Higher Education Wireless Access Consortium (HEWAC) and WiSE Technologies Announce Ten Winners of Campus-Wide WiFi Equipment Donation Program

Vienna , VA – November 22, 2004 - The Higher Education Wireless Access Consortium (HEWAC), and WiSE Technologies -- a premier wireless Internet service provider -- today announced the ten schools that have been selected as winners of the recently concluded competition for Campus-Wide WiFi Equipment Donation Program. A number of additional schools have also been designated as “runners-up” in the event any of the primary winners are unable to complete their agreements in the allotted timeframe.

The 10 schools that were selected would receive free equipment and installation. As a bonus, the “Grand Prize Winner” would also receive free network management services and broadband connection for three years. The other 9 winning schools would receive a donation of the campus wide equipment and installation with a requirement to enter into a network management services agreement with WiSE

The Grand Prize Winner, University of Wisconsin – Rock County , was selected from among approximately 120 colleges that had applied. The total value of the grant that UWRC will receive is estimated at approximately $200,000.

According to Dr. Janet Philipp, CEO and Dean, University of Wisconsin-Rock County, “The HEWAC-WiSE grant is very important to us because UWRC's limited budget makes it quite difficult for us to increase student access to the computer network without an external grant for a wireless network.”

The other selected winners are Rockhurst University; Cleveland Chiropractic College; Furman University; University of Portland; Saint Joseph College; Fisk University; Wheaton College; Johnson County Community College; J.F. Drake State Technical College, Lees-McRae College. .

"We at Rockhurst are all so very excited about this partnership!"  Says Amy Mullinax Drouin, Senior Development Officer, Rockhurst University .

"By providing the means for establishing a more complete wireless network at Furman University the HEWAC-WiSE program will showcase the importance of wireless access and its impact on learning and instruction." Said David P. Steinour, Chief Information Officer of Furman University

" Fisk University has been one of America 's outstanding universities. The University intends to utilize the wireless network technology for any time, any place connectivity with wireless laptops and PDA's and provide capability to access our Learning Management System and the Internet for instructional purposes." According to Mr. Tsehay Demeke, Director, Academic Computing at Fisk

According to Thomas B. Muleta, CEO of HEWAC, the program provides tremendous advantages for certain schools because it eliminates the need for large capital outlays and also provides a way for managing and upgrading the network. In essence, it accelerates the adoption rate among colleges by paving the way for schools to participate in the wireless revolution without a heavy burden on their financial and/or staff resources.

Gary Murray, Jr., CEO of WiSE Technologies said “The WiSE Technologies team is heartened by the tremendous positive reception of the program by the higher education community. The knowledge we have gained in speaking to representatives of the winners and the other competitors validates our disciplined approach to entering new markets.”

About HEWAC
The Higher Education Wireless Access Consortium (HEWAC) is the only member-driven, organization focusing solely on wireless technology for higher education. HEWAC goes beyond technology for technology's sake and views broadband wireless technology as an enabling tool to support its member's individual, educational and social missions. The organization was created to provide a forum for the most senior technology leaders of colleges and universities in which to share cooperatively their ideas and experiences. HEWAC will champion and share best practices, bridge gaps of knowledge, bring communities of interest together, provide a common ground for resolving issues, provide a unified voice to regulatory concerns, lessen the burden of risk and innovation and share the reward of working together. For more information, please visit www.hewac.org.

About WiSE Technologies
WiSE Technologies is a premier Wireless Internet Service Provider (WISP). Through Wireless LAN (Local Area Network) technology, WiSE provides wireless internet access to the general public through “hotspots” known as “WiSE Zones,” located strategically in such places as airports, cafes, educational institutions and conference centers. The quality and popularity of its products and services have made WiSE the fastest growing provider of its kind. WiSE's mission is to increase people's productivity and enjoyment of the internet by giving them high-speed wireless access in the locations they frequent most. For more information, please visit www.wisezone.net.

Colleges and universities seeking information about the grants competition or about the two sponsoring organizations may contact:

Thomas Muleta
HEWAC
Phone: (703) 582-0537
Fax: (413) 235-5688
E-mail: tmuleta@hewac.org