Statewide Network Comparison: Overview - K12HSN

Appendix A 

Executive Summary 

The California K12 High Speed Network: 

Developing a Service Model 

Marcie J. Bober, Ph.D. 

Jonathan Leavitt, M.A. 

Rhea Borysiak-Fix, M.A. 

Department of Educational Technology 

San Diego State University 

May 2005

APPENDIX A: Summary of High Speed Networks (Educational) by State 

Prepared by Jonathan Leavitt, MA 

Dept. of Educational Technology, San Diego State University 

State HSN initiative and link to site Size or impact on state 

(as described on program sites) 

Alabama 

Alabama Research and Education Network 

(AREN) 

http://www.asc.edu/network/index.shtml 

Approximately 150 client institutions are connected to AREN, including all public 

universities and colleges, the state's community colleges, several state 

government agencies, nine K-12 regional training centers, and approximately 40 

K-12 school systems. For those universities which have an alternate primary 

Internet service provider, AREN functions as a secondary ISP for local traffic and 

the primary route for traffic within the state. 

Participants: State government, four year universities, two year colleges, and k- 

12 schools 

Alaska 

Arizona 

Arkansas 

California 

Information Technology Group (ITG) 

http://www.state.ak.us/itg/ 

Telecommunications Open Partnerships for 

Arizona (TOPAZ) 

http://gita.state.az.us/tech_news/2001/9_25_01 

_news_release.htm 

Arkansas Academic and research Network 

(ArkNet) 

http://www.uark.edu/staff/arknet/ 

OC-3 Backbone – 155mb/s 

Started out being maintained by University of 

Arkansas and then in 1998 it was turned over 

to the Arkansas Department of Information 

Systems 

CalREN 

http://www.cenic.org/ 

K-12 High Speed Network 

http://www.k12hsn.org/ 

ITG maintains a multi-protocol backbone WAN that connects LANs in 

Anchorage, Fairbanks and Juneau. Agency connections are made via leased 

line or dial-in to the regional backbone hub. Several other locations have 

dedicated connections. The ITG WAN has Internet addresses available to hook 

into national and international networks. 

TOPAZ was created by the state’s Government Information Technology Agency 

(GITA) to expand broadband usage throughout Arizona. Originally intended to 

connect the top 87 communities by population in the state, 126 communities 

have been linked since 2001. 

The initial ARKnet network consisted of point-to-point 56K circuits from each 

institution to one of the two central network nodes located in Fayetteville and 

Little Rock. Internet access in the beginning was through the MIDnet regional 

network (later to become Global Internet, which later was bought out by Verio). 

As the network grew and bandwidth needs increased, the entire ARKnet network 

was rebuilt using frame relay services provided by Southwestern Bell. As the T1 

lines at the central routing nodes became saturated, they were replaced by 

Southwestern Bell ATM OC-3 circuits and frame interworking. Eventually, the six 

T1 lines to Verio were overwhelmed by the state's traffic, so the state network 

contracted with Southwestern Bell Internet Services (SBIS) for new highbandwidth 

(OC-3) Internet service. Today, the state network has an internal 

backbone consisting of multiple OC-3 circuits and two Internet service providers 

(SBIS in Little Rock, and Qwest Communications in Fayetteville). 

CalREN-DC, CENIC's Digital California network, provides high-quality network 

services for K-20 students/teachers/staff and for faculty, researchers and staff at 

higher education institutions. CENIC's support of K-12 networking extends the 

existing CalREN backbone to each of the 58 California counties to facilitate 

connectivity by California's K-12 schools.






fiber optics – currently 2.5 gigabytes 

Initially managed by CENIC and now, after a 

competitive process, is overseen by the 

Imperial County Office of Education (in 

partnership with the Butte and Mendocino 

COEs). 

In addition to providing the entire California research and education community 

with the most cost-effective advanced services network available, the multi-tiered 

CalREN infrastructure supplies high-level network services needed to 

successfully conduct high-performance research activities. It also provides 

network researchers in California with the infrastructure needed to conduct 

critical investigations into optical networking technology. 

