KanREN partners with IdeaTek on Broadband Acceleration Grant project that benefits Wichita State University and Rural Sedgwick County
IdeaTek has been awarded a Broadband Acceleration Grant (BAG 6.0) from the Kansas Department of Commerce, Office of Broadband Development, for a fiber broadband project in Sedgwick County. The Kansas Research and Education Network (KanREN) is a partner in the project and is contributing matching funds. The project will bring fiber to underserved rural residents and will also strengthen network capacity for Wichita State University (WSU).
Expanding Access for Rural Residents
The project will bring fiber broadband to underserved rural residents of Sedgwick County. Reliable, high-speed connectivity helps rural households and businesses get to education, healthcare, economic opportunity, and essential services, and this investment moves the region closer to the state's connectivity goals.
Strengthening Connectivity for Wichita State University
The project also supports an effort already underway between KanREN and WSU. Once the project is complete, IdeaTek will provide fiber capacity to help improve network capacity and performance for WSU at a fraction of the cost originally estimated.
"Reliable, high-capacity connectivity is essential to everything Wichita State does, from teaching and learning to research and innovation," said Ken Harmon, Wichita State University Chief Information Officer. "This project will help us connect key facilities, including the National Institute for Aviation Research's facility at the former Kansas Coliseum, to our main campus with the bandwidth our researchers need today and in the future. We appreciate the Kansas Office of Broadband Development's investment and look forward to working with KanREN and IdeaTek to bring these benefits to our students, faculty, and the Sedgwick County community."
WSU is a major research, education, and employment driver for the region, and better connectivity supports its students, faculty, researchers, and community partners.
A Long-Standing Partnership
KanREN and IdeaTek have worked together for years to deliver next-generation, secure connectivity to KanREN members, including colleges and universities, K-12 schools, state and local government, hospitals, and libraries. IdeaTek's open access, non-discriminatory business practices have helped KanREN improve connectivity and lower the cost of providing world-class network services across Kansas. IdeaTek also has a strong record of completing grant-funded projects in Kansas on time.
"We're honored to receive this award from the Kansas Office of Broadband Development, and we're proud to partner with KanREN on a project that serves both rural Sedgwick County families and one of the state's leading research universities," said Thomas Garrett, IdeaTek's Vice President of Business Development. "This project shows what's possible when public investment, private providers, and community anchor institutions work together. We look forward to building this network and delivering the fast, reliable connectivity these communities need to thrive."
"We're grateful to the Kansas Office of Broadband Development for investing in this project, and we look forward to working with IdeaTek to deliver its benefits to Sedgwick County residents, businesses, and students," said KanREN's Executive Director Chris Crook.
About KanREN
The Kansas Research and Education Network (KanREN) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides high-speed network connectivity, access to exclusive research networks and communities, and expert support for Kansas community anchor institutions. Learn more at www.kanren.org.
