IE 11 Not Supported

For optimal browsing, we recommend Chrome, Firefox or Safari browsers.

Nebraska School District, City Discuss Joint Plan for Fiber Optic Network Buildout

The Columbus, Neb., City Council is expected to consider the agreement to share development of the network at a meeting in November.

(TNS) -- COLUMBUS — Columbus Public Schools is looking to go underground while getting district facilities connected to a new fiber optic cable network that could become operational next year.

The CPS school board approved an interlocal agreement Monday to join the city in sharing the costs of building and operating an underground cable network that would connect dozens of school and city facilities.

Columbus City Council is expected to consider the agreement to share development of the network at a meeting next month.

The first step after the city OKs the interlocal agreement would be the selection of an engineering firm to design the communications system, said Leonard Kwapnioski, executive director of technology and operations at CPS.

Once the network design and specifications are drawn up, hopefully before the end of this year, the proposed system would go out for bids from contractors, Kwapnioski said.

The contractor selected would install the underground system during 2017 and provide continuing maintenance.

The interlocal agreement didn’t include any preliminary cost estimate for the proposed cable network.

The proposed partnership between the city and CPS is modeled on a network set up by Fremont Public Schools, the city of Fremont and a third-party vendor, Great Plains Communications of Blair.

Any entities that join the network later would be equal partners in sharing costs.

The CPS technology chief said a new system buried in a trench would replace the school district’s current “aerial” fiber optic network mounted on power poles, providing better redundancy and greater reliability.

The existing system is subject to weather-related hazards, such as ice storms, heavy rain and extreme heat.

The network applications for CPS schools and other facilities would include all internet, phone services, security and data storage. The city has identified about 20 of its facilities that could be connected to the network.

Kwapnioski said the network would resemble a wheel, with spokes (school buildings, administrative offices, maintenance shop, warehouse) all connected to multiple hub sites.

CPS and the city are getting the ball rolling on the new fiber optic system, but the planned network could have a far greater reach for local government and schools. Networks are often overbuilt initially to allow for the sharing of costs as more entities come on board.

Platte County, with the courthouse downtown and jail and probation offices on the city's east side, and the community’s Catholic and Lutheran schools have shown interest in participating in the network.

“The possibilities are endless,” Kwapnioski said.

In other business, the CPS board recognized Stephen Mancuso for receiving the Award of Excellence from the National Academy of Future Physicians and Medical Scientists.

In June, Mancuso represented Columbus High and the state of Nebraska at the Congress of Future Medical Leaders in Boston, Massachusetts.

The CHS junior is the son of Steven and Beth Mancuso.


©2016 the Columbus Telegram (Columbus, Neb.) Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.