Participants: Higher Education Research/K20 Internet 1 and 2 

Connecticut 

Connecticut Education Network 

http://www.ct.gov/cen/site/default.asp 

fiber optics - 1 Gigabit to start with 

Started in 2000, projected completion – 2005. 

Run by the State Department of Information 

Technology and a partnership with the 

University of Connecticut. 

The Connecticut Education Network (CEN) is America's first statewide K12 and 

higher education network to be built exclusively using state-of-the-art fiber optic 

connections. Operating at speeds 1000 times faster than a home 

broadband connection, the CEN provides incredible access to the Internet, the 

next generation Internet2, the Connecticut Digital Library, and thousands of other 

resources exclusively targeted to students, teachers, researchers and 

administrators in Connecticut's education institutions. 

Upon completion in summer, 2005, every K12 and Higher Education connection 

to the CEN will have a fiber optic based connection that will allow high speed 

multimedia learning tools, research activities and online administrative activities 

in every school district and on every campus in the State. Many public libraries 

are also being connected to the network. 

Participants: Public K-12, public/private higher ed, libraries 

Georgia 

Peachnet 

http://www.usg.edu/peachnet/ 

Could not find a good description. 

Hawaii 

Could not locate. 

Illinois**** 

Illinois Century Network (ICN) 

http://www.illinois.net/about/default.htm 

Connects to the Internet and Internet2 at 

speeds of OC-12 or higher (622 mb/s). The 

entire backbone consists of DS-3 (45 Mb/s) 

circuits or higher. Website states that it offers 1 

Provides a world-class IP network to over 6,100 educational institutions - more 

than any other network of its kind in the United States or the world 

Serves approximately 2 million Illinois citizens - mostly students 

Passes between 600 and 800 million bits per second to the Internet on a daily






Gigabit per second of Internet service 

basis 

Indiana 

Iowa**** 

Started by the Illinois State Board of Education 

to serve K-12 schools in 1995. ICN was 

formed by PA 91-21 and signed into law on 

June 8, 1999. ICN built upon existing 

frameworks which included: Illinois Higher 

Education Video Network, the Illinois State 

Board of Education’s Internet initiative, the 

Illinois State Library’s work to connect libraries 

with learners, and efforts of the Department of 

Central Management Services to provide 

statewide telecommunications links. 

Indiana Telecommunications Network 

http://www.in.gov/itn/ 

I-Light2 

http://www.in.gov/itn/members/images/I_Light_ 

2.pdf 

ITN currently provides 700 Mb/s access to the 

commercial Internet. 

I-Light2 is currently under construction but will 

provide a fiber optics backbone across the 

state. 

Iowa Communications Network (ICN) 

http://www.icn.state.ia.us/index.html 

Fiber optics ring network currently delivering up 

to 400 Mb/s. 

Also includes a state-wide ATM network which 

enables full motion video. 

Started in 1989 when the state legislature 

passed a bill for the construction of a state 

telecommunications network. Continued to be 

Has the largest bandwidth available to any community college system in the 

United States 

Is the first state network to become fully multicast enabled allowing a single 

stream of video to be replicated at an institution providing access to broadcast 

quality video transmissions including channels and productions from CSPAN, 

PBS, NASA, Department of Defense, the Smithsonian Institution, and hundreds 

of others. 

Participants: Schools, museums, libraries, local government and communities 

(See FAQ list for more info – excellent materials on website) 

ITN makes a critical impact on the way educational, governmental, public, and 

social services are delivered and administered in the state. It currently connects 

nearly 2,000 local and state government offices, public libraries, K-12 schools, 

learning centers, County Extension Services, Indiana higher education 

institutions, and other public sector users. 

I-Light2 will build on the success of I-Light, Internet2, and ITN to expand and link 

the State’s networking efforts. It will expand the fiber optic network of I-Light and 

link to the 2000 ITN users around the state. 

