Foundation Telecommunications, Inc. Announces the Renewal of the Transponder Agreement With the Hispanic Educational Telecommunications System -HETS-.

Business Editors & High-Tech Writers

ROGERS, Ark.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 29, 2000

Foundation Telecommunications, Inc. (FTI) has renewed their Transponder Agreement with the Hispanic Educational Telecommunications System (HETS) for another term. The agreement allows for both one-way and two-way interactive voice, video and data satellite communications between nine universities associated with the HETS consortium. They include: University of New Mexico, University of Texas-Pan American, University of Texas-Brownsville, Mississippi University for Women, South Mountain Community College, Lehman College, Hostos Community College, Ana G. Mendez University and the University of Puerto Rico.

The original contract was awarded as a result of two lengthy competitive bid processes in 1999. Each process took approximately three months to complete. The bid was conducted by Lehman College on behalf of the HETS consortium, reviewed by the Department of Commerce and monitored by Ken Salomon from Dow, Lohnes & Albertson Law Firm.

The resulting Transponder Agreement was a one-year contract with provisions for renewal the next four consecutive years. The typical satellite broadcasts are interactive voice, video and data broadcasts consisting of one or more 1.536 mbps SCPC signals using Wegener digital equipment via Telstar 5. All network encoders, transmitters and IRDs are remotely controlled and status monitored by FTI from both its corporate offices and its Transponder Operations Center located in Salt Lake City, Utah.

George Livergood, President and CEO of Foundation Telecommunications, Inc. stated, "We are extremely pleased that the competitive bid process resulted in our ability to continue to provide services to one of our most valued and oldest customers. The HETS consortium is an excellent example of the type of customer for which our core products and services are intended".

Dr. Nitza Hernandez, Executive Director of the Hispanic Educational Telecommunications System consortium stated, "The HETS consortium selected FTI as our satellite service provider because it meets the technical and organizational standards to facilitate the networking of some of our member institutions sharing similar equipment. We feel that FTI has proved its quality of service for educational telecommunications through previous contract agreements with HETS."

Foundation Telecommunications, Inc. (FTI) is a telecommunications company specializing in business TV, video conferencing and distance learning networks for one-way and interactive applications. FTI combines experience and expertise to provide complete end-to-end satellite and hybrid satellite/Internet interactive networks including network design, digital satellite equipment, space segment, status monitoring and network control.