On June 2, 2026, Utah achieved a significant milestone in its initiative to provide high-speed fiber connectivity to every public school in the state. Leaders from tribal, state, and community organizations gathered at Navajo Mountain High School to celebrate the completion of a critical fiber connection in one of the state's most remote regions.
The project concludes a major effort to ensure digital access for students, extending fiber through San Juan County areas including Blanding, Montezuma Creek, and Monument Valley before reaching Navajo Mountain.
The new infrastructure replaces a limited microwave connection with high-speed fiber, offering improved reliability and speed. Beyond school use, the connection delivers broadband to surrounding communities, expanding access to library services, telehealth, and educational resources.
Sonia Nez, Executive Director of the Navajo Nation Broadband Office, stated that the connection allows students at Navajo Mountain High School to research college applications at the same speed as those in Salt Lake City. She noted that the infrastructure enables teachers to use video lessons and virtual labs without buffering issues. Nez also mentioned that her office has secured funding to expand broadband access to households throughout the Navajo Nation.
Jeff Egly, Associate Director of IT at the Utah Education and Telehealth Network (UETN), said the infrastructure on the path to Navajo Mountain also benefits businesses, wireless towers, and other communities along the route.
The 10-year project involved a 200-mile fiber network construction led by Emery Telcom. The initiative was initiated by UETN and relied on a public-private partnership involving various agencies. Brock Johansen, CEO of Emery Telcom, explained that the project required funding from multiple state and federal agencies.
Contributing partners included the San Juan School District, the Navajo Nation, the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT), and the Utah Navajo Health System.
UETN Executive Director Spencer Jenkins stated that the organization strives to provide equal opportunities for education regardless of whether a location is urban or at Navajo Mountain. He noted that technology and connection are essential for community and economic development.
