Mediacom Business, a division of Mediacom Communications Corporation, has announced a partnership with the Springfield Public School District (SPS) to establish a robust fiber infrastructure for the district’s wide-area network (WAN). This network will provide a secure private broadband connection, facilitating data and communications across more than 60 school facilities.
In 2023, SPS issued a Request for Proposals for WAN connectivity, and Mediacom Business’s proposal was selected as the winning bid. By July, the fiber construction and technical work needed to connect Mediacom’s network to the SPS network were completed in preparation for the new school year. This partnership involved significant technical collaboration and resources from both Mediacom and the school district, which will utilize funding from the FCC’s E-Rate Program to support the project.
With the school year now in full swing, Mediacom Business manages a fiber connection providing 10 Gbps of connectivity to each SPS building, alongside a 40 Gbps connection to the district’s administration site and offsite data center. These ultra-high-speed connections enhance daily operations for staff, teachers, and students, enabling Springfield Public Schools to effectively implement its innovative online learning platform, Launch. This virtual learning platform partners with 342 Missouri school districts, granting over 650,000 students access to educational resources otherwise unavailable in smaller communities.
As the demand for online educational content continues to increase, our Launch platform has become vital to educating students in Springfield and all across Missouri,” said Dr. Nichole Lemmon, Director of Launch Virtual Learning. “Without the broadband connection we have through Mediacom, we would not be able to adequately provide this critical educational tool to thousands of Missouri students.
The Springfield Schools Police Department (SSPD) also benefits from the enhanced broadband, improving security efforts across the district. The new infrastructure supports additional security cameras, including those on school buses. Video footage from the cameras can now automatically download to the SSPD communications team as the buses arrive at school, allowing for effective monitoring of student safety.
As our district relies more heavily on technology for online learning and public safety, a robust and reliable broadband connection is crucial for our daily operations,” said Bruce Douglas, Chief Information Officer for SPS. “The best internet connection is one we never have to think about, enabling us to focus on educating the next generation. We applaud Mediacom for providing such a connection to SPS.
Mediacom Business has over 20 years of expertise in delivering advanced enterprise-level broadband solutions like those for the SPS WAN,” said Mark Finch, Group Vice President of Business Services for Mediacom. “We value the significant impact education has on our communities and are excited to support Springfield Public School District’s online learning initiatives through our broadband network. We look forward to a successful partnership for years to come.
