BURLINGTON—State Senator Beth Bye (D-West Hartford) announced today that the Connecticut State Library Board has approved a grant of $29,400 for the Burlington Public Library for a high-speed internet fiber optic network connection to the Connecticut Education Network.
Funding for the connection was included in the 2015 state bonding budget, which Sen. Bye voted for; the money was approved for release by the State Bond Commission in May 2016.
“High-speed internet connections are an important part of Connecticut’s growth, both for our students and for our businesses,” Sen. Bye said. “Connecticut’s investment in this high-speed internet connection for the Burlington Public Library and for Burlington residents is proof that the General Assembly is working hard on behalf of our citizens to improve their quality of life and their opportunities for success and advancement.”
The Connecticut Education Network (CEN) is part of Connecticut’s secure “Nutmeg Network”, whose purpose is to deliver reliable, high-speed internet access and data transport to its members throughout Connecticut. Established in 2000 to integrate high speed fiber optics networks into institutions of education statewide, CEN helps deliver on the promise of equality in education by providing access to technology that schools and libraries would not be able to afford on their own.