JERICHO, NY--(Marketwired - Dec 17, 2015) - Lightpath ® , a market leader in Ethernet-based communication solutions for New York metropolitan area businesses, announced that over the past year, it has connected more than 65 New Jersey schools to its 100 percent fiber network through its participation in a purchasing cooperative created via the New Jersey Department of Education's Digital Readiness for Learning and Assessment Project (DRLAP). Lightpath is one of just seven service providers selected by the cooperative to sell broadband services to K-12 schools in New Jersey and has connected more than 40 percent of the schools participating in the program, according to the New Jersey Department of Education 1 . This month, the cooperative named Lightpath the preferred provider for the purchase of hosted phone service.
The purchasing cooperative, which is administered by the Middlesex Regional Educational Services Commission (MRESC), has been active for about one year. Lightpath, already one of the largest providers of telecom services to New Jersey education customers, has been a top performer in connecting schools through the program as a result of its ubiquitous fiber network and strong reputation for excellent service throughout the state.
"From the very start of this program, Lightpath has been an ideal partner, offering high-performing broadband offerings, excellent customer service and great value," said Patrick Moran, business administrator and board secretary for the MRESC. "Lightpath knows what K-12 schools need to be successful and have delivered at every turn. We consider them an integral component of this important initiative and look forward to our continued collaborative work that results in better opportunities for New Jersey K-12 students."
Following its success in deploying high-bandwidth broadband services to schools during the first year of the program, the MRESC, on November 13, recommended Lightpath as the preferred provider of hosted phone service for eligible schools purchasing via the cooperative. In an independent evaluation, the overall strength of Lightpath's voice service was rated higher than any of the additional seven providers responding to a competitive RFP. Lightpath's popular Hosted Voice service, combined with its broad range of Ethernet-based high-bandwidth broadband services, represents an attractive solution for schools that want to provide premium connectivity for staff and students.
"As a company that is strongly rooted in this region, Lightpath has a vested interest in helping to ensure nothing short of overwhelming success for New Jersey's DRLAP initiative," said Dave Pistacchio, president of Lightpath. "When all schools have the same access to the best connectivity available at affordable prices, educational opportunities are taken to new heights. We commit our continued support to the MRESC and New Jersey Department of Education as proud leaders of what has become a defining movement for our community's schools."
Lightpath serves the education market with powerful fiber-based voice and data offerings that provide high speeds and connectivity at a strong value. These products are helping to make connectivity more ubiquitous, expand online curriculums, support distance learning, increase parental involvement and connect facilities, all while making costs easier to control.
To learn more about Lightpath, visit www.golightpath.com .
About Lightpath
Lightpath, a division of Cablevision Systems Corporation (
1 New Jersey Digital Readiness for Learning and Assessment Project (DRLAP); (Fiscal Year 2014 - 2015); July 17, 2015
Media Contacts : Charlstie Veith Cablevision 516-803-2357 Email Contact Brian Baumley BLB Communications for Lightpath 609-759-0252 Email Contact
