MACON, Ga., Sept. 16 /PRNewswire/ -- The Georgia Academy for the Blind
officially became the first wireless school of its kind in the nation today
when Olympic Gold Medalist Angel Martino and student Kevin Lamar made the
first official call to Davis Elementary, a sister ClassLink school located in
Montgomery, Alabama.
    The call was part of a ClassLink kick off and demonstration ceremony that
took place at the Georgia Academy for the Blind earlier today.  ClassLink is a
wireless industry initiative designed to help break down the classroom walls
and improve education by saving teachers time, strengthening relationships
between parents and teachers and providing a tool to enhance safety and
enabling students wireless access to the Internet via wireless communications.
The ClassLink concept includes putting a cellular phone in the hands of each
teacher and designated staff members and also providing students access to the
Internet.
    "The age of technology has expanded academic and vocational opportunities
for students with disabilities and ClassLink is just the right ingredient for
a brighter tomorrow," said Dr. Richard Hyer, Jr., Superintendent, Georgia
Academy for the Blind.
    "We look forward to the change ClassLink will make in the educational and
social lives of Academy students.  It is also a unique opportunity for a
private/public partnership in education."
    Cellular One, owned by Palmer Wireless, Inc., and the CTIA Foundation for
Wireless Telecommunications donated 75 cellular telephones with accessories,
free airtime for the 1996-97 school year, wireless equipment to connect to the
Internet and cellular voice mail boxes (called the Homework Hotline) for every
teacher and support staff member.  MindSpring is donating Internet access for
eight computers located throughout the school,
    "The Georgia Academy for the Blind is our third ClassLink School and we
wanted to select a school for the visually impaired so they could also
experience the convenience and security of wireless technology," said Margaret
Osborne, V.P. of Marketing for Palmer Wireless, Inc./Cellular One.
    The wireless industry created ClassLink in response to a challenge by
House Speaker Newt Gingrich to bring modern communications technologies into
schools.  Gingrich was unable to attend in person.  However, U.S.
Representative Saxby Chambliss read a congratulatory letter in his behalf.
    Initial research conducted at the first ClassLink school in Richardson,
Texas showed that each teacher gains 15 1/2 days of teaching time in a school
year using wireless phones in the classroom instead of going in person to
various other parts of the school.  School personnel also estimate that they
are saving more than $7,000 each week in productivity and efficiency.
    The CTIA Foundation for Wireless Telecommunications is a not-for-profit
organization which funds grants to worthwhile projects that demonstrate the
benefits of wireless technology to education, health care, and job creativity
and productivity.
    MindSpring is a leading Internet service provider primarily serving the
southeastern United States.  The Company focuses on delivering outstanding
service and support to its customers, its owners and its community.
MindSpring subscribers can browse the World Wide Web, send electronic mail,
and access over 20,000 newsgroups.  Currently, MindSpring provides service in
Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina,
Tennessee, Virginia, and Washington, DC.
    Palmer Wireless, Inc., headquartered in Ft. Myers, Florida with regional
offices in Montgomery, Alabama and Savannah, Georgia, is one of the largest
independent operators of cellular telephone systems in the United States.  It
operates 17 non-wireline cellular systems in a four-state region including
Georgia, Alabama, Florida, and South Carolina serving a total estimated
population of 3.8 million people with over 250,000 subscribers.  All of
Palmer's systems are Cellular One affiliates and members of the North American
Cellular Network.

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