In addition to recycling your old computer, you can help the environment when you buy a new computer if you participate in Dell's Plant a Tree for Me Program.

Dell, in partnership with The Conservation Fund and Carbonfund.org, launched Plant a Tree for Me, a program that makes it easy and affordable for individuals, corporations or even entire communities to 'go zero' by measuring and then offsetting their carbon emissions associated with the electricity generated to power an extended portfolio of IT products—simply by planting trees. Additionally, participants can offset the estimated total one-year carbon impact of an average American citizen by donating $99 to the program.

Dell administers the collection of the donation and remits it to their partners, who use 100 percent of the donated funds to facilitate the planting of trees.

The company says it's committed to helping the environment in a variety of ways. Dell currently offers consumers no-charge recycling of any brand of used computer or printer with the purchase of a new Dell computer or printer. This service includes home pick-up of the used computer at no charge. They also provide consumers no-charge recycling of any Dell-branded product, regardless of whether a replacement product is purchased.

"We have a responsibility to our customers to recycle the products we make and sell," said Michael Dell, chairman of Dell. "Our direct relationships with consumers allow us to offer this easy and free service and we encourage others in our industry to do so as well."

For more information, check out the Dell Plant A Tree For Me site.

Leichtman Research Group Inc. recently release a report that revealed the nineteen largest cable and telephone providers in the US—representing about 94 percent of the market—acquired over 2.9 million net additional high-speed Internet subscribers in the first quarter of 2007. The top broadband providers now account for 56.2 million subscribers—with cable companies having more than 30.7 million broadband subscribers, and telephone companies having more than 25.4 million subscribers.

The top telephone companies, including AT&T, Verizon, Qwest and EMBARQ, added 1.49 million subscribers, representing 51 percent of the net broadband additions for the quarter versus cable. The top cable providers, a group that includes Comcast, Cox, Time Warner Cable and Charter, had a record tying quarter with about 1.45 million subscribers added—nearly the same as in the first quarter of 2006.

"Cable's record success in the first quarter of 2007 is emblematic of the industry's ability to evolve beyond its core television heritage," said Bruce Leichtman, president and principal analyst for Leichtman Research Group, Inc. "The top cable companies now have over 30 million broadband subscribers, and about 10 million telephone subscribers, to complement their enhanced TV offerings."

If you would like to read the full report, check out the press release.

Planning to upgrade from your current computer to a new model that can handle broadband Internet service? If you are like me, you might be a little confused as to what to do with your old computer. Mine is currently collecting dust in my living room. Thankfully, Staples recently announced that it now makes it easy to recycle used computers and other office technology at any Staples store nationwide. With this program, they are the first national retailer to offer computer recycling in stores every day.

Staples says it makes it easy for customers to recycle e-waste. All you have to do is bring your used computers, monitors, laptops, printers, faxes and all-in-ones to any U.S. Staples store, where the equipment will be recycled in accordance with environmental laws. All brands will be accepted, regardless of whether or not the equipment was purchased at Staples, for a fee of $10 per large item. Staples is working with Amandi Services, one of the country's most experienced and innovative electronics recyclers, to handle recycling of the equipment, following standards set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

"It's not always easy being green. However, through the leadership of Staples, Americans will see that preventing pollution by recycling unwanted electronics is as easy as it gets," said Stephen L. Johnson, Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. "EPA and our Plug-In To eCycling partners are helping make sure yesterday's high-tech gadgets do not go to waste."

"An estimated 133,000 computers are discarded every day in the U.S.," said Mark Buckley, vice president of environmental affairs at Staples, Inc. "We know that small businesses and consumers want to recycle their used office technology but are often frustrated by the lack of convenient options available. By making it easy to recycle, Staples helps customers take action in handling e-waste in an environmentally responsible way."

How the Recycling Program Works

• Customers drop off their old equipment at the customer service desk at any Staples store, 7 days a week during regular store hours; (TV's and large, floor-model copiers are not accepted).


• Staples will recycle any manufacturers' products, regardless of whether or not it was purchased from Staples, and there's no limit on the quantity of equipment that can be recycled.


• A recycling fee of $10 per piece of large equipment is charged to cover handling, transport, product disassembly and recycling. Smaller computer peripherals, such as keyboards and mice, will be recycled for free.


• Staples Easy Tech^SM service is on site in all stores to transfer data from an old computer to a new one for a fee.

Equipment is bagged and sealed when customers drop them off at the Staples customer service desk. The equipment is then picked up and delivered to Amandi Services, who disassembles the equipment into its component parts and uses industry-leading standards for data destruction. Amandi then recycles the raw materials, such as the plastics, metals, printed circuit boards and Cathode Ray Tubes (CRT). The CRTs, which are the most hazardous part of electronics waste, are recycled utilizing Amandi's proprietary technology into a raw material that is used to manufacture new televisions.

