Modems Sought for School Program
A Tarzana Internet services company is giving holiday shoppers the opportunity to contribute to public education as they upgrade their computer systems.
Internet In A Mall, a national Internet provider, is offering a free month online to people who donate their old modems at company booths located in malls across Southern California. The modems will then be turned over to officials of Los Angeles County and Ventura County school districts to be distributed.
The modem collection is part of a program dubbed Internet In A School, which was started by the company in partnership with several leading technology companies earlier this year. The program was designed to help schools increase access to the Internet by providing equipment and free training.
“The education of our children is the most important thing we can do, but . . . unfortunately, education budgets are shrinking,” said Howard Lefkowitz, CEO of Internet In A Mall.
The modems will be tested and refurbished if necessary before they are distributed. Some schools will receive high-speed modems donated by 3Com, which along with Pacific Bell and FasTrak Data and Video Services are partners in the Internet In A School program.
Company officials said employees will be accepting used 9.6, 14.4 or 28.8 Kbps analog modems until Dec. 31. Internet In A Mall booths can be found at: Northridge Fashion Center, Topanga Plaza, Glendale Galleria, The Oaks in Thousand Oaks, Valencia Town Center and Antelope Valley Mall.
