Adelphia-led Consortium Wins Bid to Build Pennsylvania Network

Marconi Communicationsm called the PA team, led by Adelphia Business Solutions (Coudersport, PA), will build an information technology infrastructure for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and provide state government with voice, video, Internet, and data telecommunications services. The five-year telecommunications services contract will expand the reach of the state-based telecommunications infrastructure to an extensive network of communities throughout the state with an emphasis on under-served rural communities.

As part of the Pennsylvania initiative, Allegheny Communications Connect (Hagerstown, MD) will build about 400 route miles of fiber optic lines throughout central and western Pennsylvania. With more than 600 route miles of fiber optic lines already in place, Allegheny plans to expand the network by another 1,000 miles this year. The framework for additional infrastructure expansion beyond the state requirements includes the development of a Keystone Network Partnership. Termed Key-Net, the plan calls for coordination with the industrial, educational, community and government sectors to extend communications capabilities.

Participating in the consortium with Allegheny and Adelphia Business Solutions are: Electronic Data Systems (EDS), <%=company%> (formerly FORE Systems), Qwest Communications, Lucent Technologies, Verio Inc., Telesoft, Diversified Data Systems, Exelon (A PECO Energy Co.), Suburban Cable, Susquehanna Communications Development Dimensions International, Barbara Black Training, and Innovative Business Concepts.

Edited by Kristin Keiser