Recognizing the value of a high speed network, the Indiana legislature approved 

I-Light2 funding with a $10 million appropriation in the 2003 Budget Bill. 

Participants: K-12 schools, higher education, public libraries, state government, 

and public broadcasting 

Statewide fiber optics network linking k-12 schools, universities, libraries, and 

hospitals. Currently offers up to 400mbps and full motion video and audio 

services. 

Participants: Hospitals, state and federal government, public defense armories, 

libraries, schools, and higher education 

(See website for more info – excellent material)






state-funded and construction was completed 

in phases. 

Kansas 

Kentucky 

Louisiana 

Maine 

Kansas Research and Education Network 

(KanREN) 

http://www.kanren.net/ 

non-state-owned star network. Appears that 

network has been upgraded and delivers 

gigabit speeds. Backbone material is 

unknown. 

Kentucky Information Highway (KIH) 

http://ky.gov/got/kih/ 

Louisiana Network (LaNet) 

http://www.state.la.us/otm/lanet/index.htm 

state sponsored and managed, star network 

delivering backbone speeds of 45 – 155 Mb/s. 

(DS-3 and Oc-3 circuits) 

Maine School and Library Network (MSLN) 

http://www.msln.net/ 

KanREN is a non-profit consortium of colleges, universities, school districts and 

other organizations in Kansas, organized for the purpose of facilitating 

communication among them, and providing themselves with connectivity to the 

Internet via a statewide TCP/IP network. 

Participants: Hospitals, libraries, schools and higher education 

Started in 1995. Today, over 3,000 sites are inter-connected across the state - 

1,200 schools, and all 176 school districts, libraries, local government and health 

departments. 

The statewide network, with an "access ramp" in every one of Kentucky's 120 

counties. 

Participants: Government, Education and research users 

The Office of Telecommunications Management (OTM) was formed by Act 1098 

during the 1997 Regular session to oversee telecommunications systems for 

Louisiana’s citizens. 

Participants: Any political subdivision of the State of Louisiana, including city and 

parish government. Private and public educational institutions within the State of 

Louisiana from kindergarten through university level 

Although many articles exist touting the size and impact of Maine’s fiber optics 

infrastructure currently in place, no single source can be found at this time that 

describes their High Speed initiative. It appears to be aimed at attracting 

businesses to the region. 

Massachusetts**** 

Massachusetts Information Turnpike Initiative 

(MITI) 

http://www.umassmiti.net/generic.cfm?code=djklwe8 

MITI is a state-sponsored, UMass administered initiative to provide greater 

access to high-quality technical services through use of advanced network 

technologies. 

MITI's cornerstone is a high-speed (2.4 Gbps) IP/ATM/SONET-based network






Appears to be a Bus structured Fiber optics 

network delivering a 2.4 Gbps backbone to its 

customers. 

which ties Eastern, Central and Western Massachusetts communities together 

over a 120-mile long fiber optic network. This network provides high-speed 

Internet, interactive video, cross-state transport and application hosting services 

to public institutions throughout the state. 

Maryland**** 

Michigan 

Network Maryland 

www.networkMaryland.gov. 

Fiber optics Ring type network sponsored by 

MD state government delivering a backbone 

speed of up to 2.5 Gbps 

(for more information – see the FAQ list and 

click on the customer information package) 

Michigan Network (MichNet) 

http://www.merit.edu/mn/ 

non-profit, Merit Network Inc runs MichNet 

which is a ring-type fiber optic network 

delivering backbone speed of up to 2.5 Gbps. 

Plans are underway to connect the upper and 

lower peninsulas with an OC-192 line which 

would deliver a 9.952 Gbps. connection 

Network Maryland is the vision of a statewide high-speed network for public 

sector use. The network was created from an initiative to utilize resource-shared 

fiber optic cable assets throughout the state to provide affordable, high-speed 

bandwidth to all areas of the State, and to provide a cost savings to the citizens 

of the State of Maryland. Moving forward, network Maryland will provide WAN 

connectivity for all public entities in the State to improve the economy of scale by 

coordinating joint network build-outs and consolidation of services, and by 

providing necessary information for proper network growth. 

