Lansing-based Arialink Thursday announced a contract to bring its fiber optic network and Internet services to the Eaton Intermediate School District. 

The value of the deal was not immediately disclosed.

The Eaton Intermediate School District (EISD) Wide Area Network will link county K-12 school districts and the Eaton ISD to provide unprecedented, collaborative opportunities for sharing software, curriculum, classes, data, and technology expertise.

Once constructed, the network will provide a significant increase in bandwidth and high speed Internet access to meet the growing needs of students and educators in the following school districts: Charlotte Public Schools, Eaton Rapids Public Schools, Grand Ledge Public Schools, Maple Valley Public Schools and Potterville Public Schools.

The EISD Wide Area Network will give students access to classes unavailable in their district, such as advanced math and foreign language courses. These classes could be offered with a “live” instructor, who would interact with students in another classroom, or another school, or in a college setting. The network would allow enhanced access to on-demand videos to supplement instruction. Reliable, high-speed data transmission will allow sharing of software and resources not previously available.

As a result of this investment in technology, educators, administrators and students in the EISD will see an increase in opportunities for all schools of their districts to access the technological and academic tools necessary for success in the 21st Century. By using Arialink’s Statewide Education Peering Network, the EISD will have the opportunity to partner with other regional customers like the Ingham Intermediate School District, Allegan Area Education Services Agency, Muskegon Area ISD, Lansing Community College, and Michigan Virtual University. These partnerships can leverage shared technologies to enhance the lifelong learning goals of all users.

Additionally, by virtue of bringing Arialink’s fiber-optic network to Eaton County, there will be significant positive economic and residential impact to the community.  Businesses, health care facilities and libraries will be able to take advantage of Arialink’s network, allowing these institutions to become competitive in today’s technology-driven marketplace. The presence of Arialink’s network will help facilitate future plans of offering high speed Internet and phone services to the underserved residents of Eaton County.

More at www.arialink.com or www.eaton.k12.mi.us.