The organizers of the first NetDay meant to solve that infrastructure dilemma in the state of California. Modeled on the success of communities united in purpose throughout American history, California's NetDay was the first attempt in the country to bring wiring infrastructure for networks to a large number of schools quickly. To make it happen, unions waived their rules; companies provided planning, materials, and training; and teachers, other school employees, and parents provided input on technology development. Before President Clinton announced plans for the first NetDay in September 1995, only about an eighth of California's 13,000 schools had the wiring in place to link schoolrooms to the Internet. On a single day less than six months later, over 50,000 volunteers wired another quarter of the schools in the state.

"Today's telecommunications technology brings new resources into the classroom. It links learners together in new ways. It supports teachers. It brings the community to the school and the school to the community.

" Linda Roberts, former project director of the
United States Congressional Office of Technology Assessment,
testifying before the Senate Committee on Commerce,
Science, and Transportation in 1992