Participants: State, county and municipal government agencies and 

departments, public libraries, public hospitals, public K-12 education, and higher 

education 

MichNet was America's first regional research and education network and 

supports the high-performance networking needs of Michigan’s universities, K-12 

schools, community colleges, libraries, state government, health care, and other 

non-profit organizations. 

Participants: any non-profit or governmental organization 

Minnesota Minnesota InterTechnologies Group (InterTech) More information unavailable at this time. 


Mississippi 

None found 

Missouri 

Missouri Research and Education Network 

(MORENet) 

http://www.more.net/about/index.html 

fiber optics backbone currently delivers speeds 

of up to 622 Mbps 

Established in 1991, MOREnet operates as a unit within the University of 

Missouri, and is based in Columbia, Mo. The MOREnet network is the foundation 

infrastructure. Members of the education community interact with each other via 

data and video services; public sector business applications are built and 

conducted on it; and Missouri citizens interact with their state government 

through it.






Participants: K-12 schools, colleges and universities, public libraries, health care, 

state government and other affiliates 

Montana Montana SummitNet (SummitNetII) Participants: Government, Education and research users 

Nebraska 

Nevada 

New Hampshire 

Network Nebraska 

http://www.nitc.state.ne.us/ 

Nevada Network (NevadaNet) 

http://www.scs.nevada.edu/nevadanet/ 

Website information is unclear about the 

current status of the network. It appears that 

the fiber optics ring-type network backbone 

delivers 155 Mbps access or an OC-3 circuit. 

None found 

Network Nebraska is in its infancy. 

The primary objective of Network Nebraska is to develop a broadband, scalable 

telecommunications infrastructure that optimizes the quality of service to every 

public entity in the state of Nebraska. Potential benefits of Network Nebraska 

include lower network costs, greater efficiency, interoperability of systems 

providing video courses and conferencing, increased collaboration among 

educational entities, and better use of public investments. 

From its modest beginning in 1970, NevadaNet has developed into a robust 

statewide backbone network. NevadaNet currently provides data and 

compressed video services to over 120 predominately rural Nevada locations. 

These sites include UCCSN college campuses, K-12 schools, hospitals, Native 

American communities, and a limited number of state and federal governmental 

entities. The NevadaNet network consists of a backbone connecting four major 

hub sites (Las Vegas, Elko, Reno, and Carson City). From these major hub sites, 

radial spurs consisting of primarily full or fractional T1 leased circuits extend to 

the individual rural site locations. NevadaNet also provides limited dialup 

telephone access via remotely located modem banks. 

Participants: University and Community College System of Nevada (UCCSN), 

the K-12 educational community, and other participating state and federal 

agencies 

New Jersey 

New Jersey’s Higher Education Network 

(NJEDge.Net) 

http://www.njedge.net/index.html 

NJEDge.Net is a non-profit corporation of the New Jersey Presidents' Council, 

which operates a broadband statewide network designed to enhance the 

missions of instruction, research and public service of 57 New Jersey's public 

and private colleges and universities. 

This private, statewide infrastructure supports high performance data and video






capabilities across the state and extends the reach of higher education to offcampus 

learners, K-12, corporate and community constituents. 

Participants: Public and Private colleges and universities, K-12, libraries, 

museums, and public institutes 

New Mexico 

New York 

North Carolina 

New Mexico Technology Network (TechNet) 

http://www.nm.org/ 

New York State Education Research Network 

(NYSERNet) 

http://www.nysernet.org/index.php 

Started from an IP network in 1986 with funding 

from public and private institutions. In 1999, 

NYSERNet, a Bus-type network went online 

and currently provides a 622 Mbps backbone 

between New York City and Buffalo. 

