M2Z Networks Pledges to Bring Free Broadband to Jackson

M2Z Networks Pledges to Bring Free Broadband to Jackson

Special Session of the Jackson City Council to Discuss the Current State of Broadband Access and Adoption, M2Z Guarantees Free Broadband Access

JACKSON, Miss., July 20 /PRNewswire/ -- M2Z Networks (www.m2znetworks.com) CEO John Muleta joined the Jackson City Council, staff of the Mississippi Congressional Delegation, and state and local civic leaders to discuss the importance of affordable broadband and what is currently being done to bring it to Jackson.

"Americans have come to rely on the Internet to learn, work, play and communicate about the important issues facing our communities," said John Muleta, CEO of M2Z Networks. "For too long, cities like Jackson and our nation have been left on the wrong side of the digital divide, depriving its residents of the economic, educational, and civic benefits of the broadband Internet."

Pointing to the slow deployment of broadband services in Jackson, city leaders emphasized their commitment to improving services for Jackson residents and the need for affordable solutions to expand access. "The need to improve and expand the resources available to our government and the citizens of Jackson has motivated us to seek out solutions like the proposal of M2Z Networks, Inc.," said Mayor Frank Melton. He went on to say that the M2Z service has the "potential to unleash untold value by providing direct competition to other fixed and wireless companies, allowing small businesses to participate in electronic commerce, and connecting the citizens of Jackson to the education, information, and commerce tools of today and tomorrow."

M2Z Networks pledged to the Council that Jackson would be an early deployment market for its free wireless broadband service currently awaiting approval by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). "We must ensure that all Americans, regardless of income or geography, have access to affordable broadband. M2Z is determined to make this happen in Jackson and across the US," added Muleta.

Last year, M2Z Networks applied to the FCC for permission to use a fallow spectrum band to deliver its free wireless broadband service with built-in protection to prevent children from being exposed to indecent content. M2Z's application is supported by more than forty state and local officials from Mississippi, including Mississippi State Senator Dean Kirby, who recently wrote in a letter to the FCC: "The FCC now has the opportunity to approve the proposal of M2Z Networks that would allow fast, free, family-friendly broadband service throughout the nation. With this plan parents can become more involved with their student's education, teachers can expand their resources, and, most of all, new opportunities will be afforded to our children ... our future." Nationwide, hundreds of local, state and federal officials as well as nearly 50,000 citizens agree with State Senator Kirby's assessment and support M2Z.

Currently, Mississippi trails the nation in the availability and adoption of broadband. For example:

-- Mississippi ranks last nationally in broadband adoption, based on
research done by the nonpartisan Free Press organization
-- Only one in five Mississippians has broadband connections at home, half
the national average
-- Jackson has a median household income of just over $30,000 per year --
making existing broadband services too expensive for many residents.

In the United States, 58 percent of American homes - representing about 120 million adults -- do not have access to broadband and have to rely on dial-up or no Internet connection at all. Moreover, 53 percent of African American and 56 percent of Hispanic elementary and nursery school students lack Internet access.

Background

M2Z Networks currently has an application before the FCC to lease 20MHz of fallow spectrum to build a nationwide network to offer fast, free and family friendly broadband to 95 percent of the U.S. population within ten years. The service will be supported by locally targeted search results and will include a network-level filter to shield children using the service from indecent content. If licensed, M2Z would pay the U.S. Treasury 5 percent of annual gross revenues from its companion subscription services, which could total payments of up to $1 billion over 15 years. The introduction of M2Z's broadband service would generate $18 to $32 billion in direct consumer benefits over the next 15 years according to two uncontested economic studies.

Hundreds of officials and organizations from all over the country, including city council members, state senators, U.S. senators and congressmen, associations, public safety groups, colleges and universities, have written letters to the FCC urging them to approve the M2Z application.

About M2Z Networks:

Founded in 2005 and headquartered in Menlo Park, Calif., M2Z Networks' goal is to transform the current state of the broadband marketplace by building a high-speed wireless network throughout the United States. In May 2006, the company submitted a license application to the FCC to construct and operate a nationwide broadband wireless network in the 2155-2175 MHz spectrum band. Approval of the application would guarantee delivery of free, fast and family-friendly wireless broadband service to at least 95 percent of Americans in a 10 year timeframe. M2Z is backed by Kleiner, Perkins, Caufield and Byers; Charles River Ventures; and Redpoint Ventures; three of the most successful venture capital firms in Silicon Valley with $5 billon of capital under management. For more information, please visit www.M2Znetworks.com and www.freebroadbandnow.org.

Source: M2Z Networks

CONTACT: Cameron McAlpine of M2Z Networks, +1-703-589-5465,
CMcalpine@M2ZNetworks.com; or Carolyn Redd of the City of Jackson,
+1-601-960-2423, credd@city.jackson.ms.us; or Ryan Kuresman of APCO Worldwide,
+1-202-478-3545, Rkuresman@apcoworldwide.com

Web site:

http://www.m2znetworks.com/
http://www.freebroadbandnow.org/

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