Overton School System Strikes Internet Deal Increasing Bandwidth

Overton County Board of Education has agreed to a three-year extension with its current internet provider.

Interim School Director Donnie Holman said usually, the school system enters a yearly agreement, but ENA offered to quadruple the bandwidth if a long term deal was signed.

“So, we are going to be paying the same amount, but we did sign the contract saying we would do it for three more years with them,” Holman said. “The benefit we are reaping from that, it looks like to me as a win-win for us.”

Holman said schools have not experienced connectivity problems, but some teachers have voiced concerns about bandwidth if testing transitions to online. Holman said combining that with the additional devices the district has purchased, the upgrade was needed.

“It (The price) sounds high to me, but when I have mention it to others, they say that is a steal of a deal,” Holman said.

Now, the school system’s internet speed sits at two gigabits per second. Holman said no extra work will be required to gain the bandwidth. The agreement was approved during Tuesday’s Board of Education meeting.