North Carolina Research and Education 

Network (NCREN) 

http://www.mcncgcns.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=page&filename 

Originally founded in 1984, Technet was charged with linking the national 

laboratories, state government, the universities, and the private sector with a 

high capacity fiber optic network, and introducing applications that demonstrated 

the value of this technology. This created a communications and technology 

based environment to foster economic development, education, and research 

throughout the state. 


A private not-for-profit corporation, NYSERNet was founded in 1985 by a 

consortium of visionary public and private New York State institutions to provide 

high speed network connectivity to advance educational and research initiatives 

in the Empire State. Their efforts led, in 1986, to the deployment of the nation's 

first statewide regional IP network - forming what has become one of the most 

enduring partnerships in networking. 

In 1996, NYSERNet, designed, coordinated and deployed next generation 

Internet services to support the advanced networking needs of New York's 

research and education community. This project provided New York with an 

OC12 backbone from Buffalo to Manhattan and created a statewide high 

performance, advanced network with redundant links to Internet2's Abilene 

network, a national advanced, high-performance research and education 

backbone. Later, a connection was established to Internet2's Manhattan 

Landing, or MAN LAN, that connects to the International research and education 

networks. In addition, NYSERNet peers with CA*net, Canada's advanced, highperformance 

research and education national backbone. Through NYSERNet, 

New York organizations can reach across the United States and around the 

world, providing unlimited collaborative opportunities. 

Participants: Education and research 

MCNC owns and operates the North Carolina Research and Education Network 

(NCREN). North Carolina’s statewide network is one of the nation’s most 

advanced research and education networks.






=network.html 

Ring Type fiber optics network providing a 2.5 

Gbps backbone between Raleigh, Greensboro, 

Winston-Salem, and Charlotte. 

These services include access to national research networks, advanced video 

and distance learning services, and Internet access. NCREN is also the network 

backbone for the N.C. Statewide Grid – one of the nation’s first statewide grids 

for research and education which MCNC is building in partnership with the 

state’s public and private universities. 

Managed and owned by MCNC since 1985. 

MCNC is a non-profit entity that was founded in 

1980 by the NC General Assembly. 

Since 1987, the amount of Internet-based information on the statewide network 

has increased 25,000 fold, serving millions of research, education and 

government partners in North Carolina. The speed and capacity (bandwidth) of 

the network provide reliable service – today providing more than 5,000 times the 

speed of a cable modem and 90,000 times the speed of a typical dial-up Internet 

connection. 

Participants: more than 180 public and private institutions, including universities, 

community colleges, K-12 schools, libraries, state government, private research 

institutions and commercial businesses 

North Dakota 

Statewide Technology Access for Government 

and Education Network (STAGEnet) 

http://www.stagenet.nd.gov/ 

STAGEnet was created by the 1999 legislative session. STAGEnet provides 

broadband connectivity, Internet access, video conferencing and other 

networking services. All state agencies, colleges and universities, local 

government, and K-12 are required to participate in STAGEnet. 

Participants: State agencies, colleges and universities, local government, and K- 

12 are required 

Ohio***** 

Ohio Academic Resources Network (OARNet) 

http://www.osc.edu/oarnet/ 

Third Frontier Network (TFN) 

http://www.osc.edu/oarnet/tfn/ 

Ring-type network that went online in 2004 and 

predicted to be fully functional by the summer 

of 2005. It will provide a fiber optics backbone 

which will deliver speeds of up to 2.5 Gbps. 

(OC-48) and hopes to offer educational 

research institutions connections of 9.9 Gbps 

over an OC-192 during 2005. 

OARNet is and ISP that provides the infrastructure for a variety of projects in 

Ohio. They are promoting the Third Frontier Network (TFN). 

TFN is a dedicated high-speed fiber-optic network linking Ohio colleges and 

universities with research facilities to promote research and economic 

development. Over 1,600 miles of fiber have been purchased to create the 

network backbone to connect colleges and universities, K-12 schools, and 

communities together. 

