Wiring L.A. Schools for Net Access Is Boon for Firm.

OFFICIALS from Wareforce.com Inc. met with the Los Angeles Unified School District last week to get the ball rolling on a project in which Wareforce will wire 102 L.A. schools with high-speed Internet access.

Wareforce, an information services provider, is being paid as much $56 million for the LAUSD project, with the lion's share of that money coming from federal grant program E-RATE and the rest coming from LAUSD.

The project promises to significantly boost Wareforce's revenues. Last year, the company generated about $150 million in revenue, up from $90 million the year before, according to spokeswoman Marcia Mazria.

"It shows a lot of confidence," she said. "(Federal grant and LAUSD officials) checked us out really carefully, and they saw a company that could deliver for them."

The LAUSD is currently negotiating contracts with various private-sector companies vying to eventually install fiber-optic wiring in the rest of the 650 LAUSD schools.

Meanwhile, Wareforce is expected to begin wiring work on the first school during the first week of September.

Wareforce executives last week submitted work plans to LAUSD officials for 12 schools, along with plans for quality and safety control, and a projected schedule for the next 10 months, said Gabe Nativedad, director of infrastructure development for Wareforce. The company hopes to complete its work on all 102 schools by May 15.

"What's being designed and engineered will give immediate Internet access to students who today don't know what the Internet is," Natilvedad said. "It's just such a great opportunity to see this getting connected up."