Qwest And The National Center For Missing & Exploited Children Join Colorado Leaders To Help Fight Internet Crimes Against Children Parental and Guardian Participation Will Drive Qwest Donations to Colorado Schools
DENVER, June 13, 2006 - Qwest Communications International Inc. (NYSE: Q) has partnered with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children(R) (NCMEC) to present the Qwest Connected Family Online Classroom to Colorado families and proactively help combat online exploitation of youth through increased parental and guardian education.
This critical issue continues to have a startling impact on the estimated 24 million child Internet users: according to a U.S. Department of Justice study, one in five children online is sexually solicited yet only one in four told a parent or guardian. The Online Classroom provides educational guidelines and learning resources for parents and guardians to help reduce the incidence of online victimization.
Qwest has created a coalition of key leaders, who are united to raise awareness in Colorado. This group is calling for 10,000 Coloradans to become informed about online safety issues and prevention tips through the Qwest Connected Family Online Classroom by the end of the year.
"Qwest believes proactive education is the key to safer use of the Internet as more children go online to communicate, learn and network especially during the summer when many kids are away from school," said Paula Kruger, executive vice president, Qwest mass markets group. "Qwest and coalition members are asking parents and guardians to visit the Online Classroom to become certified and complete the ParentsSummer Safety-Net Test."
• Online Certification – become a certified "Safer Surfer" by reviewing expert
tips, articles, quizzes and downloadable safety kits and take the first step in
learning about Internet safety.
• The Connected Family Kit – to help families get the most out of technology
while using it safely and effectively.
• The Parents Summer Safety-Net Test – to educate parents and guardians on
how to help keep children safer when using the Internet this summer.
Qwest will donate up to $25,000 in 2006 to Colorado schools whose families
participate in the online safety certification. A $250 grant will go to the first 100
Colorado schools that have at least 20 percent of parents and guardians certified by the end of the year.
The Denver Public Library will also be linking to the Online Classroom at computer
terminals within their 23 branches to encourage parents and guardians to learn
about safer surfing while using the library.
"We are proud to partner with Qwest to help educate parents and guardians about the importance of taking responsibility for their children’s online lives," said Robbie Callaway, NCMEC cofounder and former chairman of the board. "The Qwest
Connected Family Online Classroom was designed to provide families with Internet
safety information needed to better prepare them to address the possible dangers
children encounter online."
A link to the online classroom will be featured on the respective Web sites of the
Colorado Parent Teacher Association, the Public Education and Business Coalition
(PEBC), the Colorado Attorney General and the Internet Crimes Against Children
(ICAC) task force. Qwest is committed to meeting the needs of ICAC and continues to urgently support subpoena requests pertaining to Internet crimes against children in an effort to assist law enforcement in the prosecution of online predators. For more information visit
www.incredibleinternet.com/onlinesafety.
About Qwest:
Qwest Communications International Inc. (NYSE: Q), through its operating subsidiaries, is a leading provider of high-speed Internet, data, video and voice services. With nearly 40,000 employees, Qwest is committed to the "Spirit of Service" and providing world-class services that exceed customers' expectations for quality, value and reliability. For more information, please visit the Qwest Web site at www.qwest.com.
About the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children:
NCMEC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that works in cooperation with the U.S.
Department of Justice's Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention.
NCMEC's congressionally mandated CyberTipline, a reporting mechanism for child
sexual exploitation, has handled more than 387,800 leads. Since its establishment in
1984, NCMEC has assisted law enforcement with more than 119,800 missing child
cases, resulting in the recovery of more than 102,200 children. For more information
about NCMEC, call its toll-free, 24-hour hotline at 1-800-THE-LOST or visit its web
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