MCI's donation will help the Free-Net obtain new software and hardware upgrades and provide area schools and colleges with new offerings and enhanced training for teachers.
With this generous MCI grant, the Buffalo Free-Net will be able to accommodate more users with easier, more reliable service and more interactive educational programs.
MCI has long understood the power of the Internet as an educational and research tool to gather and share information," said Maggie Quinn, branch manager of MCI Business Markets in Upstate New York. "We are proud to work with the Buffalo Free- Net to ensure that Buffalo residents, especially students, will reap all the benefits of the Information Superhighway."
In April, MCI became the first company to offer consumers and businesses a full range of Internet offerings from easy-to- use software, nationwide dial-up access to the Internet, a dynamic and content rich site on the World Wide Web (www.internetMCI.com) and with marketplaceMCI, the first brand name secure electronic shopping area.
Through the MCI Foundation, MCI awards grants to non-profit organizations that use state-of-the art information technologies to enhance the process of learning.
MCI, headquartered in Washington, D.C, has expanded from its core long distance business to become the world's third largest carrier of international calling and a premier provider of data communications over the vast Internet computer network. With annual revenue of more than $13.3 billion, the company today provides a wide array of consumer and business long distance and local services, data and video communications, online information, electronic mail, network management services and communications software.