The Universal Service Fund (USF) is a fund maintained by the National Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (NTRC) to finance projects which provide telecommunication connectivity to rural and underserved communities. The fourth project funded by the Universal Service Fund was completed at the New Horizon Rehabilitation Center (NHRC) located in Harris’ village. This Project will be funded and maintained for a five (5) year period, ending in 2026.
The NHRC was constructed in March of 2013 for juveniles in conflict with the law. The NHRC currently provides rehabilitation services to 30 residents both males and females with the hope that they will be reintegrated into their respective communities.
The Local Area Network (LAN) was fully commissioned in March 2021 with the installation of fiber and CAT6 cabling throughout the facility. The services offered on the network include Internet service with speed of 10Mbps, various access points throughout the facility to minimize the rate of dropped out calls and data issues, Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) telephones and direct connections into the government Private Branch Exchange (PBX) telephone system, a Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) gateway for ancillary and emergency calls, as well as, a server for data storage and sharing. Other services include the introduction of both wired and wireless internet connections in the computer lab and allocation for Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) surveillance. The network is secured by a two layer system to protect the equipment against power outages and security breach attempts. These additions will add to the facility connection quality, dependability and security, as well as, the furtherance of the education and vocational training of all residents.
The Universal Service Fund continues to welcome project proposals that align with the Commissions’ goals and meet the specific criteria. For more information about project proposal submission, kindly contact the NTRC office at (869) 466 6872 or the website (www.ntrc.kn).