Staples is a U.S. EPA Plug-In to eCycling partner and has offered computer recycling in its Seattle area stores for the past two years. In addition to computer and office technology recycling, Staples provides customers with easy, everyday, in-store recycling for ink and toner cartridges, cell phones, PDAs and rechargeable batteries. In 2006, the company recycled more than 17 million ink and toner cartridges and 3,500 tons of electronic waste.

In addition to recycling of technology items, Staples says the comapny's other initiatives to help protect and sustain the earth take many forms, such as offering a wide assortment of eco-friendly products, investing in energy efficiency and renewable energy and educating customers and associates about how they can make a difference. They offer more than 2,900 products made with recycled materials and is one of the largest retail and Fortune 500 purchasers of green power in the country.

To learn more about Staples environmental initiatives, check out www.staples.com/environment.

Hughes Network Systems recently announced that Public Technology Inc. (PTI) has acknowledged that satellite broadband services like HughesNet™ are best suited to address the needs of rural consumers, small businesses and local governments. The organization also stated that no other technology currently available addresses the geographic digital divide as effectively as satellite broadband technology.

PTI's endorsement of satellite broadband for rural communities was issued through the organization's white paper, "Economics of Broadband Access for Underserved Consumers and Businesses." The white paper outlines a variety of broadband options available to consumers at large, but points out that many Americans cannot now, nor will they be able to access in the future, many of the most popular technologies like DSL or cable based solely on geography.

"One of the greatest challenges in serving the rural community is educating them on the availability of and advances in satellite broadband technology," said Mike Cook, senior vice president, Hughes. "The PTI white paper not only effectively captures these benefits but represents excellent advancements in helping rural communities understand the options available to them-especially for those who believe that if they can't get cable or DSL, they can't get broadband."

According to the PTI paper, there has been "dramatic growth of two-way fully interactive satellite broadband offerings. Today small businesses are increasingly recognizing the cost benefits of satellite broadband [and] there continue to be technological breakthroughs that increase speed and bandwidth, reliability, and quality of service at extremely high levels."

PTI Executive Director, Alan Shark says that according to his organization's research, "no rural broadband development program should be considered complete without including the cost/benefits of two-way satellite broadband services that are available everywhere and are available now." Shark also said that satellite broadband services like HughesNet are critical to local government and small businesses' ability to stay competitive in an increasingly wired world.

Hughes' Cook added, "Hughes looks forward to collaborating with PTI to ensure that the needs of rural consumers, small businesses, and local government are met so that they too can gain a competitive economic edge and fully enjoy the benefits of broadband access."

If you live in an area where other forms of high-speed Internet are not available, check out offers from HughesNet to get broadband access for your home.

New research by Cox Communications, in partnership with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children® (NCMEC) and TV host and children's advocate John Walsh, reveals that more parents and guardians are talking to their children about the potential dangers of the Internet. Still, many teens remain unconcerned about the risks of sharing personal info online and nearly two-thirds post photos or videos of themselves.

The findings are from the third annual survey Cox and NCMEC have fielded to help parents and guardians understand the potential dangers of the Internet. The 2007 survey was nearly identical to the questions asked in 2006, revealing compelling year-over-year trends about teen Internet use.

Key findings include:

• A large majority of teens (71 percent) have established online profiles (including those on social networking sites such as MySpace, Friendster and Xanga), up from 61 percent in 2006.
• 41 percent of teens report their parents talk to them "a lot"about Internet safety (up five points over 2006), and three out of four say their parents have talked to them in the past year about the potential dangers of posting personal info. The level of parental involvement is higher for younger teens and girls, although it has increased across all age groups and both genders.
• Teens whose parents have talked to them "a lot" about Internet safety are more concerned about the risks of sharing personal info online than teens whose parents are less involved. For instance, 65 percent of those whose parents have not talked to them about online safety post info about where they live, compared to 48 percent of teens with more involved parents.

The national teen Internet survey was funded by Cox Communications in partnership with NCMEC and John Walsh and was conducted in March 2007 among 1,070 teens age 13 to 17.

As a continuation of the research findings, Cox will partner with NCMEC, Walsh and Miss America 2007 Lauren Nelson on the second annual Cox Communications National Teen Summit on Internet Safety June 27 at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. Teen participants will discuss Internet safety and ways parents, guardians and teen mentors can help children and young adults be safer online, and will deliver the messages directly to Capitol Hill in meetings with members of Congress. The Summit will air on Cox Cable channels nationwide in late summer.

