Small Tree receives $3.4M Defense funding for networking system

Eau Claire, Wis. — Small Tree Communications, which makes network hardware for Mac OS X systems, is to receive $3.4 million in federal appropriations to make battlefield communications technology for the U.S. Army.

The money is part of the fiscal year 2006 Defense Appropriations Bill. Small Tree credits U.S. representative Dave Obey, D-Wausau, with obtaining the funding opportunity.

"We're eager to begin working on the development of a faster and more secure communications
network protocol for the United States Army in its efforts to help protect our country," Small Tree president Corky Seeber said in a statement on Tuesday.

The company has previously done work for the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory and Los Alamos National Laboratories.