Participants: Colleges, universities, K-12 schools, and researchers






Oklahoma 

Oklahoma’s Telecommunications Network 

(OneNet) 

http://www.onenet.net/ 

Fully operational since 1996 – this ring-type 

fiber optics based backbone is built upon 4 

node sites that feed approximately 40 other 

hub sites that offer DS-3 connections (45 

Mbps). 

This comprehensive network is unlike any other in the country - utilizing fiber 

optics and wireless technologies to transmit video, voice and data throughout 

Oklahoma, the nation and the world. OneNet is not a state-owned utility, but 

rather a state lead partnership among telecommunications companies, 

equipment manufacturers and service providers. 

Participants: Public and voc-tech schools; colleges and universities; public 

libraries; local, tribal, state and federal governments; court systems; rural health 

care delivery systems; and research 

Oregon 

State of Oregon Enterprise Network (SOEN) 

http://enterprise.das.state.or.us/ 

This program is currently seeking a telecommunications provider to run the 

project. 

The SOEN Transport Services will provide transport for intra-agency voice, 

video, images, data and Internet services to connect state agencies to other 

state agencies, connect state offices to other state offices and connect state 

agencies to the Internet via interconnection with Oregon University System 

separately operated and managed network ("OWEN/NERO"). The SOEN 

Transport Services will be available to certain other public agencies in the state, 

including K-12 school locations, city, county and local governments, libraries, 

certain non-profit entities and other communities of interest. 

Pennsylvania 

Keystone Alliance Network (KeyNet) 

http://www.oa.state.pa.us/oac/site/default.asp 

Participants: State Government 

Rhode Island 

Ocean State Higher Education Economic 

Development and Administrative Network 

(OSHEAN) 

http://www.oshean.org/ 

The OSHEAN consortium is devoted to creating a stable, economical high-speed 

network for the use of its members and is committed to providing services that 

enhance the productive use of this network. OSHEAN is dedicated to achieving 

its vision of providing Rhode Island with the most capable communications 

network infrastructure for the support of research, education and public service 

of any state in the Union. 

Participants: Rhode Island's institutions of higher education, state and federal 

government agencies, the K-12 community






South Carolina Information Network (SCINET) 

http://www.myscgov.com/OIR/initiatives.html 

South 

Carolina***** 

new site at: 

http://www.cio.sc.gov/cioContent.asp?pageID= 

285 

155 Mbps fiber optics backbone – state and 

privately owned network. 

SCINET has over 4,000 network connections for state agencies and educational 

institutions. These connections include Frame Relay, SMDS, fiber optic cables, 

microwave, high speed circuits and private line circuits, which are used for voice, 

data and video. SCINET also has high speed Internet connectivity to provide 

efficient and reliable Internet service to the users of the network. 

Participants: state agencies, K-12 schools and libraries, higher education 

institutions and a small number of county and local governments 

South Dakota***** 

Digital Dakota Network (DDN) 

http://www.ddnnet.net/ 

http://www.state.sd.us/deca/DDN4Learning/Co 

nclave/DDNHist.htm 

(website does not have a lot of technical 

information.) 

In December 1996, the Governor of South Dakota, William Janklow, announced 

a state-wide plan to install Cat 5 twisted pair cable, fiber optics cable, and 

electrical wire into every public school building in the state. This initiative, "Wiring 

the Schools," was complete by December 1998. In April 1999, Governor Janklow 

announced the next state-wide technology initiative, "Connecting the Schools." 

This new initiative built a state-wide network, providing schools with free Internet 

and video conferencing service. High-end servers were placed in every school 

building and video-conferencing equipment was placed in all middle schools and 

high schools. The 2000-2001 school year was the first year of implementation of 

the videoconferencing capabilities of the DDN. 

