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New Mexico District Deploys High-Speed Network

By: David Nagel

9/4/2008

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Gallup-McKinley County Schools in New Mexico has signed a five-year, $7.4 million contract with Qwest Communications to roll out high-speed services throughout several locations within the rural district.

According to Qwest, the high-speed connections will be used to help drive access to teaching and learning services, including distance learning, AP course delivery, and after-hours classes.

"One of our goals is to enhance learning by creating easy access to educational resources," said David Oakes, technology director for Gallup-McKinley, in a prepared statement. "With Qwest, we can enable virtual classrooms; and a curriculum that benefits teachers, faculty, students and the community."

The deployment will see Qwest's Metro Optical Ethernet used to connect 21 locations in the area, and it will provide network bandwidth speeds of about 400 Mbps for each school. Qwest said it worked with the district to help secure E-rate funding for the program.

Gallup-McKinley County Schools serves 12,000 students in 19 elementary schools, seven middle schools, and eight high schools.


About the author: Dave Nagel is the executive editor for 1105 Media's educational technology online publications and electronic newsletters. He can be reached at dnagel@1105media.com.

Have any additional questions? Want to share your story? Want to pass along a news tip? Contact Dave Nagel, executive editor, at dnagel@1105media.com.