WANRack Breaks Ground for Hardee County School District’sNew Private Fiber Network
In a momentous occasion, WANRack, a leading provider of private fiber networks, celebrated the groundbreaking of a cutting-edge private fiber network for the Hardee County School District on Thursday, October 26. The groundbreaking event, held at 11 AM, marked a significant milestone in the district's pursuit of advanced technological solutions to enhance education.
The event was attended by prominent figures from the school district, government officials, and representatives from WANRack. Attendees gathered to break ground on the Hardee County School District's brand-new private fiber network, a robust infrastructure designed to revolutionize how students, teachers, and staff access and interact with digital resources.
The school district will connect seven district buildings spanning 13 miles. 90% of the construction build will be covered by E-Rate, also known as the Schools and Libraries Program of the Universal Service Fund. This fund is administered by the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) under the direction of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The school and the new Florida State match will pay for the other 10%. Hardee County's new network build played a huge part in bringing back the Florida State Match, which will help other rural, unserved, and underserved school districts obtain quality connectivity.
WANRack's innovative approach ensures a reliable, high-speed internet connection for the entire district, providing a foundation for modern learning techniques and digital collaboration. The private fiber network promises enhanced connectivity, improved communication, and a seamless online learning experience for students across The Hardee County School District.
Todd Markel, Information Technology Director for Hardee County School District, said, "Our new fiber infrastructure project will provide our students with faster and more reliable internet connectivity. We want to provide the best possible path to online resources for all our students and staff. We are investing in the future of our students and ensuring they have access to the tools they need to succeed. This project will not only greatly enhance our network capacity but will also reduce costs at the same time. That is a win-win in our book!"
WANRack representatives shared insights into the technical aspects of the network, explaining how it is meticulously engineered to meet the unique requirements of the Hardee County School District. The event concluded with a ceremonial groundbreaking, symbolizing the district's entry into a new era of digital education.
Implementing this private fiber network signifies a significant investment in the future of education in Hardee County. With this advanced infrastructure in place, the school district is poised to nurture the next generation of innovators, thinkers, and leaders. The new network is expected to be completed in June 2024.
About WANRack
WANRack provides high-bandwidth, fiber-based infrastructure and related services to schools, hospitals, libraries, enterprises, and carrier customers throughout the continental United States. Service offerings include E-Rate-compliant lit fiber, dark fiber, and special construction solutions. Headquartered in Overland Park, Kansas, the company provides bespoke fiber solutions, which eliminate countless points of failure found in typical legacy networks. To learn more about WANRack, visit www.wanrack.com.
