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Allegheny County school districts realize substantial savings in network costs.

DQE Communications to manage and maintain network during five-year contract.

The Allegheny Intermediate Unit (AIU) and the Allegheny County Schools RWAN RFP Steering Committee is pleased to announce that DQE Communications has been selected to provide telecommunications services to Allegheny County school districts served by its regional wide area network. Contract negotiations will commence immediately for the management of the network and service is scheduled to begin on July 1, 2016.

The framework, also known as the Allegheny County RWAN, is the telecommunications network that links area schools over high-speed fiber optic connections. It is designed to more efficiently transmit and share data involved with administrative and instructional applications, such as distance learning, video content and educational software. The Allegheny County RWAN also acts as a bulk-purchaser of commodity Internet bandwidth, which allows school districts to take advantage of extremely discounted rates and fully maximize federal e-Rate subsidies.

The five-year contract will ensure that schools in Allegheny County will continue to have affordable and efficient access to the Internet, Internet2 and the Pennsylvania state network of schools known as PAIUNET. The agreement includes potential service to 46 organizations including 41 public school districts, four career and technical centers and the AIU. It is anticipated that school districts will save thousands of dollars every month in network costs.

The selection of DQE Communications was made by the RFP steering committee comprised of the following members:

• Jon Amelio - AIU, Chief Technology Officer
• Raymond Berrott - Upper St. Clair School District, Director of Technology
• Rick Dobrzynski - AIU, Network Administrator
• Scott Hand - Fox Chapel Area School District, Director of Educational Technology
• Debra Kriete - E-rate Consultant and Project Coordinator
• Joe Miller - A.W. Beattie Career Center, Director of Technology
• Rich Platts - South Park School District, Director of Technology
• Ron Reyer, Jr., - Bethel Park School District, Director of Technology

Among the goals of the committee was to establish a cost-effective network design that ensures competitive prices and scalability to meet districts’ increasing bandwidth demands. In addition, the committee desired a network that would coordinate Internet2 and Commodity Internet access services so that traffic is routed in the most effective means possible.

DQE Communications was one of six vendors that submitted proposals. Some of the key aspects of DQE’s plan included the lowest pricing for both circuit cost and its Internet integrated solution. Among other features, DQE will provide smart routing and direct district-to-district traffic that will increase the network’s efficiency. Usage monitoring and reporting will be provided for individual school districts. It is anticipated that the transition will be complete by July 1, 2016.
Jon Amelio, Chief Technology Officer of the AIU, noted, “The steering committee was very diligent in ensuring that schools in Allegheny County would have access to one of the most efficient, cost-effective and flexible networks in the state.”

DQE Communications is based in the SouthSide Works and provides fiber optic network services to businesses in Pittsburgh and western Pennsylvania. Jim Morozzi, President and CEO of DQE, said,

“We are thrilled that the AIU selected DQE Communications as its fiber-optic network provider for the RWAN.”

Over the next several weeks, it is anticipated that school districts will determine their level of participation.

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