Ouray Schools Get Connected
By Lavanya Rathnam
TMCnet Contributing Writer
Fiber optic cables have become the preferred means of signal transmission today because it is technologically more advanced than copper wires. They have more resistance to noise and interference and are considered to be safer and more efficient than other kinds of communication cables. They also have low maintenance costs, making them a popular choice for Internet and data transmission.
These advantages of fiber optic cables have caused many organizations to make the switch. One such organization is the Ouray school district in Colorado. During this school year, Ouray schools have a new connection with Eagle-Net Alliance, the state cooperative fiber optic network. This alliance had completed laying the fiber optic cable last fall, but the operations had to be suspended because of an order by the National Telecommunications and Information Association pertaining to environmental problems. After this issue got cleared, it was time to light up for Ouray schools.
With this connection, Ouray students and teachers are enjoying higher bandwidth capacity, to the tune of 100 Mbps. This is three times more than the previous bandwidth of the school which was extremely slow. Also, the school authorities are happy with the overall speed and performance. They have not found any glitch in fiber optic installation so far. As a result, teachers are able to use more Internet tools to impart education.
This switch to Eagle Net has given a big boost to the school. Other schools in this region have not made this switch either because they are weighing their options or they are bound by contracts with existing service providers. This move by the Ouray school district is leading the way for higher network speeds. It is hoped that other schools will also join the bandwagon to make the most out of what technology can offer.