Utah Education Network (UEN)
(Application, Fact Sheet)
The $13.401 million grant "will allow the University of Utah to enhance and expand the Utah Education Network (UEN), which currently provides Internet service to more than 300 schools and other community anchor institutions, stated the NTIA in a press release of today.
Additionally, Commerce reported the project will extend fiber-based Ethernet broadband services to 130 additional elementary schools, public libraries, charter schools, and Head Start centers across the state.Included in the federally supported Head Start early childhood centers to which UEN's digital facilities will be extended is the Ute Head Start Center in Fort Duchesne serving the Utintah and Ouray Indian Reservation. The Reservation, of the federally recognized Ute Nation of 3,157 Native Americans, is the second largest reservation in Indian Country, behind the Navajo Nation.
Project Recommendation from Gov. Herbert
As we reported in November, the UNE project was 1 of 19 separate projects, from 10 applicants, to be recommended for NTIA funding by Utah Governor Gary R. Herbert (R-UT).
“In today’s society, if you don’t have regular access to high-speed Internet, you don't have access to all the educational and employment opportunities it provides. Fast, reliable Internet connections can help Americans gain job training and skills, open doors for small businesses, and give students the opportunity to explore vast libraries and archives from their local school or library,” said Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information and NTIA Administrator Lawrence E. Strickling, in the prepared agency release announcing the award.
“Projects like the grant announced today are laying the foundation for strong, sustainable economic growth for years to come,” concluded Strickling.
