{"id":1103,"date":"2017-04-25T14:32:30","date_gmt":"2017-04-25T19:32:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.kanren.net\/?p=1103"},"modified":"2020-09-16T17:12:39","modified_gmt":"2020-09-16T17:12:39","slug":"kanren-officially-launches-prairie-line-express-gigabit-internet-initiative-annual-membership-meeting","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.kanren.net\/kanren-officially-launches-prairie-line-express-gigabit-internet-initiative-annual-membership-meeting\/","title":{"rendered":"KanREN officially launches Prairie Line Express Gigabit Internet Initiative at Annual Membership Meeting"},"content":{"rendered":"

Providing Greater Service and Support to an Expanding Membership<\/span><\/p>\n

April 25, 2017 (Lawrence, Kansas)–<\/span><\/b> KanREN held its Annual Membership Meeting on Wednesday, April 12, 2017 at the KanREN offices at the Bioscience & Technology Business Center in Lawrence, KS. \u00a0The annual event\u00a0facilitated by KanREN Board Chair, Cory Falldine, CIO of Emporia State University, provides members an update on the State of the Consortium, an opportunity to celebrate organizational accomplishments, and seeks member input on the strategic direction of the organization.<\/span><\/p>\n

KanREN Executive Director, Cort Buffington, took the opportunity to highlight KanREN\u2019s 25th<\/sup> Anniversary with the official launch of KanREN\u2019s Prairie Line Express (PLE)\u2014a commitment to bring affordable gigabit Internet options to K-12 and community anchor institutions throughout Kansas.\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n

Buffington shared, <\/span>\u201cPLE is about a focus on teaching and learning, and having the connectivity available to do that. \u00a0We love that it is going to provide higher bandwidth at a lower cost, but our real goal is helping prepare learners for tomorrow by giving schools the connectivity resources they need.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

The effort around PLE began in January by forging partnerships with last-mile providers for connecting members to the KanREN backbone.\u00a0 The resulting commitments led to KanREN partnering with AT&T and others for last-mile delivery to an initial group of 169 Kansas communities.\u00a0 This first-of-its-kind <\/span>undertaking helps bridge the gap by bringing gigabit connectivity to institutions in the national target price range of around $3\/Mbps per month recommended by a number of national education technology organizations. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt has become increasingly clear that securing robust connectivity and access to information is essential for our schools to prepare our students as our next generation\u2019s workforce,\u201d says\u00a0KanREN Board Chair, Falldine. \u00a0\u201cKanREN\u2019s approach with PLE gives us the opportunity to improve schools\u2019 bandwidth while providing a more cost effective model for our school districts.\u00a0 It gives our communities the ability to invest in the future and be cost conservative at the same time.\u00a0 I am excited to be part of an initiative that I genuinely believe is at the heart of the common good of our Kansas communities.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

KanREN\u2019s Board and Committees have also been focused on providing extremely cost-effective, high quality security services and adding value for KanREN members.\u00a0 Several highlights include: <\/span><\/p>\n