Cox's Take Charge program was launched in conjunction with Walsh in 2004 to educate parents and guardians about the importance of Internet safety and to help families get the most out of mass media in the home. It provides scores of resources to help parents and guardians manage what their children see, and don't see, on TV and the Internet—from instructions on setting parental controls, to a guide to the lingo teens use online, to tips for more constructive conversations between parents and kids. Teaching young children and teens how to stay safer online is a major element of the Take Charge program, thanks in part to Cox's partnership with NetSmartz.com, a collaboration between NCMEC and the Boys & Girls Clubs of America. Cox has donated nearly $30 million worth of advertising time to NetSmartz and NCMEC to encourage safer online behavior among children.

For more information, read the Cox press release.

Windstream says it produced record broadband customer growth in the first quarter ending March 31, 2007. The company reportedly added approximately 59,000 net broadband customers during that time period, a quarterly record. Windstream now has more than 715,000 total broadband customers.

"Our company is off to a great start for 2007 with solid execution by our team during the quarter selling broadband." said Jeff Gardner, President and CEO. "With our singular focus on this business, Windstream is well positioned to continue delivering solid results and strong and sustainable cash flows."

Windstream was formed through the spinoff of Alltel's landline business and a merger with VALOR Communications Group in 2006, creating the largest telecommunications and entertainment company focused on rural America with 3.4 access lines in 16 states.

The company says it is proud of its legacy of serving mostly rural customers, combining strong financial performance with quality products, reliable services and exceptional customer service.

Check out the Windstream page for more information and to see if Windstream high-speed broadband Internet service is available in your area.

Do you live in a rural area where most Internet providers don't offer service? Satellite high-speed Internet service could be the answer to your problems. And now is a great time to try it. Starting now, new subscribers to HughesNet high-speed satellite Internet servicewill enjoy a significant reduction in price on Hughes equipment and standard installation. Now consumers in under-served areas can get fast broadband service at a new, affordable price.

According to Frost and Sullivan, it is estimated that about 40 percent of the population in North America is not reached by terrestrial broadband, such as cable Internet and DSL. For these consumers, satellite broadband is an ideal solution. In fact, more than 327,000 small businesses and consumers already use the HughesNet satellite broadband service for Internet connectivity.

The HughesNet satellite broadband service is available anywhere in the continental United States to anyone who has an unobstructed view of the southern sky. It is not dependent on telephone or cable companies rolling out broadband access lines to hard-to-reach or remote areas.

Combined with the current $100 mail-in rebate available through June 30th, new HughesNet subscribers who sign up for service plans, will be able to purchase Hughes equipment with standard installation for only $299.98. This represents a $100 reduction in price. Monthly service plans start as low as $59.99.

HughesNet is an always-on, two-way broadband satellite service without the need for a telephone line. All HughesNet customers have access to a state-of-the-art e-mail system, a personalized start page, five e-mail accounts with 2 GB of storage per account, spam and virus filtering, and easily accessible customer support services.

Check out the HughesNet page for more information or click here to order now.

Miss America 2007 Lauren Nelson recently announced she is joining forces with Cox Communications to raise awareness about Internet safety. Ms. Nelson will star in a series of Cox public service announcements and make several local appearances in Cox markets to educate parents and children about the critical importance of making safe, smart choices online.

"I'm proud to partner with Cox Communications. We will leverage Cox's resources and my platform as Miss America to urge children to be safer on the Internet," said Ms. Nelson. "When I was 13, I experienced first-hand the potential dangers of unsafe Internet use. Some friends and I made the mistake of giving our names, ages and locations to someone online who we later discovered was a sexual predator. After we received inappropriate photographs from this person, we immediately told our parents, and the situation was defused without incident. Unfortunately, not all kids are as lucky as my friends and I were. That's why I feel an obligation as Miss America to help children avoid dangerous situations online."

"Lauren is a wonderful role model for kids and an ideal advocate for the importance of being safe online. We're delighted she is joining with Cox to deliver critical messages and resources that help parents and their kids make safe, constructive use of the Internet," said Ellen East, Vice President of Communications and Public Affairs for Cox Communications.

Cox's Take Charge program provides tools and tips to empower parents and kids to safely make the most of TV and the Internet. In some of the new Cox PSAs that will debut on Cox Cable channels nationwide in May, Ms. Nelson shares the screen with John Walsh, the TV host and well-known children's advocate who has served as Cox's Take Charge spokesperson since 2004.

