PictureTel Videoconferencing Chosen for Major New K-12 Distance Learning
Network Based in Northern Pennsylvania

PICTURETEL AND COMMONWEALTH TELEPHONE COMPANY PARTNER TO HELP CREATE THE
NATION'S LARGEST MULTI-STATE PUBLIC EDUCATION DIAL-UP VIDEOCONFERENCING
NETWORK

DANVERS, Mass. -- May 6, 1996 -- The Northern Tier Rural Distance Learning
Consortium in Pennsylvania recently chose PictureTel videoconferencing
solutions to help create what is believed to be the largest kindergarten
through 12th grade distance learning network in the country. The
consortium, which is using a federal grant to build the network, is
purchasing the videoconferencing systems from Commonwealth Telephone
Company of Dallas, Penn., a PictureTel authorized dealer.

The Northern Tier Consortium, which has its headquarters in Towanda, Penn.,
provides videoconferencing services to six rural school districts and
three colleges -- including Penn State University -- encompassing nearly
15,000 students. The consortium recently received a five- year, $2.9
million Technology Challenge Grant from the U.S. government, which it will
use to expand its program.

The consortium will expand its PictureTel videoconferencing network to 40
schools in 23 rural districts in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York
over the next 12 months. Over the next several years, the consortium plans
to deploy approximately 200 PictureTel videoconferencing systems
throughout its member area, which will make this the nation's largest
multi-state K - 12 dial-up distance education network.

The consortium previously used a $500,000 grant from the U.S. Department of
Agriculture's Rural Electrification Administration to establish its
initial distance education program in northern Pennsylvania.

"PictureTel videoconferencing is used to provide elementary, middle,
secondary and college students access to educational opportunities not
available in our rural areas, "said Dr. Daniel Paul, president of the
Northern Tier Distance Learning Consortium. "This federal grant will allow
us to make available high-quality education to all students, regardless of
their location."

Consortium members share faculty as well as course development resources in
order to provide a full course curriculum via PictureTel's
industry-leading group videoconferencing systems, including the System
4000 ZX, at all school locations. PictureTel videoconferencing also will
provide students with access to outside educational resources, including
museums, historic sites, and performance and science centers. Career
development programs also are available to area adults through the
network.

"PictureTel is pleased that our videoconferencing solutions are being used
to enrich the educational experience for students in these rural areas,"
said Joan Nevins, vice president of customer segment marketing for
PictureTel. "PictureTel's market-leading distance education applications
will expand the boundaries of the classroom to include thousands of
students in the consortium region."

Commonwealth Telephone Company is the communications carrier for the
distance education network and has worked with the consortium since its
inception. It provides PictureTel systems, networking and bridging
services for use over Commonwealth's digital phone lines. It has installed
PictureTel systems in each of the distance learning classrooms, including
free bridging services that enable multiple classrooms to communicate with
each other simultaneously.

The federal grant is one of the most significant and innovative efforts to
promote distance learning in rural areas. The PictureTel distance learning
network is considered a model for school districts nationwide.

PictureTel Corporation (NASDAQ: PCTL) is the world leader in
videoconferencing with an estimated 50 percent worldwide market share.
With more than 3600 systems being used for distance education in corporate
and educational facilities around the world, PictureTel customers can
access a wide array of trainers, educators and content providers easily
and economically. Additional PictureTel information is available on the
Internet at http://www.picturetel.com.

Recent PictureTel news releases are available by calling 1-800-716-6000,
extension 4 (U.S. and Canada only).
 
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