News for and about the Internet2 community

["Lauren Rotman" <>]

EDUCAUSE and Internet2 Support the Advanced Information and Communications
Technology Research Act
                                
WASHINGTON DC - May 25, 2007 - EDUCAUSE and Internet2 have announced their
support for the Advanced Information and Communications Technology Research
Act (S. 1493) introduced yesterday by Senator Daniel K. Inouye (D-Hawaii),
chairman of the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee. 

The introduction of this bill brings attention to the need for renewed
investment in long-term research aimed at making advanced communications
services available to and affordable for all Americans. Decades ago, federal
funding and support for long-term basic research allowed the higher
education community to play a critical role in developing the Internet, and
only then could the commercial sector transform the Internet into the
economic engine it is today. Recognizing that advanced communications will
continue to be the lifeblood of our knowledge economy, Senator Inouye
proposes a similar national investment in the next wave of innovation. The
long-term commitment and guidance of federal agencies, as outlined in the
bill, will allow this important research to take place. 

The bill outlines three important programs for an ongoing innovation
strategy. First, it provides for a Federal Communications Commission pilot
program to test increased sharing of spectrum between federal and other
government users. Second, it creates a grant program for high-risk,
high-reward telecommunications research linked to the goals and objectives
of the National Institute of Standards and Technology. Third, it establishes
a program of basic research in advanced information and communications
technologies through the National Science Foundation.

Students, faculty, and researchers in higher education already routinely use
technologies that are unavailable to the general public and are hard at work
developing more advanced, potentially life-changing technologies in areas
such as telemedicine and distance learning. These technologies will help
unleash unparalleled economic opportunity if-and only if-consumers,
businesses, students, and entrepreneurs can access advanced communications
services. The research promoted by this bill is critical to achieving this
goal.

EDUCAUSE and Internet2 look forward to working with Senator Inouye as this
bill advances through Congress.  

About EDUCAUSE
EDUCAUSE is a nonprofit association whose mission is to advance higher
education by promoting the intelligent use of information technology. The
current membership comprises more than 2,100 colleges, universities, and
educational organizations, including 200 corporations, with 16,500 active
members. EDUCAUSE has offices in Boulder, Colorado, and Washington, D.C.
Learn more at http://www.educause.edu.

About Internet2
Internet2 is the foremost U.S. advanced networking consortium. Led by the
research and education community since 1996, Internet2 promotes the missions
of its members by providing both leading-edge network capabilities and
unique partnership opportunities that together facilitate the development,
deployment and use of revolutionary Internet technologies. Internet2 brings
the U.S. research and academic community together with technology leaders
from industry, government and the international community to undertake
collaborative efforts that have a fundamental impact on tomorrow's Internet.
Learn more at: http://www.internet2.edu

CONTACTS:                       
Wendy Wigen                             
Policy Analyst                          
EDUCAUSE                                

                
202-331-5372                                    

Peter DeBlois
Director of Programs and Media Relations
EDUCAUSE

303-544-5665

Lauren Rotman
Public Relations Manager
Internet2                               

 
202-331-5345