University of Richmond Athletics
Spider Club Scores Big With BTI Long Distance Connection
Sept. 25, 2002
UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND, Va. -
BTI Telecom Corp. (BTI), the premiere
integrated communications provider of local, long distance and data services
to businesses in the southeastern U.S, and the University of Richmond have
launched BTI's National Affinity Program to Spider supporters.
BTI's National Affinity Program partners with schools, institutions or
organizations that need to raise funds for a variety of programs, including
academic and athletic scholarships, infrastructure and technology needs,
support staff and special building projects. BTI already has an impressive
list of Affinity Partners that include the University of Richmond's Spider
Club, the Citadel's Brigadier Foundation, East Carolina University's Pirate
Club, and Wake Forest University's Deacon Club, among others.
The Athletic Department at the University of Richmond has worked with its
various partners, from alumni to athletic boosters, to provide business
prospects to BTI. When BTI representatives make sales based on these leads,
the Spider Club receives a percentage royalty on the monthly
telecommunications service of every business sold.
"The National Affinity Program is a win-win proposition--both for the
institutions that participate, and their boosters," said Mark Mitton, BTI
Marketing Director. "BTI is an established local telecommunications
providers offering a comprehensive suite of integrated services paired with
extremely competitive rates. It's a terrific way for business people with
ties to various institutions to support a worthwhile cause while
simultaneously saving on their telecommunications expenses. The revenue a
school or organization can realize from this affinity partnership is
substantial, with no up-front costs," he explained.
"Our revenue sharing partnership with BTI has been financially rewarding, and
is also important from a service point of view, as our football and
basketball radio broadcasts are carried back to Richmond via BTI long
distance lines," said Jim Merritt, Assistant Director of Athletics at the
University of Richmond.
"The broadcasts are then relayed to our local affiliate and carried worldwide
on the Internet. Needless to say, these are not calls that can experience
problems. Spider football and basketball comes through on the air loud and
clear thanks to BTI!"
BTI is a local telecommunications provider offering
a full suite of integrated communications services for business customers
across the Southeast, including local, long distance, data (including private
line and frame relay), DSL, Internet, Web hosting, paging and other enhanced
services. Founded in 1983, BTI serves more than 30,000 customers and
operates 23 sales offices.
The Company owns its facilities-based network of
fourteen Lucent Technologies 5E 2000 digital local switches to serve local
markets, as well as 4 network operations centers with Alcatel 600E digital
long distance switches. BTI's fiber network covers 4,400 route miles across
the eastern United States, from New York to Miami and from Miami to
Nashville, and is one of the largest privately held communications providers
in the country, with annual revenues in excess of $271 million.
For more information about BTI's National Affinity Program, call 1-800-510-1038, or visit the BTI website to find out more about products and services and how you can benefit Spider Club Athletics.