As Miss Oklahoma, the Lawton native starred in Internet safety PSAs broadcast last year on Cox's cable systems throughout the state. As Miss America, she will return to her home state later this summer to headline Cox Internet safety events in Oklahoma City and Tulsa. In addition, on May 2 she will give the keynote address at a Teen Summit sponsored by Cox's Greater Louisiana operation in Baton Rouge. On June 27, she will join Walsh and the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) at Cox's National Teen Summit on Internet Safety at National Press Club in Washington, D.C. At the 2nd annual summit, teens from Cox markets nationwide will discuss strategies to help other teens practice safer online use and will deliver those messages directly to members of Congress during meetings on Capitol Hill.

For more information, read the Cox Communications press release.

Windstream, in partnership with YouSendIt, recently announced the availability of Windstream EZ Send, a fast and easy way for customers to share large files of almost any kind. The new service is the first such offering by an Internet service provider.

Windstream says EZ Send provides a cost-effective solution for sending and receiving critical business documents and other files, saving time and the cost of alternative solutions, including overnight shipping. Powered by YouSendIt, the service allows users to send large files—up to 2 GB per file&mdashdirectly from any browser. Windstream customers now can send files up to 200 times larger than common e-mail attachment limits in the industry.

The service gives business customers an easy, branded way to send large files, bypassing costly FTP systems or home-grown solutions. For residential customers, the service provides an easy way to share audio, video and data files without the need to purchase expensive software or hardware.

"Windstream customers now have a fast, easy and free way to share large files with their friends, family and clients," said Ric Crane, Windstream senior vice president and chief marketing officer. "This service gives our customers another user-friendly way to connect to their world and efficiently do business."

Customers can send files up to 100 MB in size for free that others can download for seven days. For an additional cost, customers can upgrade their service to send files up to 2 GB, allow downloading for 14 days, branding on file deliveries and tracking of downloads for 30 days.

"We are excited to be working with Windstream to provide their customers with a simple, easy way to send and receive large files," said Ivan Koon, CEO of YouSendIt. "With the growth of high-speed connections there is increased business and consumer demand for sending large files like audio, video and graphics content. YouSendIt enables service providers like Windstream to offer their customers a cost effective way to replace courier services and a user-friendly and secure way to replace FTP."

For more information, check out the Windstream press release.

Cox Communications recently announced its widespread deployment of PowerBoost™, a new technology that gives customers an added burst of speed when downloading large files. This enhanced feature became available in Cox markets as of March 25, 2007.

Customers who have Cox's Preferred or Premier high-speed Internet services now experience faster speeds when downloading large files, thanks to the addition of PowerBoost™. The speed enhancement technology uses additional capacity on Cox's local fiber-hybrid network to automatically give customers a burst of speed above and beyond what they used to experience for faster file downloads. The PowerBoost™ feature is free for all Preferred and Premier package customers.

"Launching PowerBoost™ reaffirms our commitment to being a friend to our customers in the digital age. We're giving our customers the ability to tap into our powerful hybrid-fiber network and put it to work for them when they need it most." stated Steve Gorman, vice president of marketing for Cox high-speed Internet. "Customers choose our broadband service because it offers the best combination of speed and features for their money, and this enhancement gives them even more of what they've come to expect from Cox."

PowerBoost offers a short burst of additional speed when downloading large files, such as movies, pictures or music. PowerBoost technology automatically detects when a customer begins a large file download, regardless of file type, and jumpstarts the download with a burst of speed, when extra network capacity is available. Speeds will be boosted up to 29 percent for Preferred customers and up to 25 percent for Premier customers.

Click here to learn more and see if service is available in your area.

FON recently announced a partnership with Time Warner Cable which allows Time Warner Cable broadband subscribers to access what they say is the world's largest and fastest-growing WiFi network. The partnership specifically allows Time Warner Cable subscribers to become FON community members and create FON access points via their home or business broadband connection. Furthermore, the same subscribers would enjoy free WiFi access around the world, wherever FON has partner ISPs.

With nearly 60,000 FON community members in the U.S. alone, FON is the largest WiFi network in the United States. Hotspot providers are FON community members (called Foneros) who share their unused bandwidth via a FON router in exchange for free WiFi access when roaming through any other FON access point. Through this partnership, Time Warner Cable subscribers will have the opportunity to be members of the FON community and enjoy free unlimited WiFi access at any of FON's partner ISP WiFi hotspots.

Time Warner Cable subscribers will benefit from being able to use next generation WiFi devices such as WiFi phones, game consoles and MP3 players, both inside and outside the home.

"We are pleased to welcome Time Warner Cable subscribers to the global FON community," said Joanna Rees, CEO of FON U.S. "Success for FON depends on extending Internet access to our user bases outside the home or office without requiring individuals to rely on costly and problematic remote access solutions."

For more on this new partnership, check out the press release.