Cable modems, access donated

Santa Barbara Computers for Families

Toshiba America Inc. announced July 23 that it will donate 1,500 cable modems

and Cox Communications Inc. will offer discounted Internet service to disadvantaged

families in Santa Barbara, Calif.

Computers for Families, a nonprofit organization that acquires new and

used computer equipment from businesses and distributes it to families in

need, will distribute the modems and other equipment to economically challenged

families in the area. The organization also provides computer training for

teachers and parents directly impacted by the gift.

Toshiba will be donating its PCX DOCSIS cable modems, which will provide

access to the Internet through an always-on cable connection provided by

Cox Communications, at speeds 100 times faster than a dial-up modem. Toshiba

will also provide its self-install wizard and Symantec Corp.'s Norton Internet

Security.

According to a Cox representative, families are selected to receive

the equipment based the following: Teachers must first send in an application

to Computer for Families, then they follow that up with a list of students

who do not have access to such equipment at home. Those students will receive

the equipment.

Cox Communications will charge users $125 dollars per year for the connection,

about $10 per month. "We are offering a 75 percent discount off our retail

rate," said David Edelman, director of public affairs for Cox Communication's

central coast region. "More importantly, the value of our contribution totals

$1.5 million in savings for families in the Santa Barbara area."

According to Edelman, Cox plans to match Toshiba's modem donation and

connect 1,500 families in the Santa Barbara area.

The first shipment of modems and other equipment will be delivered toward

the end of August or early September.