Clovis Community College (CCC) in New Mexico will be the host site for the Statewide Educational Network (SEN), connecting all public schools to high-speed internet. Government Technology reported that the initiative, which has been in the works for a few years, will optimize connectivity to schools, allow sharing of resources, and reduce cybersecurity risk.
According to Broadband Program Manager Ovidiu Viorica, the two-phase project will aim to provide better internet speed, connectivity, and expert network management. “For New Mexico schools and school districts, the state is remote, rural, and sparsely populated in many areas, and (internet technology) expertise is not uniformly available,” Viorica said.
The project includes upgrading electrical and cooling systems within CCC campus facilities to house SEN nodes. According to Viorica, CCC will not incur a cost for the installation and maintenance of the nodes.
Along with public schools, the Statewide Educational Network will extend to libraries, higher education, museums, and state parks. The Office of Broadband Access and Expansion operates the project, using the federal BEAD program funds.
Viorica added that the CCC hub will connect with an existing central point in Albuquerque, intertwining campuses to “strengthen connection and cybersecurity.” He said high-capacity links that run about 100-400 gigabits per second will connect all the nodes across the state. Norman Kia, vice president for IT and operations, said the project isn’t meant to compete with local internet service providers; it is strictly to help schools that can’t get fast, reliable internet.
The board unanimously voted in favor of the project on December 6. The next step is to begin construction on the nodes. Viorica said the goal is to finish the project by July 1, 2024, according to Government Technology.
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