Comments recommend expansion of existing research and education network infrastructure to connect all U.S. “anchor institutions”

Internet2 together with 27 national, state and regional research and education network organizations, jointly filed comments to the FCC on January 27, 2010 to help inform the development of its National Broadband Plan, to be delivered to Congress in March, 2010. The filing recommends that the plan build on the extensive investment the research and education community has already made in national network infrastructure, leveraging the human expertise and collaborations they have already developed, in order to bring advanced broadband connectivity to the nation’s “community anchor institutions.’

The joint comments specifically address how the FCC plan could spur economic growth through strategic investments in high capacity networks that today connect community anchor institutions like universities, community colleges, hospitals, libraries, K-12 schools, and public safety entities. The filing states, “investing in these connections will ensure that these institutions have the capacity they need to fulfill their missions to serve their communities; help stimulate the demand for broadband; and most importantly promote jobs and boost the economy.”

According to the filing, the best way to address the current market failure with regard to the provision of community anchor broadband needs is the establishment of a "Unified Community Anchor Network” (UCAN), led by the research and education community. This community is already skilled in activating public-private partnerships to create networking capabilities, and already has the expertise in terms of technology and collaboration needed to turn the UCAN into a reality. Its not-for-profit focus and commitment to innovative support for U.S. scientific endeavors also make the research and education community the most appropriate choice.

Gary Bachula, Internet2 vice president for external relations, underlines the leadership credentials of the Internet2 community, which, in partnership with regional and state research and education networks, already connects an estimated one-third of all community anchor institutions in the U.S. "Our community understands how significantly the broadband needs of anchor institutions differ from that of residential users. We have a successful track record for bringing together diverse national, state and regional networking partners and resources to deliver not just high-capacity broadband infrastructure, but the kinds of services, applications and rich educational content that can benefit and equip Americans for their futures."

Joining the filing with Internet2 are national networking organizations National LambdaRail, The Quilt, and StateNets, and 23 regional and state R&E networks that currently provide advanced networking in 36 states: 3ROX (Pennsylvania, West Virginia), CENIC (California, Arizona and Nevada), Florida Lambda Rail (Florida), Great Plains Network (Oklahoma, South Dakota, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Arkansas), i-Light (Indiana), Kan- Ed (Kansas), Kentucky Regional Optical Network (Kentucky), LEARN (Texas), LONI (Louisiana), MAGPI (Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey), MCNC (North Carolina), Mid Atlantic Crossroads (DC, Virginia, and Maryland), MOREnet  (Missouri), NEREN (Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont), NYSERNet (New York), OARnet (Ohio), OSHEAN (Rhode Island), Pacific Northwest Gigapop, (Alaska, Hawaii, Washington, Idaho, Montana), UEN (Utah), University of Memphis (Tennessee), University of Utah (Utah), University of Wisconsin Milwaukee (Wisconsin) and WiscNet (Wisconsin).  Also joining the filing was the Health Information Management Systems Society, a national organization representing 23,000 health IT personnel.

To read the full filing, download the PDF at: http://bit.ly/dyLuKc