Tag Archives: networks

R&E Networks deliver high performance, open access to information

In its December 14, 2017 meeting, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted to roll back provisions that prevent Internet Service Providers from blocking or slowing particular parts of the Internet in favor of others. This is the concept known as “net neutrality.”

There is concern that rolling back net neutrality protections will have a negative impact on access to information and services vital for our schools, community colleges, universities, health care institutions, and other members of the research and education community.

The Quilt is a national coalition of Research and Education Networks, or RENs. The Quilt has always been and remains committed to supporting the missions of our member networks and will continue working to support the efforts of RENs to ensure that open access delivery models remain available to all stakeholders. Essential to our members are the concepts of transparency and control. As nonprofits, RENs are governed by boards and advisory committees made up of constituents who set the policies that determine how services are delivered. RENs do not block or discriminate against any legal applications or content traversing their networks and provide their user communities with operational visibility.

RENs are committed to making all of the Internet available to all users, and use a number of techniques to ensure the Internet performs well for users and does not limit access to services and content they desire. The Quilt conducts a rigorous RFP process to choose qualified vendors of Internet service that includes assurances that the full Internet is accessible, service is reliable, and prices are low. The Quilt’s 2018 Commodity RFP schedule and key milestones can be found here. Additional information and details are available in this announcement.

RENs also make direct “peering” connections with content providers where large amounts of traffic are exchanged. RENs and Internet2 also expand their peering capabilities with additional peering arrangements available through their networks. Additionally, content distribution networks operated by Akamai, Netflix and others are hosted inside REN networks to improve performance and access. It is this comprehensive, cost-conscious approach to maintaining great networking performance, reliability, and access that make RENs so special.

When the R&E community originally built the Internet, the principle of a free and open network was a key component to the innovation and evolution that led to the Internet as we know it today. Without it, we could not have created a network community of equals across different disciplines among the private and public sector worldwide. It is clear any change to that fundamental principle will change inter-networking which is why our primary focus is to make sure that the research and education community participates in a global Internet in an unrestricted capacity for all innovators.

Deep dive on E-Rate 2.0 and what it means for R&E networks

The Federal Communications Commission voted 3-2 on Thursday to dramatically boost spending to bring high-speed Internet access to schools and libraries in poor or rural areas, a move that would likely increase Americans’ phone bills by about $2 a year.

The FCC also is mandating higher Internet speeds in rural areas for consumers.

E-Rate is the nation’s largest program supporting education technology. Today, the FCC implemented a fundamental reset of the program, the first such effort since the program’s creation 18 years ago, so that it can keep pace with the exploding demands for ever-faster Internet service placed on school and library networks by digital learning applications, which often rely on individually connected tablets and laptops.

The FCC Order adopted yesterday aimed at closing this connectivity gap by making more funding available for libraries and schools to purchase broadband connectivity capable of delivering gigabit service over the next five years. The Order also provides schools and libraries additional flexibility and options for purchasing broadband services to meet their Internet capacity needs in the most cost-effective way possible.

The Order builds on action taken by the FCC in July to meet another critical need: robust Wi-Fi networks inside libraries and schools capable of supporting individualized learning. The July Order freed up funds for Wi-Fi through improved fiscal management and by ending or phasing out legacy services like paging and phone service. The July Order also increased program fairness by ensuring all schools and libraries have equitable access to funding for Wi-Fi.

Thursday’s Order also takes further steps to improve the overall administration of the program and maximizes the options schools and libraries have for purchasing affordable high-speed broadband connectivity.

Included in yesterday’s Order were items that The Quilt recommended to the FCC through its written comments in the proceeding.

  • Suspending the requirement that applicants seek funding for large up-front construction costs over several years, and allowing applicants to pay their share of one-time, up-front construction costs over multiple years
  • Equalizing the treatment of schools and libraries seeking support for dark fiber with those seeking support for lit fiber.  Dark fiber leases allow the purchase of capacity without the service of transmitting data – lighting the fiber. Dark fiber can be an especially cost-effective option for smaller, rural districts
  • Allowing schools and libraries to build high-speed broadband facilities themselves when that is the most cost-effective option, subject to a number of safeguards
  • Increasing the certainty and predictability of funding for Wi-Fi by expanding the five-year budget approach to providing more equitable support for internal connections – known as category two – through funding year 2019

Two other provisions were included in yesterday’s order:

  • Providing an incentive for state support of last-mile broadband facilities through a match from E-Rate of up to 10 percent of the cost of construction, with special consideration for Tribal schools
  • Requiring carriers that receive subsidies from the universal service program for rural areas – called the High Cost program – to offer high-speed broadband to schools and libraries located in geographic areas receiving those subsidies at rates reasonably comparable to similar services in urban areas

Where it once was revolutionary to connect a computer lab down the hall to the Internet, harnessing the full value of digital learning today means enabling all students to go online from their desk or from any library workspace. While schools and libraries are now on a path to providing robust Wi-Fi for students, teachers and patrons over the next five years, data the FCC has been gathering over the past six months has revealed the depth of the connectivity gap. For example, the FCC noted that 63 percent of public schools don’t have broadband connections to the building capable of taking advantage of modern digital learning.

G’day mates, Australia’s VERNet joins The Quilt

The Quilt is pleased to introduce new affiliate member VERNet as we expand our membership beyond North America.

VERNet designs, builds, operates and manages a network in Victoria, Australia that enables educators, researchers and students to exchange ideas and communicate faster. The network is the Victorian Education and Research Network (VERN) and is the preferred supplier of high-bandwidth connectivity to the research and education sector in Victoria providing customers with leading-edge technology and services at affordable rates.

Establishedvernet in 2004, VERNet provides Layer 1, 2 and 3 services to nine universities and the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) This network is fiber-based and spans more than 2,000 kilometers providing more than 231 services to universities, CSIRO and other research organisations including 26 hospitals from 1Gbps to 100Gbps.

The company is a licensed telecommunications carrier with all members also serviced by the national carrier AARNet. Members procure Layer 1, 2 or 3 from VERNet and then a range of higher-layer services from the national carrier such as commodity internet, videoconferencing, NET+ cloud services, and Eduroam. The company also has a unique, dedicated high-speed research network up to 10Gbps, connecting six Victorian research precincts.

VERNet CEO Roger Tanton explained that VERNet pursued affiliation with The Quilt because of its vibrant involvement and volunteer contributions of its members, and because researchers in Victoria would like to collaborate more with researchers in North America and share data across a wide range of disciplines.

“I was fortunate enough to attend the Quilt Fall 2013 Conference and would be very pleased if VERNet staff could serve on technical, administrative and financial committees or as resources for The Quilt,” he noted. “We have found that RNOs across the world tend to use the same vendors, similar business and even corporate governance models, and the company would like to be a part of this collegiate community and assist where possible.”

The research and education sector in Australia is serviced by the national carrier (AARNet) and two incorporated regional carriers, VERNet in the state of Victoria, and SABRENet in South Australia.

“We are thrilled to have our first affiliate member on another continent,” said Quilt President and CEO Jen Leasure. “This is great way for us to grow our R&E network collaborations and for VERNet to benchmark its network operations with other regional networks located in North America.”