(1) The legislature finds that:(a) Idaho does not have a statewide coordinated and funded high-bandwidth education network;
(b) Such a network will enable required and advanced courses, concurrent enrollment and teacher training to be deliverable to all public high schools through an efficiently-managed statewide infrastructure; and
(c) Aggregating and leveraging demand at the statewide level will provide overall benefits and efficiencies in the procurement of telecommunications services, including high-bandwidth connectivity, internet access, purchases of equipment, federal subsidy program expertise and other related services.
(2)
As used in this section and in section
67-5745E, Idaho Code, "Idaho Education Network (IEN)" means the coordinated, statewide telecommunications distribution system for distance learning for each public school, including two-way interactive video, data, internet access and other telecommunications services for providing distance learning. The term also includes connections to each institution of higher education and other locations as necessary to facilitate distance education, teacher training and other related services.
Idaho Statutes