News for and about the Internet2 community

[Dan Downing <>]

Third Frontier Network Assists Homeland Security Through Real-Time, Interactive

Training
 
Perrysburg, OH­June 7, 2004 – Ohio’s Third Frontier Network (TFN),
the nation’s most advanced research network, will assist the Great Lakes
Educational Consortium for Homeland Security Training in regional
first-response and anti-terrorism efforts.  TFN initiatives that
strengthen northwest Ohio’s defense efforts were highlighted today at
Owens Community College.
 
"Technological contributions such as the Third Frontier Network are
fundamental to both the economic and national security of the Fifth
District and the State of Ohio," said Congressman Paul Gillmor
(R-Old Fort).  "The network will play a vital role in securing
Ohio's place in winning the war on terrorism." 
 
TFN will link Owens, the University of Findlay and higher education
consortium members to area police, fire and emergency personnel for
seminars, consultation and equipment demonstrations. The network will
allow fire and police departments to conduct exercises, via distance
learning, on a variety of simulated terrorist incidents, emergency
hazards and natural disasters.
 
“Advanced networking technologies such as the Third Frontier Network will
speed up collaborations and reduce costs for training a stronger, better
workforce,” said Rod Chu, chancellor of the Ohio Board of Regents. “This
network will foster partnerships on a much broader scale than before,
using dedicated, secure channels for emergency management 
training.”
 
Last month, Owens broke ground for a 110-acre Fire and Police Training
Center for Professional Development and Homeland Security.  It
features a simulation chamber and command center for regional
anti-terrorism and computer and science laboratories. The center’s
construction will include fiber-optic cable connected to a computerized
video system to allow real-time observations of training exercises from
remote locations. 
 
“The application of the Third Frontier Network to homeland security
training will put Ohio on the cutting edge,” said Paul Unger, Owens State
Community College provost. “No other facility is utilizing this type of
technology to reach the various volunteer fire departments, rural police
departments and other agencies that do not have funding or time for staff
to leave their communities to participate in training.”  
 
OARnet, the Ohio Supercomputer Center’s (OSC) networking division, has
installed optical fiber routers and equipment at the Toledo area
point-of-presence, or POP. The statewide TFN backbone is scheduled to be
operational by Autumn 2004, with colleges and universities connected by
September.
 
“The Third Frontier Network will support enhanced educational
collaborations such as the Great Lakes Educational Consortium for
Homeland Security,” said Al Stutz, OARnet director. “TFN’s speed and
dedicated research channels offer collaborators the ability to conduct
‘hands-on’ interactions that occur in real-time across great
distances.”
 
TFN is a technology initiative of the Ohio Board of Regents.  It is
built by OARnet in partnership with education and industry partners such
as Ohio SchoolNet, Ohio Department of Education, Buckeye Telesystems, SBC
and Cisco. TFN is the most extensive high speed, fiber-optic network
dedicated to higher education in the nation. With government, academic
and industry partners, TFN will position the state of Ohio as a world
leader in networking technology and the knowledge economy. For more
information on TFN, please visit
www.tfn.oar.net.
 
For more information, contact:
Ohio Board of Regents: 
Jamie Abel, Assistant Director of Communications
614-644-1988, 
Bret Crow, Assistant Director of Communications
614-752-9480, 

Ohio Supercomputer Center/OARnet:
Kathryn Kelley, Chief Legislative Liaison
614-292-6067, 
Dan Downing, Public Relations Coordinator
614-688-3949, 

Owens State Community College:
Jennifer Fehnrich, Director of Public Relations and Marketing
419-661-7205,  

Ohio SchoolNet:
Carly Glick, Communications Officer
614-728-1886, 

Photos from the event are available from:
Ian MacConnell, OSC Senior Graphic Designer
614-292-9319,

Dan Downing
Public Relations Coordinator
OSC/OARnet
1224 Kinnear Road
Columbus, Ohio, 43212
phone (614) 688-3949
fax (614) 292-7168

www.osc.edu
www.oar.net
www.tfn.oar.net