Company Background

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Company Overview

Apogee is the largest and most innovative residential network provider for higher education. From high-speed wired and wireless Internet to advanced digital cable and phone solutions, Apogee’s custom networks deliver the most competitive services with tight cost controls and a built-in plan for growth.  By partnering with Apogee, institutions are able to enhance their technology infrastructure while offloading the growing volume of administrative tasks associated with managing student networks.

As a trusted network partner and the ISP of record, Apogee lets universities focus on their true academic mission while developing a competitive technological edge for student residents.

Company History

1998

Apogee first entered the marketplace as Apogee Communications, a discount calling card provider for students at the University of Texas at Austin.

2001

Within three years, the company had grown to include sales operations in 32 higher education markets, gradually evolving to become a licensed local exchange carrier providing high-speed Internet and telephone services.

Apogee also signed an endorsement contract with the University of Texas as the recommended network provider for students, faculty and staff living off-campus.

2003

The company established itself as an on-campus residential network (ResNet) provider, partnering to manage high-speed network services for 12 residence halls on the campus of Southwestern University.

2005-2006

Apogee’s first commercial-grade 802.11b/g wireless system was deployed on the SUNY Brockport campus in New York State.  The following year, cable services were also first deployed on the same campus.

2007

Secure Intercept Services were first marketed to higher education and commercial ISPs bound to comply with access regulations outlined in the Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act (CALEA).

As cellular phone usage began to overtake landline phones, Apogee came out with a low-cost converged Voice-over-IP (VoIP) phone solution as an alternative to aging PBX systems.

2009

Apogee’s first full 802.11n wireless network was deployed on the campus of Centenary College.

Apogee expanded its cable services division, deploying a cable-converged emergency notification system at the University of Mary Washington. The company also expanded various vendor partnerships, including working with Residence Life Cinema to deploy and promote a first-run movie channel in residences at SUNY Brockport and Birmingham-Southern College.

2010

Apogee debuted digital signage services with a spring deployment at San Francisco State University.

As the company grows, its customer focus remains firmly committed to higher education and on and off-campus student housing developments.

Market Overview
Student network management has continued to play an increasingly larger role in the business of Information Technology in education.  Momentum behind cultural trends, bandwidth demand and evolving network technology indicates that this trajectory will continue to surpass the ability of campus IT to maintain focus on ResNet while serving the broader goals of the university.  The Apogee product set provides an ideal solution for these challenges and offers a strategic alternative that benefits both the Information Technology department and the institution.

Vision
“Apogee” refers to the furthest point in an orbit or the highest point in a trajectory.  We chose this company name as a reflection of our vision and commitment to our customers – to always set and maintain the highest standards in residential networking and provide students with the tools they need to develop into the next generation of leaders, thinkers and innovators.

We see the foundational value of a residential network as a tool in an environment in which new ideas flourish. We know that learning happens everywhere, not just in the classroom.  Is the future founder of the next Google working in a residence hall, for example, waiting for his breakthrough moment? Is university administration doing everything in its power to help shape these new ideas and show them the light of day?

At Apogee, cultivating an environment where students thrive is our passion and we understand how important it is to give students the tools they need to develop the next big idea.  After all, Apogee is itself the product of an innovative college startup.

Management

Charles Brady, Founder & CEO
Charles founded Apogee in March 1998. As Founder and CEO, Brady´s vision and management style have created an innovative ResNet company that offers a proven, and profitable, business model to universities and colleges.

Mark Holt, COO
Founded Apogee with Charles Brady in 1998.   Later served as Director for GCI overseeing voice and messaging products and rejoined Apogee in 2010.

Services

On- & Off-Campus Student Residential Networks (ResNets)
Apogee provides high-speed residential networks in partnership with higher education communities across the country.  Partnering with Apogee to build, manage and maintain the student network allows universities to focus staff time and resources on the core mission-critical goals of the institution.

