Hughes Awarded GSA Distance Learning Support BPA; Tony Bardo Quoted

The General Services Administration has awarded Hughes Network Systems a five-year, $15M blanket purchase agreement to manage a global satellite network designed to support government distance learning programs for the U.S. government workforce.

Hughes said Tuesday it will provide broadband services to the Government Education and Training Network, a multiagency consortium that uses interactive television to remotely train employees.

Tony Bardo, assistant vice president of Hughes’ government solutions business, said the company has supported the GETN program over the past decade and that the effort promotes online-based organizational training of employees across dispersed locations.

The company expects its turnkey broadcast network to reach more than 1K downlink sites, five uplink sites, 44 international sites and 21 broadcast studios.

GETN participants will also have access to the HughesON broadband service for wired and wireless satellite connectivity at select facilities.

Convergent Media Systems will help Hughes maintain, schedule content and install applications for the program’s satellite network.

The Federal Aviation Administration, U.S. Air Force, Defense Health Agency and Justice Department are among government entities that use televised training services via GETN.