Participants: K-12, Higher ed, government 

Tennessee 

Tennessee Information Infrastructure (TNII) 

http://www.tnii.net/default.htm 

2004/2005 outlines TNII 

website provides some info about the network 

– began in 1999 – state owned and run by an 

organization that falls under the OIR – Office of 

Information Resources. 

typically DS3, OC3, or faster 

The TNII Network is a highly fault-tolerant, integrated Internet Protocol (IP) 

network supporting data, voice, video and Internet services. The Core Network is 

constructed around five Network Access Points that are cross-connected by 

extremely high speed circuits (typically DS3, OC3, or faster). The network is 

constructed so that failure of any circuit or even an entire NAP will not bring 

down the network. 

Participants: Government, education, and research users 

Texas Texas Agency Network (TEX-AN 2000) 

http://www.dir.state.tx.us/tex-an/ 

The TEX-AN 2000 architecture provides a solid statewide telecommunications 

infrastructure that is adaptable to changing requirements and can incorporate 

new, emerging technologies. TEX-AN 2000 provides long distance voice 

services and statewide data services, including Internet access and video 

communications. The TEX-AN 2000 platform provides for unified, scalable,






redundant, flexible and extremely cost-effective networking solutions using 

asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) and Frame Relay technologies, along with 

state-of-the-art ATM core switches. TEX-AN 2000 is designed to meet the needs 

of its customers, now and in the future. 

Participants: Political subdivisions, which include cities, counties, municipalities, 

and K-12 school districts 

Utah 

Utah Education Network (UEN) 

http://www.uen.org/ueninfo/ 

excellent example of developing content to be 

delivered on a HSN. 

In 1994, Qwest formed an "anchor tenant" partnership with the state of Utah to 

construct a fiber-optic-based wide area network (WAN) to support UEN activities. 

The network provided every student in Utah, regardless of their location, the 

technology needed to access the advanced technologies including the Internet 

and videoconferencing. 

Participants: The UEN is a consortium of public education partners, including the 

Utah System of Higher Education and its ten universities and colleges and Utah 

Electronic College; the Utah State Office of Education, local school districts and 

the Utah Electronic High School; and the state's Library system. 

Vermont 

Vermont Government Network (GOVnet and 

K12net) 

http://www.govnet.state.vt.us/k12net.htp 

T-1 and 56K connections derived from a fiber 

optic network run by GOVnet – the state 

government network. 

Of the more than 400 public and independent K-12 schools in Vermont, nearly 

300 are currently connected to K12net. Of these, approximately one quarter 

utilize dedicated connections, and the remainder access the network through 

one or more dial-in connections. More than 10,000 students, teachers and 

administrators use K12net email. And of the many Vermont schools with sites on 

the world-wide web, more than 75 are hosted by K12net on the State web 

server. K12net also provides network access to more than 100 public libraries in 

Vermont. 

Participants: State agencies 

Virginia 

Network Virginia next generation (NWVng) 

http://www.networkvirginia.net/ 

good website – The network is owned and 

operated by the Vision Alliance. 

The Vision Alliance, a consortium of local 

The network has very high capacity and can deliver simultaneous transmission 

of fully interactive voice, data, and video services. An Internet gateway is 

included which is open to all participants. A single connection to NetworkVirginia 

can be used to support different types of multimedia connections simultaneously. 

The bandwidth can be flexibly allocated and reallocated as needed. Virtually any 

type of application or communication service can be transported across






exchange companies in Virginia led by 

NetworkVirginia. 

Verizon/Bell Atlantic-Virginia, provides local 

access and intraLATA switching services. 

Verizon/Bell Atlantic-Virginia is the prime 

contractor for these services and coordinates 

all network management and order processing 

within the consortium. 

An interLATA backbone is provided by Sprint. 

Three ATM switches strategically located 

around the state provide interconnection points 

for Vision Alliance switches. Sprint is also 

providing two Internet backbone gateways with 

combined capacity nearly equal to a gigabit per 

second to SprintLink, Sprint's Internet service. 

This Internet service is open to all participants. 