Key Benefits include:

•    Critical IT staff and management time is freed for mission critical enterprise projects & functions

•    Enhanced network and support infrastructure

•    Student demands for bandwidth and application use (like gaming systems and mobile devices) is met while still providing predictable costs.

High-Speed Residential Student Networks
Apogee provides residential Internet networks with high-speed access for each student – just like they’re used to at home. We offer the fastest speeds available, with per-user Internet and gaming bandwidth. Available speeds range from 1-15 Mbps, far surpassing competing Internet services or cable modem solutions.

Complete 802.11n Wireless Coverage
As student demand for mobile connectivity rises rapidly, Apogee brings high-speed, wall-to-wall wireless service to student residences as part of our custom network.  With a wireless solution by Apogee, the school can extend network access throughout the building, from the laundry room and  game room to the poolside lounge chair, surpassing high student expectations and providing a critical amenity to attract on- and off-campus residents.

Digital Phone (VoIP)
Apogee’s digital IP-based phone service includes all the features of a standard phone system, like three-way calling, call waiting, call forwarding, and caller IS, and adds unique digital features like voicemail to your email inbox.  Phone numbers are fully portable, meaning students can sign up for one numbers when they arrive and keep it until they graduate.  Students just make a quick call to tell us where they’re moving and their phone number travels with the anywhere on campus.  Installation is quick, simple, and fully scalable down to the single user.

Video over IP (IPTV)
Partnering with Apogee gives schools the option to provide all-digital, HD, and DVR packages – or say no to additional equipment.  Apogee’s cable solutions are designed for higher education and provide crisp, clear picture and sound without draining department time and budgets.  Schools can choose to deliver full-resolution digital programming across your existing data network with live Video over IP Channels, provide standard and high definition cable directly to each in-room connection, or offer students digital set-top box upgrades at no additional cost to the school.  Unlike most providers, Apogee also allows schools to custom build the channel lineup that’s the best fit for their residents.

24-Hour Live Support
Our support staff understands the unique ways that students use the Internet and participate in regular, ongoing training covering the most effective ways to address student connectivity issues.  Our support center is managed in-house and powered by an advanced VoIP system providing detailed historical reporting, real-time call volume monitoring and a rigorous quality assurance program centers around regular student feedback.

Mobile & Gaming Device Support
Student support is not just about desktops and laptop computers anymore.  From PDAs to DVRs to handheld devices or gaming systems, we support what students are bringing to campus.

On-Site Coordinator Option
Apogee can also provide a locally hired on-site coordinator to offer support and troubleshooting to students.  Apogee’s many on-site coordinators know the school and the community and work directly with our 24-hour support center to respond to issues whenever hands-on support is required.

Customer Testimonials

“Partnering with Apogee has renewed my faith in managed services. Our partnership has been innovative from the beginning and we’ve been able to collaborate, make improvements and maintain consistently high levels of service.”
-Jonathan Lucia, Director of Residence Life
Birmingham-Southern College

“We were not equipped nor chartered to be an ISP. Turning that business over to Apogee was a good business decision for Ithaca College. It’s been a win-win situation for everybody.”
-Ed Fuller, Director of Information Technology
Ithaca College

“Apogee completely resolved our problems with ResNet. We have been absolutely satisfied. Service and reliability of the network is unmatched. This was the best decision we could have made.”
-Anthony Hambey, Associate Vice President for IT
Birmingham-Southern College

“Students are happy that the registration process is ‘painless’ and that they have direct phone support. The college is happy because we no longer have to spend many hours on dealing with issues in the residence hall, and there are almost no complaints from students or parents.”
-Henk Sonder, Director of Network and Telecommunications
Rhode Island College

“Now we have the bandwidth we need. Students are able to run whatever they like and our network management is greatly reduced.”
-Todd K. Watson, Associate Director, Systems and Networks
Southwestern University

“Apogee enhanced our public image in the eyes of our students and made life a lot better for all of us.”
-Ed Fuller, Director of Information Technology
Ithaca College