MIT, Cornell and University of the Arts Students Gain Access to Digital Programming.

Business Editors & High-Tech/Education Writers

AUSTIN, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 23, 2001

WSNet and Falls Earth Station's DigitalXtreme.tv Offer Digital Cable

Service to University Resident Communities

WSNet and digitalXtreme.tv, a service of Falls Earth Station, today announced the launch of high-quality digital cable television programming to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cornell University and University of the Arts resident student communities.

"This is great news for MIT students because they now have access to digital programming in any on-campus residence," said James Lacey, vice president of sales, WSNet. "Falls Earth Station's digitalXtreme.tv is offering a complete digital solution to these residents and we are proud to provide the wholesale programming to this community."

"We recognize that today's college student is a sophisticated and value-conscious consumer, and digitalXtreme.tv is designed to offer the variety, value and flexibility demanded by the higher education community," said Jerry Barnes, president of Falls Earth Station. "DigitalXtreme.tv was developed after lengthy consultation with many members of the MIT community and was designed to allow students to subscribe, contact customer service and order pay-per-view events via the Internet."

"While many colleges and universities currently offer basic cable television to their resident students, the digitalXtreme.tv service being introduced on these campuses is the first of its kind in the nation," said Patrick Springer, higher education practice manager at CRConsulting.

DigitalXtreme.tv allows university resident students to individually customize their channel line-up and provides exceptional customer service support. Students are offered up to 118 digital channels, as well as access to premium channels and pay-per-view events.

This agreement calls for digitalXtreme.tv signals to be delivered directly to a headend on the campus. The application of Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (QAM) technology eliminates the need for a satellite antenna or dish on each dormitory building, and uses the campus's existing cable television wiring to lower installation costs and minimize disruption on campus. Residents who subscribe to the service are supplied with a Motorola DSR-470 receiver, which enables them to view the digital channel line-up on their analog TVs. The Motorola receiver features an easy menu system to select programming and to provide detailed information about current and future shows.

Falls Earth Station engineers, working cooperatively with MIT Facilities Coordinator Randall W. Winchester, will perform the integration work necessary to combine the digital content with the school's existing CATV services. Digital services are authorized through the Digital Service Bureau (DSB) using WinCable7(tm) software from Great Lakes Data Systems Inc. This Web-enabled customer self-care allows students to order pay-per-view programming, view account activity, subscribe to new premium services and pay bills via the Internet 24 hours a day.

About WSNet

World Satellite Network is a wholesale provider of digital-to-home video programming, serving private and franchise cable operators, multiple dwelling units (MDU), and small and rural cable companies. WSNet is a privately held company based in Austin, Texas, and provides complete satellite programming to more than one million subscribers in the United States. More information is available at www.wsnet.tv or 800/367-3193.

About Falls Earth Station

Falls Earth Station Inc. is a market leader in the design, construction, integration and operation of communication and control systems for the higher education community. Falls Earth currently provides video content and services to over 40 colleges and universities and is headquartered in Madison, N.Y. For more information regarding Falls Earth visit: www.fallsearth.com.

About Motorola

Motorola Inc. (NYSE:MOT) is a global leader in providing integrated communications solutions and embedded electronic solutions. Sales in 2000 were $37.6 billion. For more information, visit Motorola on the Web at www.motorola.com.

About Great Lakes Data Systems Inc.

Great Lakes Data Systems Inc. is the leading provider of PC-based billing, subscriber management, and PPV solutions for SQL/Windows7. GLDS has installed its software at over 300 cable systems in 48 U.S. States and 30 countries internationally. The new Web-enabled Digital Service Bureau provides Internet authorization of digital programming and PPV services to over 50 additional cable operators using HITS, HITS2HOME, and WSNet programming. The privately held company was founded in Beaver Dam, Wis., in 1980, and is headquartered in Encinitas, Calif. WinCable7 is a registered trademark of Great Lakes Data Systems Inc. More information is available at www.cablebilling.com or at 800/882-7950.

NOTE TO EDITORS: The "2" in the word "HITS2HOME" is a superscript and was changed for transmission purposes only.