Participants: With nearly a thousand sites, NWV offers access to an incredibly 

rich array of educational and information resources. Participants include fouryear 

colleges and universities, the Virginia Community College System, private 

schools, and K-12 school systems. Also, many state agencies are taking 

advantage of Network Virginia including the Department of Health, the Virginia 

Employment Commission, the Department of General Services, the Virginia 

State Library, the State Police, the Institute of Marine Science and others. 

– Open to businesses that want to access educational programs. 

sites connect to backbone with 

DS1 1.5Mbps , DS3 45Mbps or OC3 

155Mbps. 

Washington 

Access Washington 

http://www.dis.wa.gov/k20/ 

State-owned network – run by the DIS – 

Department of Information Services. 

It was the 1996 Washington state Legislature that recognized the critical role of 

technology in education and authorized the building of the $55 million K-20 

Educational Telecommunications Network. The result is a high-speed 

telecommunications backbone that enables the use of the Internet and live twoway 

videoconferencing in all of Washington's public educational sectors, and 

also connects the schools and sectors with one another. 

Participants: 426 public education sites throughout the state including campuses 

of community and technical colleges, regional universities, research institutions, 

and the K-12 school districts and educational service districts 

West Virginia 

West Virginia Network (WVNET) 

http://www.wvnet.edu/index.html 

This statewide, higher education network provides telecommunications and 

computing services to the State College and University System through a central 

computing site and community facilities that interconnect the computing sites. 

The network was created in 1975 by the Board of Regents as part of a plan to 

distribute computer resources to higher education institutions across the state. 

The aim of the network was to provide central computing facilities and (WAN) 

communications linking the "central site" computing resources in Morgantown






with campus computing systems. Originally, the West Virginia University 

Computer Center (WVUCC) was designated as the "host site". However, in 

spring 1977, the network separated into its own entity and reported to the Board 

of Regents. In November of 1998, the Governor’s Office of Technology issued 

Operational Directive 9801, which extended WVNET’s range of responsibility to 

include a major management, control, and support role for the network. In July 

2000, Senate Bill (SB) 653 mandated that WVNET report to the West Virginia 

Higher Education Policy Commission (WVHEPC). The policy board has the final 

ruling on problem resolution, oversight, direction, policy issues, etc. The network 

is currently transitioning to services to benefit state government, K-12 

institutions, public libraries, and county government. 

Participants: State and county government, K-12, public libraries 

Wisconsin 

Wisconsin Network (WiscNet) 

http://www.wiscnet.net/ 

good historical document available on site. 

Non-profit association. 

Their backbone map describes a network that covers most of the state. A 

majority of OC-3 lines support the network although OS-12 and DS-3 lines also 

exist in small numbers. 

Participants: WiscNet is a non-profit, membership-based association of public 

and private organizations that provides access to worldwide information and 

computing resources with primary emphasis on education, research, and public 

service 

Wyoming 

Wyoming Education Network (WEN) 

http://www.k12.wy.us/ 

Wyoming Internetwork (Internetwork) 

http://telecommunications.state.wy.us/declarati 

on.asp 

very little information on either site. 

The Wyoming Equality Network is a statewide, broadband digital data access 

network, designed to connect all of the state’s public schools and provide various 

other applications including telemedicine. One of the goals of the network is to 

provide distance learning services to remote locations across the state. The 

network is the result of a state Supreme Court decision in 1995 and legislation in 

1997, which mandated the development and implementation of a statewide 

education technology plan. The state developed a plan for connectivity between 

schools and interactive video among all high schools in the state. During the first 

phase of the initiative, Qwest Communications was contracted to provide data 

connectivity to all schools in the state. The system is constantly undergoing 

upgrades as the technology and demand change. 

The Department of Education has sought and received additional funding to 

upgrade most of its existing 56kbps circuits to full T-1 capacity, a project which 

should be completed by the end of the spring 2003 school semester. A growing 

demand required the state to expand the amount of bandwidth from 5 or 7






megabits to 10 megabits. The network now serves all state high schools and 

community colleges, and all of the University Of Wyoming. 

Participants: Government, education, and research users

Statewide Network Comparison: Overview - K12HSN

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