Lightpath(SM), Jericho, N.Y., a division of Cablevision Systems
Corporation (NYSE:CVC and an industry leader in providing advanced
Ethernet-based data, Internet, voice, video transport solutions and
managed services, has announced the premiere of "Westchester's
Intelligent Network at Work" -- an original video production
created by Optimum Lightpath in association with Westchester County. The
film features commentary from government and business leaders in
Westchester County regarding the impact the Westchester Telecom Network
has had on their growth and success. Optimum Lightpath hosted the
premiere event recently at the Central Plaza Cinema in Yonkers, NY.
The movie can be viewed online at
http://www.optimumlightpath.com/westchester.
"Our network puts us light years ahead of most other
communities. When I came up with the idea of creating a broadband
network in Westchester, my goal was to make the county into a
world-class business destination," said County Executive Andy
Spano. "Not only has it helped us get more business to locate here,
but it has also exponentially improved the quality of life for
Westchester residents, providing better and more accessible education,
healthcare and government services."
Built in 2000, the Westchester Telecom Network is considered to be
one of the most robust and sophisticated telecommunications networks in
the world. The Network spans 56,982 fiber miles and delivers services to
nearly 60 percent of the municipalities located within the County,
including nearly 225 government buildings and more than 200 commercial
buildings, as well as schools, libraries, healthcare institutions and
public safety organizations. The Network has successfully maximized
accessibility to government services, improved telecommunications
reliability and transmission quality, reduced overall telecom costs by
millions of dollars, and boosted overall economic development efforts in
the County.
"We're pleased to join with Westchester County to
showcase our successful relationship and demonstrate how the Westchester
Telecom Network has contributed to the economic success, growth and
vitality of the County," said Dave Pistacchio, Optimum
Lightpath's Executive Vice President and General Manager. "We
look forward to working with Westchester County to further expand upon
its vision for a world-class, 21st century business environment."
Two of the Westchester County organizations leveraging the
Westchester Telecom Network in innovative ways are Westchester Medical
Center and the Rye Neck School District.
Westchester Medical Center, the region's advanced care and
Level 1 Trauma Center, offers the latest advances in clinical care,
serving more than 3.5 million people in the region. The Westchester
Telecom Network enables enhanced communication and sharing of data that
is helping Westchester Medical Center to save lives. One example of this
is in the Westchester Medical Center's Trauma Center, which often
receives trauma patients transferred from other hospitals.
"We've been able to communicate with hospitals that are
an hour and a half away from here that send their patients to us by
helicopter. We can reach across the network and actually go into their
PACS systems and see their imagery that they have taken of trauma
patients," said Ted Tully, Director of Trauma and Emergency
Services, Westchester Medical Center. "This enables us to alert our
surgeons, neurosurgeons and radiologists to let them know that a patient
is coming in, so that the time between the patient arriving at the
hospital and that patient being taken into the operating room is cut
dramatically -- not by minutes but probably by hours. We are definitely
saving lives with this type of communication."
The Network is also enabling real-time telemedicine consultations
with inmates at the Westchester County Jail. This solution provides a
way for emergency room doctors to examine inmates without having to
transport them. Since its implementation in March 2007, the program has
positively impacted public safety and cut inmate visits to the emergency
room by more than 50 percent.
"It's better for patients because they are able to be
treated sooner. With telemedicine, we can consult with emergency room
doctors almost immediately," said John Moustakakis, CIO, Senior
Vice President, Westchester Medical Center. "And it's better
for the County because it eliminates the cost of unnecessary trips to
the hospital."
The Westchester Telecom Network is also enabling schools in
Westchester County -- such as the Rye Neck School District -- to utilize
cutting-edge technologies to enable distance learning and various other
interactive educational tools in its classrooms.
"Access to Optimum Lightpath technology has changed the
complexion of how we deliver education. What is important is that
students are engaged and the technology supports student
achievement," said Valerie Feit, Enrichment Coordinator, Rye Neck
Union Free School District. "With access to broadband, we are able
to work with more complex software systems and expand our learning
environment beyond the school walls. For example, we have been able to
offer gifted students the opportunity to work with high quality content
and instructors from Stanford University through the Educational Program
for Gifted Youth (EPGY) -- this a very exciting application, and one
that wouldn't have been possible without access to the
Network."
Westchester County was recently recognized globally for its
economic efforts by The Intelligent Community Forum (ICF) as one of the
"top seven" most intelligent communities in the world. Gaining
a place among the top seven is a major achievement toward greater
recognition for Westchester's efforts to use broadband and
information technology to attract leading edge businesses, stimulate job
creation and generate sustainable economic growth.
About Optimum Lightpath
Optimum Lightpath, a division of Cablevision Systems Corporation
(NYSE:CVC)and an industry leader in providing advanced Ethernet-based
data, Internet, voice, video transport solutions and managed services
over its Intelligent Enterprise Network, uses the power of its reliable
and resilient fully fiber optic network to deliver these solutions to
businesses throughout the New York metropolitan area. Since its
formation almost 20 years ago, Optimum Lightpath has built an advanced
fiber-to-the-business-premises network extending more than 2,750 route
miles throughout the tri-state area with more than 2,500 fiber lit
buildings. As a result of owning and maintaining this state-of-the-art
network, Optimum Lightpath is able to reliably provide scalable,
high-capacity IP-based Metro Ethernet services that support high
bandwidth data, Internet, voice and video applications that dramatically
improve the enterprise customer's quality of experience.
Optimum Lightpath has been recognized for ten straight years by the
New York State Public Service Commission for delivering highly
personalized customer service superior to the competition. This year,
the company was named 2008 Frost & Sullivan North American Ethernet
Service Emerging Company of the Year. In 2007, Optimum Lightpath was
named Heavy Reading's North American Ethernet Service Provider of
the Year for Regional Innovation and named Best North American Regional
Service Provider of the Year by the Metro Ethernet Forum (MEF). Optimum
Lightpath was one of the first service providers in the world and the
only North American MSO to earn Carrier Ethernet certification from the
MEF.
About Cablevision
Cablevision Systems Corporation is one of the nation's leading
entertainment and telecommunications companies. Its cable television
operations serve more than 3 million households in the New York
metropolitan area. The company's advanced telecommunications
offerings include its iO TV(SM) digital television, Optimum Online(R)
high-speed Internet, Optimum Voice(R) digital voice-over-cable, and its
Optimum Lightpath integrated business communications services.
Cablevision's Rainbow Media Holdings LLC operates several
successful programming businesses, including AMC, IFC, WE tv and other
national and regional networks. In addition to its telecommunications
and programming businesses, Cablevision owns Madison Square Garden and
its sports teams, the New York Knicks, Rangers and Liberty. The company
also operates New York's famed Radio City Music Hall, and owns and
operates Clearview Cinemas.
For more information, visit http://www.optimumlightpath.com or call
516/-803-1172.
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