Cisco Systems Increases Support of NetDay96; Resources Available for Educators and Volunteers Via Internet, Videotapes.

SAN JOSE, Calif.,--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 7, 1996--With the help of Cisco Systems, schools across the country are gearing up to enter the Information Age in unprecedented numbers through NetDay96 events this month.

Cisco has made a number of additional resources available to schools participating in NetDay96, including a video networking seminar, the NetDay96 How-To Guide and special educational discounts on networking hardware and software.

"Cisco's participation in NetDay96 is the latest step in what has been a long journey for us in helping schools connect to the Internet," said John Morgridge, Cisco's chairman of the board. "We are proud to be a part of this and other ongoing educational efforts to keep our children at the forefront of the technological revolution."

Cisco encourages other companies to join the NetDay96 effort by mobilizing their employees with the interest and ability to volunteer in schools across the country.

As part of Cisco's support of NetDay96, 500 Cisco volunteers are donating their time and skills in dozens of schools nationwide. Cisco has also donated equipment and services to individual schools participating in NetDay96.

"Cisco's commitment to education goes beyond wiring schools," said Morgridge. "Our company has developed a number of initiatives to help schools acquire the tools and the information they need to make the best use of available technology." Equipping teachers and administrators with valuable knowledge of how to develop curricula helps teachers teach and students learn, said Morgridge.

With the Arizona State Department of Education, Cisco sponsored a national satellite broadcast of the Cisco Internetworking Course for Education. Videotapes of the course are available through the Computer Learning Foundation (http://www.computerlearning.org).

The NetDay96 How- To Guide, also sponsored by Cisco, is available free over the World Wide Web (http://www.netday96.com/how-to) and print versions of the guide are available through the Computer Learning Foundation.

The largest of Cisco's educational efforts is the Virtual Schoolhouse Grant program, which in 1996 donated $1.5 million in cash, equipment and services to 150 schools to help them develop networks and connect to the Internet.

Information about this grant program and other educational resources can be found at Cisco's Educational Archive (http://sunsite.unc.edu/cisco/cisco-home.html) or by calling the Cisco Education Hotline at 1-800-553-NETS.

Cisco is one of nine companies forming NetTEAM96, a consortium offering comprehensive assistance to states and schools planning NetDay96 activities. Cisco also was a sponsor of the original NetDay, a pilot program held last March for California schools.

NetDay96 (http://www.netday96.com) is a national program to wire America's K-12 schools as a first step toward gaining Internet access. It is a historic grassroots effort in the classic American barn-raising tradition, with activities occurring on each of the four Saturdays in October 1996.

At least 35 states are participating; individual state programs and timetables vary. To see what's happening in any particular state, go to the above Web address and click on the state's image. Contact information, a list of participating schools and information on how to volunteer are also available on the NetDay96 Web site.

Cisco Systems (NASDAQ: CSCO) is the leading global supplier of internetworking solutions for corporate intranets and the global Internet.

Cisco's products -- including routers, LAN and WAN switches, dial-up access servers and network management software -- are integrated by Cisco IOS software to link geographically dispersed LANs, WANs and IBM networks. Company news and product/service information are available at World Wide Web site http://www.cisco.com. Cisco is headquartered in San Jose, Calif.

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Adam Stein, 408/526-7388, [e-mail]

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Peggy Hubble, 512/480-8961, [e-mail].