|
|
|
Washington University (St. Louis)
University of Alabama at Birmingham
University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa
University of Alabama in Huntsville
University of Missouri-Columbia
University of Florida
Florida State University
University of Miami
University of Wyoming
Washington State University
Montana State University
California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
California State University, San Bernardino
San Diego State University
University of California-San Diego
Wayne State University
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Drexel University
Purdue University
George Washington University
Columbia University
New York University
University of Massachusetts, Amherst
Princeton University
Georgetown University
University of Idaho
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Cornell University
FACT SHEET
High Performance Networking and NSF
National Science Foundation's vBNS
The National Science Foundation (NSF) has long been a leader in networking. After ARPAnet in the 1970s, NSF created NSFNET in the 1980s to link researchers to each other and to supercomputer centers. NSF involved commercial partners early on, which later smoothed the transition of the Internet into a largely private realm.
NSF continues to support the fundamental research that drives advanced Internet technology and has entered into a partnership with MCI Telecommunications Corporation to create the very high performance Backbone Network Service (vBNS).
The vBNS, begun in 1995, is an investment of $50 million in a five-year project with MCI. Ninety-two institutions have been approved for connections. Up to 150 may be connected when funds become available from the Next Generation Internet initiative. Approvals for connections are based on merit as determined by a peer review process. The network currently runs at 622 megabits per second and is expected to operate at 2.4 gigabits per second (2,400 mbps) by the year 2000. The vBNS is expected to always be several steps ahead of commercially available networking. Sixty-three universities have been approved for connections and the next round of connections is expected to be approved soon. For more information, see: http://www.interact.nsf.gov/CISE/ASC/CISEWeb.nsf/program_ani?OpenView&Count=500 and http://www.vbns.net
NSF and the Next Generation Internet
Announced by President Clinton and Vice President Gore on October 10, 1996, the Next Generation Internet (NGI) initiative will create a foundation for the more powerful and versatile networks of the 21st century. Based upon strong research and development programs across federal agencies, NGI will foster partnerships among academia, industry and government that will keep the U.S. at the cutting-edge of information and communications technologies. NGI will accelerate the introduction of new networking services for businesses, schools and homes. Agencies are already taking actions to accomplish the initiative's goals, which are to:
NSF is involved in all three of these goals. Research to advance networking technologies is underway. The vBNS serves as the core component of the NGI high performance network testbed. Universities connected to the vBNS are creating the revolutionary science and engineering applications. More information about NGI can be found at: http://www.ngi.gov
NSF and Internet2
The university-led Internet2 project seeks to accelerate the next stage of Internet development in academia. The project seeks to:
The vBNS serves as the initial interconnect for Internet2 university
members.
For more information about Internet2, see:
http://www.internet2.edu or
contact: Greg Wood, 1-800-786-5918,
ghwood@internet2.edu
