1. RII Western Sub-Regional Planning Meeting Gary Crane Director, SURA IT Initiatives gcrane@sura.org www.sura.org Southeastern Universities Research Association

2. SURA Regional Infrastructure Initiative Basic goal is to gain control of the underlying network transport through: –Partnerships with new and existing fiber owners and equipment vendors –Creative relationships with carrier hotels –Leveraging SURA regional gigapop facilities, seed money from SURA, SURA relationships with member institutions, institution Presidents and links to Southern Governors Association, Southern Technology Council and everything and everybody we can think of. –RII Briefing Paper –Additional information on SURA web site: http://www.sura.org/info_tech/infrastructure/infrastructure.html

3. SURA Regional Infrastructure Initiative Working Groups Original group formed at the April 13, 2000 meeting of the SURA IT Committee included: Jed Diem (Tulane) - ChairGordon Wishon (GaTech) Ron Hutchins (GaTech)Carl Baker (FSU) Jeff Crowder (VaTech)Doyle Friskney (U of Kentucky) Alan Blatecky (NCNI)Gary Crane (SURA) Larry Flournoy (Texas A&M) Expanded RII Working Group now includes: Brice Bible - U of Tenn.Jerry Sobieski – MAX Jack Hall - Florida Atlantic Zia Mafaher - Catholic U John Hurley - Clark Atlanta Troy Travis - University of S.C. Tom Lindsay - MS StateJoe Grissom - Oklahoma U Don Halverstadt - UAHMary Fran Yafhak - SURA

4. SURA Regional Infrastructure Initiative Working Groups On November 27 two additional RII working groups were formed: Geo/Matrix Oversight Team: Jed Diem Alan Blatecky Jerry SobieskiRon Hutchins Gary CraneMary Fran Yafchak SURA RII Communications Team Jed DiemGordon WishonJohn Hurley Gary CraneMary Fran Yafchak

5. Regional Infrastructure Initiative Status October 27 SURA executed a consulting contract with Geo/Matrix for a 5 Phase RII planning effort 1.General network plan 2.Provider/partner identification and development 3.Engineering feasibility study 4.Economic feasibility study 5.Final report and recommendations

6. Dec Jan FebMarch April May June July August Phase 1 Phase 2 Phase 3 Phase 4 Phase 5 SURA Regional Infrastructure Initiative Projected Timeline January 5, 2001 General Network Plan Vender Identification and Development Engineering Feasibility Economic Feasibility Final Report

7. Regional Infrastructure Initiative Status Phase 1 completed December 30 Phase 1 Report available on SURA web at: www.sura.org/info_tech/infrastructure/suracio Requires userID: sura-rii password: suracio

8. The Need for Data Collection Each phase of the engagement with Geo/Matrix has clearly defined data collection requirements To be successful, SURA must engage its members in the collection of data required by Geo/Matrix Phase 1 data collection included information about the physical location of SURA member institutions and the existing SURA region gigapops Phase 1 resulted in creation of a set of initial maps to facilitate discussions with potential partners

12. Regional Infrastructure Initiative Status Notice to proceed with Phase 2 issued December 30 Completed Phase 2 survey to SURA members and gigapops regarding current network services on February 25 Indications are that there may be some early opportunities for vendor partnerships

13. Phase 2 Data Collection Phase 2 data collection focused on: –General Institutional and Student Demographics –Institution Public Network Demarc – Current Network Services Terminating at Institution –Local and regional network service providers –Major Local Telecommunications facilities

14. Phase 2 Survey Results 69 surveys distributed to SURA members, federal research facilities and gigapops in the SURA footprint 52 surveys returned by deadline (2/24/01) response rate of over 75% 13 sent to locations in western sub-region Only 5 returned from western sub-region - 8 still outstanding

15. Phase 2 Survey Results Responses Tulane University of Arkansas University of Louisianna at Lafayette University of Oklahoma, Norman Campus OneNet Gigapop Still Outstanding Louisiana State University Louisiana Tech University Texas A&M University of Houston University of New Orleans Alliance for Higher Ed Gigapop LA Net Gigapop Western Sub-Region