AREA COMPANY SEEKS TO GET LINE ON USED MODEMS.

Byline: Mary Beth Alexander Daily News Staff Writer

If you're expecting a new modem for Christmas, by all means don't throw the old one away.

A nearby school may need it.

Tarzana-based Internet In A Mall is seeking donations of modems that could be distributed to Los Angeles schools to help more classrooms go on line.

``These are things that we need to advance our technology,'' said Eiko Moriyama, director of the Partnerships and Adopt a School Program in the Los Angeles Unified School District, which would receive some of the modems.

The modems will be collected through Jan. 1 at Internet In A Mall booths in Topanga Plaza, Glendale Galleria, Northridge Fashion Center, The Oaks mall in Thousand Oaks, Valencia Towne Center and the Antelope Valley Mall.

Company officials said they launched the donation drive as part of their Internet In A School program, which features free Internet service and training to teachers and students.

``In the MTV generation, the kids need to be more involved in the electronic world . . . the images, the fast-moving electronic pace,'' said Howard Lefkowitz, president of Internet In A Mall, a 1-year-old company which provides Internet service and information in more than 70 malls throughout the country.

``It keeps their attention a lot more, and it makes them want to learn.''

Company officials are asking people to bring used modems to their mall booths. Each donor and a friend also will get Internet service free for one month, said Deborah Kazenelson, Internet In A Mall spokeswoman.

The modems will be tested, and refurbished if necessary. Then, they will be distributed to Los Angeles and Ventura county schools. The schools also will receive free Internet service.

Lefkowitz said the company decided to launch the donation drive around Christmastime, when many people might be upgrading their computers, and throwing away the old parts.

``Rather than throwing them out, why not put them to good use?'' Lefkowitz said.

Along with refurbished modems, some schools will get special, high-speed modems that will allow quicker Internet browsing compliments of 3Com, which is a partner in the Internet In A School program along with Pacific Bell FasTrak.

For the LAUSD, the second-largest school district in the country, the donations could mean Internet access at schools that don't have it. Moriyama said such technology is expensive for such a large school district.