LONGMONT, CO –  NextLight is now providing internet service to the St. Vrain Valley Schools, plugging them into a 2-gigabit fiber-optic internet connection. The service, provided by Longmont Power & Communications, begins July 1.

This new service gives St. Vrain a high-speed connection to the wider internet, something that is vital to student learning, said Joe McBreen, chief technology officer for St. Vrain Valley Schools.

“NextLight fiber services have exceeded our expectations for dependability, speed, and customer service,” McBreen said. “Bandwidth is a critical component of preparing our students for a highly competitive future.”

Under the agreement, SVVSD can upgrade their connection up to 5 gigabits if the district wants additional bandwidth.

Longmont Power & Communications general manager Tom Roiniotis said the utility is proud to be chosen by the school district again. St. Vrain has long been a supporter of the citywide fiber-optic broadband system, awarding a competitive bid to LPC in 2013 to provide the district with a 10-gigabit wide-area network (WAN).

“When we first envisioned NextLight, we knew that high-speed fiber had the potential to transform every aspect of our community: how we work, how we live, and how we learn,” Roiniotis said. “We’re pleased to have NextLight once again enhance St. Vrain’s plans to further enhance our children’s education through technology.”

The WAN, an internal network that connects all the Longmont schools and the district’s data center, enabled the district to get 10 times its previous bandwidth at a savings of $100,000 per year. The WAN service consists of two active 10-gigabit connections to each school facility, with one operating as the main connection and the other as a backup.

About Longmont Power & Communications

Longmont Power & Communications is a community-owned, non-profit electric and broadband services utility that operates under the direction of Longmont City Council. Established in 1912, our goal is to deliver electric and communications services that provide outstanding value to our customer–owners. In 2014, we began to build and operate the NextLight fiber-optic broadband system, which has made Longmont the first “gigabit city” in Colorado. To learn more, visit  www.LongmontColorado.gov/lpc.

About St. Vrain Valley Schools

St. Vrain Valley Schools is the educational home of more than 32,000 of Colorado’s students. The seventh-largest school district in the state, St. Vrain Valley operates 55 schools and programs that are spread over 411 square miles and serves 13 different communities that make up the St. Vrain Valley School District: eastern Boulder, Broomfield, Dacono, Erie, Firestone, Frederick, Hygiene, Longmont, Lyons, Mead, Niwot, Peaceful Valley, and Raymond. St. Vrain Valley Schools is nationally and internationally recognized for excellence in pursuit of its mission to educate each student in a safe learning environment so that they may develop to their highest potential and become contributing citizens.