Utah Education and Telehealth Network Unveils State-of-the-Art Broadband Network Operations Center Housed at University of Utah

Governor Gary Herbert will be addressing the audience and cutting a virtual ribbon in celebration of the launch. Other VIP guests include Ray Timothy, Executive Director, UETN, former Utah governor Mike Leavitt joining by video, and Dr. Robert Wagner, Executive Director of Regional Campuses and Distance Education, Utah State University. Additionally, the audience will connect to Alpine school district teacher Chad Greenwood's anatomy/physiology class by live interactive video conferencing (IVC) to demonstrate some of the current initiatives taking place in K-12 public schools, higher education and technical colleges around the state.

"UETN's state-wide broadband delivery model, which connects more than 1,500 Utah schools, universities, libraries, clinics and hospitals, is one other states seek to emulate, so we are thrilled to announce the opening of our new Operations Center," said Ray Timothy, Executive Director, UETN. "Strengthening our already dynamic network support services, UETN's new Operations Center marks a significant step toward 24/7 hour in-house coverage."                                                                                                                            

UETN's origins reach back to 1956 when a research proposal on educational use of closed circuit TV was submitted. Two years later, KUED-TV signed on the air in 1958 formalizing a collaboration between higher and public education. In the 1970's, microwave technology made analog video conferencing possible and in the early nineties, the Utah State Legislature formally establish UEN as the statewide delivery system for education in Utah. Today UETN delivers a ground-breaking statewide broadband network, three public television channels, distance learning, telehealth services and comprehensive online educational resources by combining decades of trusted services from the Utah Education Network and the Utah Telehealth Network to improve education and healthcare in Utah. UETN serves over 800,000 learners, and educational technology support for over 14,000 teachers and telehealth professionals, helping citizens maximize their educational opportunities across the state.

"The Operations Center technicians and engineers manage everything from slowdowns and connectivity interruptions to security threats in order to keep Utahns' libraries, public and higher education institutions, technical schools and hospitals seamlessly connected," said James Stewart, Chief Technology Officer, UETN. "Boosting staff collaboration levels, our team is now located together in one place, and powerful additional capabilities including real-time network visualization and supplementary monitoring tools have been added, strengthening problem resolution."

About The Utah Education and Telehealth Network:

One of the nation's premier education networks, The Utah Education and Telehealth Network brings together two well-established organizations that provide critical statewide services to Utah: The Utah Education Network (UEN) and the Utah Telehealth Network (UTN). An innovator in broadband and broadcast delivery of statewide educational and telehealth resources, UETN's robust network connects all Utah school districts, schools, and higher education institutions to quality educational resources.

Providing network, application and support services to more than 1,500 schools, colleges and libraries, UETN also serves hospitals, clinics and health departments in urban, suburban and rural areas of the state.

Contact: 
Barbara Thatcher 
408-701-7528 
[email protected]        

SOURCE Utah Education and Telehealth Network (UETN)