`OPERATION SCHOOLNET' AIMED AT BRINGING INTERNET TO SCHOOLS

Southwestern Bell has launched a massive campaign to wire more than 6,000 classrooms for Internet access throughout five states, including Missouri.

The announcement was made Friday by Southwestern Bell's state and regional executives during a simultaneous news conference in more than a dozen cities throughout Texas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Kansas.

"Operation SchoolNet" will result in hookups to more than 1,000 Missouri classrooms, grades kindergarten through 12, said Karen Jennings, president of Missouri Southwestern Bell during the conference held in St. Louis.

"All K-through-12 schools -- public and private -- are eligible to apply for `Operation SchoolNet' facilities," said Jennings.

Applications will be mailed to all schools, said Jennings. If a school fails to receive an application, one can be requested by calling 1-(800) 722-2343.

The newest endeavor is a joint effort by SWB and Southwestern Bell Pioneers, one of the nation's largest volunteer organizations.

The Pioneers will be out in full force helping to hook up Internet access throughout the company's five-state area. "We're expecting as many as 5,000 for the project," said Jennings.

"This is the largest education-related project ever undertaken by Southwestern Bell volunteers," said Jennings. The hookup campaign could take 18 to 22 months, "but the resulting educational benefits for our children will last them a lifetime."

Edward E. Whitacre Jr., chairman and chief executive officer of Southwestern Bell parent company SBC Communications Inc., said plans are to hook up 3,240 classrooms in Texas, 1,080 in Missouri, 660 classrooms in Oklahoma, 600 in Kansas and 600 in Arkansas.

These estimates area based on six Internet hookups per school in more than 1,000 schools.

Schools which submit applications will know within 60 to 90 days if their application is approved.

"We believe our children should have access to this great educational resource to learn more about the world around them," said Whitacre.

Whitacre's comments echoed those of President Bill Clinton, who recently said he would like all kindergarten through 12th grade classrooms to have Internet access by the year 2000.

Only 14 percent of the nation's 55 million school children currently have Internet access in their classrooms, according to the latest government statistics.