ensure wireless connectivity through-out out the geographically spread out school district.

In November 2004, the District, with the assistance of Julian Medrano of the Palmdale Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, approached Waste Management and asked if they could use the tower and the building. Waste Management enthusiastically donated the tower to the district and provided logistical and administrative support in the planning and implementation of the wireless construction. The arrangement is rent-free, which will save the District thousands of dollars each month in recurring charges while providing network speeds that are ten to twenty times faster than before.

"We understand the community has a responsibility to ensure that classrooms have computers, digital textbooks, laptops and every wireless capability available, and we are proud to do our part to help," says Chris Fall, Manager of Public Sector Services for Waste Management, and father of one current and three future AVUHSD students.

"With budgetary cuts for education across the state, our schools are strapped for the money for needed materials. Providing means for high-speed access to our local students will go a long way to ensuring a bright future for the community. Waste Management is proud to be able to help and we thank the School District for contacting us about their need," said Fall.

By Feb 01, 2005, the District will have met its mandate to have all of the students in the District wired.

For more information about Waste Management of Antelope Valley and its community programs, please visit www.KeepingAVclean.com or call Karen Erstad, Community Relations Manager, at (661) 223-3422.


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