FY 2016 Appropriation

The Utah Education Network (UEN) provides broadband Internet connections, application services, and support services to public schools, colleges, universities, libraries, head starts, and charter schools. Among the cost components is delivering video conferencing and other technology tools for distance-based learning.

Funding History

Funding Issues

Statewide Data Alliance

Encourage students to use already available resources from employment companies; tell them labor market changes quickly, so they need to continually improve their human capital. Education agencies using it to improve job prospects would shift to what's already out there. UEN requested $645,000 ongoing during the 2014GS but were appropriated $345,000 ongoing and $300,000 one-time in 2014GS SB 34. They are requesting the $300,000 one-time be made ongoing.

Sustainability

Makeup of sustainability includes: 1. $2.9 million for circuit operations History of Circuit expenditures Fiscal year Circuits E-Rate Funding Cost to UEN 2008 $11,861,321 $8,000,359 $3,860,962 2009 $13,038,065 $9,132,685 $3,905,380 2010 $14,726,994 $10,869,154 $3,857,840 2011 $15,496,428 $11,519,692 $3,976,736 2012 $16,931,760 $12,706,892 $4,224,868 2013 $18,269,748 $13,786,667 $4,483,081 2014 $20,337,030 $14,157,363 $6,179,667 2015(e) $21,000,000 $14,300,000 $6,700,000 UEN would like the difference between the $6.7 million (FY 2015) and the $3.86 million (FY 2008) 2. $1.12 million a. for 35 new K-12 schools and 52 K-6 schools wanting bandwidth increase b. 19 GB backbone upgrade in Box Elder, Provo, and Nebo school districts c. 7 state backbone upgrades 3. $185,000 Elementary gaps UEN funds 5/6 of all elementary circuits. This brings all to 100%. 4. Network security

Related Publications

Utah Education Network

Appropriation Overview

During the 2015 General Session, the Legislature appropriated for Fiscal Year 2016, $54,128,700 from all sources for Utah Education and Telehealth Network. This is a 14.5 percent increase from Fiscal Year 2015 revised estimated amounts from all sources. The total includes $32,316,400 from the General/Education Funds, an increase of 43.5 percent from revised Fiscal Year 2015 estimates.

Appropriation Adjustments

In addition to statewide compensation and internal service fund cost increases, the following appropriation adjustments were made during the 2015 General Session:

DescriptionOngoingOne-Time Digital Teaching and Learning Program$0$4,000,000
OngoingOne-TimeFinancing Source
$0$4,000,000Education Fund, One-time
Enactment of this legislation likely will not materially impact state revenue. Enactment of this bill appropriates $907,500 one-time from the Education Fund to the Utah Education and Telehealth Network in FY 2015 to begin implementation of the Digital Teaching and Learning Program. The bill also appropriates $50,000,000 one-time and $25,000,000 ongoing from the Education Fund beginning in FY 2016. Of this amount, $50,000,000 one-time and $16,350,000 ongoing is appropriated to the State Board of Education to provide grants to LEAs, hire a private evaluator, and oversee the program as outlined in the bill. The remaining $8,650,000 ongoing is appropriated to the Utah Education and Telehealth Network to provide for infrastructure and technology support, contract with an education consultant, and to administer the program as outlined in the bill.
Statewide Data Alliance$300,000$0
OngoingOne-TimeFinancing Source
$300,000$0Education Fund
Encourage students to use already available resources from employment companies; tell them labor market changes quickly, so they need to continually improve their human capital. Education agencies using it to improve job prospects would shift to what's already out there. UEN requested $645,000 ongoing during the 2014GS but were appropriated $345,000 ongoing and $300,000 one-time in 2014GS SB 34. They are requesting the $300,000 one-time be made ongoing.
Sustainability$0$2,000,000
OngoingOne-TimeFinancing Source
$0$2,000,000Education Fund, One-time
Makeup of sustainability includes: 1. $2.9 million for circuit operations History of Circuit expenditures Fiscal year Circuits E-Rate Funding Cost to UEN 2008 $11,861,321 $8,000,359 $3,860,962 2009 $13,038,065 $9,132,685 $3,905,380 2010 $14,726,994 $10,869,154 $3,857,840 2011 $15,496,428 $11,519,692 $3,976,736 2012 $16,931,760 $12,706,892 $4,224,868 2013 $18,269,748 $13,786,667 $4,483,081 2014 $20,337,030 $14,157,363 $6,179,667 2015(e) $21,000,000 $14,300,000 $6,700,000 UEN would like the difference between the $6.7 million (FY 2015) and the $3.86 million (FY 2008) 2. $1.12 million a. for 35 new K-12 schools and 52 K-6 schools wanting bandwidth increase b. 19 GB backbone upgrade in Box Elder, Provo, and Nebo school districts c. 7 state backbone upgrades 3. $185,000 Elementary gaps UEN funds 5/6 of all elementary circuits. This brings all to 100%. 4. Network security
UEN Equipment$0$4,000,000
OngoingOne-TimeFinancing Source
$0$4,000,000Education Fund, One-time
Replacement of network equipment
Utah Futures - Funding to complete the project$0$2,000,000
OngoingOne-TimeFinancing Source
$0$2,000,000General Fund, One-time
A presentation was given to the Executive Appropriations Committee on September 16, 2014 titled, "Report on the progress of implementing SB34" which discusses privatizing functions associated with UtahFutures. This report, issued from a group consisting of the UtahFutures stakeholders, made the following recommendation, "It is recommended that the state continue its investment in UtahFutures, re-valuate the funding requirements, and partner with stakeholders to assure that UtahFutures2.0 receives adequate resources and support to become a fully functional career and college planning tool." . "UtahFutures.org is Utah's career information system for students, job seekers, employment service providers, [and] educational institutions . . . featuring cutting-edge career planning tools, leading labor market information, job search success skills, education and training options and direct links to Utah employers and employment opportunities" [UtahFutures.org]. UtahFutures.org is provided free of charge. UtahFutures is a joint effort involving GEAR UP (a U.S. Department of Education grant program), Utah State Office of Education, Utah Higher Education Assistance Authority, Utah State Office of Rehabilitation, Department of Workforce Services, and the Utah State Library.
UTN - Connect rural healthcare facilities$0$150,000
OngoingOne-TimeFinancing Source
$0$150,000General Fund, One-time
Installation costs to add rural healthcare facilities (3-6 sites)
UTN - Operational Support$105,000$0
OngoingOne-TimeFinancing Source
$105,000$0General Fund
1 Network engineer, $75,000 + 40% benefits
UTN - Reliability of network$0$108,500
OngoingOne-TimeFinancing Source
$0$108,500General Fund, One-time
1. Redundant network core ($86,600) 2. Off-site server hosting for member health care facilities ($21,900)
UTN - Telecom Costs for Core Network Infrastructure$37,000$0
OngoingOne-TimeFinancing Source
$37,000$0General Fund
4x1 Gig circuits for redundant network core and off-site servers
UTN - Upgrade network equipment$0$243,300
OngoingOne-TimeFinancing Source
$0$243,300General Fund, One-time
Upgrade to core network equipment with maintenance 1. Maintenance of existing network core ($62,800 for 4 years) 2. Web filtering of existing network core ($83,000) 3. Server farm upgrades and expansion ($77,000 4. Test lab upgrade ($20,500)

