News for and about the Internet2 community

["Vaught, Ethel K" <>]

Texas A&M University, on behalf of The Texas A&M University System's TTVN 
Network, has been awarded a $6.6 million Broadband Technology Opportunities 
Program (BTOP) grant. This award, along with $3 million in matching 
contributions, will allow the A&M System to provide high-speed broadband 
access to all 11 A&M System universities, the Texas A&M Health Science 
Center, and communities served by the A&M System. Through a public-private 
partnership with five independent rural telephone and cable television 
companies in Texas, the City of Corpus Christi, the Texas Department of 
Public Safety (DPS), and the A&M System, the grant will fund construction of 
Texas Pipes, a fiber optic network with minimum data rates of one gigabit per 
second (Gbps) and capable of supporting up to 40 Gbps. Grant funds also 
enhance public safety by increasing broadband capabilities for campus police 
departments.  "This initiative once again demonstrates Texas A&M University 
and the A&M System's desire to be a leader in collaborative networking," said 
Dr. Pierce Cantrell, Vice President for Information Technology and Chief 
Information Officer.

Texas Pipes will leverage the existing broadband infrastructure of the A&M 
System's TTVN Network by building new connections to the Lonestar Education 
and Research Network (LEARN), the Texas regional optical network that serves 
higher education institutions, community colleges, and K-12 public schools. 
LEARN provides high-speed access to the Texas Education Intranet and 
specialized higher education research and education networks, such as 
Internet2 and National LambdaRail. Constructing these new connections will 
expand LEARN's reach into currently underserved areas of Texas, increasing 
access to distance learning, research, and health services. All of the 
educational institutions connected via the BTOP grant will have Internet2 
network access through the Sponsored Educational Group Participant (SEGP) 
program (http://k20.internet2.edu/about/segp).

Mike Phillips, Executive Director of LEARN, said, "This award would not have 
been possible without the leadership and collaborative nature of a broad and 
diverse set of partners working together on behalf of Texans. The project 
will enable us to bring needed broadband based services to many new 
communities throughout Texas. LEARN is excited to have the opportunity to 
work with our partners on this innovative and dynamic project."

Partners in the fiber optic network construction include five independent 
telephone and cable TV companies that belong to the Texas Lone Star Network 
(TLSN). Brad Seymour, TLSN General Manager, said, "TLSN and our participating 
Member Companies are proud to play our role in the public/private partnership 
with Texas A&M. The BTOP grant funding will enable TLSN to provide high-speed 
broadband services to our Member Companies, who serve the end users in the 
rural areas. This partnership with Texas A&M will benefit a large number of 
people with a much better quality of broadband service." 

Another project partner, the City of Corpus Christi, will be expanding their 
network and connecting community centers, libraries, and public safety 
facilities, as well as making their resources available to Texas A&M 
University Corpus Christi.
Funding also is provided for next generation Internet-based radio gateways 
that allow campus police departments to communicate with local DPS radio 
systems over the broadband network. DPS will be making their public safety 
databases (including wants and warrants) over a shared link, eliminating the 
need for costly satellite-based communication links. According to Cantrell, 
"This grant was only made possible through a public and private partnership 
that embraces the spirit of the BTOP grants. The required 30% grant match was 
shared by all of the partners that will benefit from the grant."

The Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications Information 
Administration (NTIA) is providing BTOP grants to fund comprehensive 
broadband infrastructure projects, public computer centers, and sustainable 
broadband adoption projects. The American Reinvestment and Recovery Act 
provided a total of $7.2 billion for the NTIA and the Department of 
Agriculture's Rural Utilities Service (RUS) to expand access to and adoption 
of broadband services in communities across the U.S.

For more information, visit http://vpapit.tamu.edu/Projects/Texas_Pipes.php.