Arizona District Implements Fiber Optic Network with E-Rate Support

Nogales Unified School District #1 in Arizona has completed the implementation of a 100 percent fiber optic network for high speed Internet access and data, video and voice over IP (VoIP) transport.

According to Alejandro Lopez, information technology director for the district, Nogales needed to update its network technology to support distance learning applications, to improve video quality and speed and to allow students and teachers to take advantage of new educational opportunities through increased bandwidth in schools and administrative locations. "The goal of our department is to make technology an effective tool in the district so our students will be prepared to use technology as a tool in everyday life," he said in a prepared statement.

The district's new fiber optic network is provided by Conterra Broadband Services, and the multi-year contract is "partially funded through the federal Universal Service E-Rate program," according to the company. The new network is a point-to-point fiber network that provides each school facility in the district with 1 gigabit per second "and is scalable to 100 gigabits per second with no supplementary construction."

The district plans to use the fiber optic network to support online student testing, credit courses, advanced placement programs, certifications for district staff members and professional development support.

Nogales Unified School District #1 is located in southern Arizona and serves approximately 6,200 students in six elementary, two middle and two high schools.

About the Author

Leila Meyer is a technology writer based in British Columbia. She can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • Abstract AI circuit board pattern

    Nonprofit LawZero to Work Toward Safer, Truthful AI

    Turing Award-winning AI researcher Yoshua Bengio has launched LawZero, a nonprofit aimed at developing AI systems that prioritize safety and truthfulness over autonomy.

  • abstract pattern of cybersecurity, ai and cloud imagery

    Report Identifies Malicious Use of AI in Cloud-Based Cyber Threats

    A recent report from OpenAI identifies the misuse of artificial intelligence in cybercrime, social engineering, and influence operations, particularly those targeting or operating through cloud infrastructure. In "Disrupting Malicious Uses of AI: June 2025," the company outlines how threat actors are weaponizing large language models for malicious ends — and how OpenAI is pushing back.

  • tutor and student working together at a laptop

    You've Paid for Tutoring. Here's How to Make Sure It Works.

    As districts and states nationwide invest in tutoring, it remains one of the best tools in our educational toolkit, yielding positive impacts on student learning at scale. But to maximize return on investment, both financially and academically, we must focus on improving implementation.

  • red brick school building with a large yellow "AI" sign above its main entrance

    New National Academy for AI Instruction to Provide Free AI Training for Educators

    In an effort to "transform how artificial intelligence is taught and integrated into classrooms across the United States," the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), in partnership with Microsoft, OpenAI, Anthropic, and the United Federation of Teachers, is launching the National Academy for AI Instruction, a $23 million initiative that will provide access to free AI training and curriculum for all AFT members, beginning with K-12 educators.