UEN networks for education, meaning they connect Utah higher education institutions, K-12 traditional and charter schools, and public libraries to the Internet. This measure shows the number of broadband connectivity through UEN. UEN matches the State's costs in connecting Utah schools with E-Rate funding. From FY 2008 to FY 2014, UEN has secured $80,689,945 in E-rate reimbursements for K-12 school, library, and head start program connectivity.

UEN Network Circuits

UEN delivers fully interactive classroom instruction to college and public school students at around 940 classroom locations and around 1,100 registered video conferencing devices throughout the State. UEN's interactive video conferencing (IVC) supports thousands of classes, full degree programs, concurrent enrollment, administrative events, and other IVC activities each year. This measure shows the number of institutions/agencies participating in UEN's IVC. This measure does not have specific targets each fiscal year. Since FY 2009 demand for IVC continues to increase.

UEN Interactive Video Conferencing

UEN licenses and supports a Course Learning Management System (Canvas) for all higher education colleges and universities for online and in-person classes. This measure shows the average total number of concurrent users by academic semester using the UEN-supported Learning Management Systems against total faculty/instructor and student headcount for the fall semester of the academic year.

Students (Avg. by Semester), Vista Blackboard and Canvas Learning

In addition to the key performance measures listed above, UEN also measures its performance in usage of the Pioneer Library and sessions of interactive video conferencing. It also closely monitors network utilization and reliability, among other things, and reports those results monthly to the UEN Governing Board.

Statute

Utah Code Annotated 53B-17 establishes UEN and assigns its responsibilities.

  • UCA 53B-17-102 establishes UEN as a consortium and partnership between public and higher education to support the telecommunications technology, Internet access, and programs/services for the delivery of distance education for educational institutions throughout the state.
  • UCA 53B-17-103 requires the Legislature to provide an appropriation, subject to budget constraints, for the operation of KUED-TV and UEN-TV for the services listed above.
  • UCA 53B-17-104 directs UEN to coordinate the statewide development and implementation of the data network for education.

The Utah Education Network (UEN), a public-private partnership of Utah's public K-12 and higher education institutions, delivers education statewide through video conferencing and other technology-based tools. UEN provides broadband Internet connections, application services, and support services to public schools, colleges, universities, libraries, head starts, and charter schools in the State through shared telecommunications infrastructure and consortium licensing. UEN also provides interactive video conferencing (IVC) and desktop computer video conferencing in delivering courses and instructor led curriculum at around 940 locations across the State and from around the world. UEN operates a public television station, KUEN TV 9, which includes digital channels UEN-TV and MHz Worldview. UEN also works closely with PBS station partner KUED-TV. UEN leverages state appropriations with other grants and E-rate discounts to perform its mission.

UEN's financial resources come from General and Education Fund appropriations, federal grants, federal E-rate discounts, and reimbursement by education entities.

In past years, UEN's budget has been appropriated in numerous line items. Since FY 2008, it has all been appropriated to one line item, allowing UEN maximum flexibility in managing resources.

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COBI contains unaudited data as presented to the Legislature by state agencies at the time of publication. For audited financial data see the State of Utah's Comprehensive Annual Financial Reports.