StateNets, CALEA, regional networks, professional organizations, and related publications

These links are provided as sources for information, ideas, trends, and tips related to new and emerging technologies and/or using technology for teaching, learning, and collaboration.

EDUCAUSE StateNets working group

The StateNets Net@EDU working group represents the public and not-for-profit organizations whose professionals operate the statewide networks that serve a substantial portion of the nation's K-20 educational institutions and libraries. Computer networks at the state level have provided services and leadership for public sector organizations for several decades. Some state network organizations pre-date the Internet and were integral contributors to the creation and development of the Internet. Today, these networks continue to focus on serving the non-profit/public constituencies, including higher education, K-12 schools, libraries, and state and municipal governments. The missions of state networks vary, from providers of connections services, to end-user support, training of technical and professional personnel, and coordination of purchased services.

Alabama: AREN

The Alabama Research and Education Network provides Internet access for state government, four-year universities, two-year colleges, K-12 schools, and libraries.

California: CENIC

California's education and research communities leverage their networking resources under the Corporation for Education Network Initiatives in California (CENIC) to obtain cost-effective, high-bandwidth networking to support their missions and meet the needs of their faculty, staff, and students.

Connecticut: CEN

The Connecticut Education Network provides Connecticut's schools, libraries, and higher education institutions with high-speed access to the Internet, next generation Internet2, the Connecticut Digital Library and more.

Florida: FIRN

An extensive network which electronically links all of Florida's public education entities to computing resources serving public education.

Georgia: PeachNet

The statewide communications network supporting all University System of Georgia (USG) Information and Instructional Technology (IIT) efforts.

Indiana: IHETS

The Indiana Higher Education Telecommunication System's mission is to use technology for the improvement and advancement of higher education opportunity, increasing and expanding access for students and lifelong learners and to enhance P-20 teaching, learning, and collaboration.

Iowa: ICN

The Iowa Communications Network is a premier fiber-optic network, committed to continued enhancement of distance learning and providing Iowans with convenient equal access to education and government.

Kansas: KanREN

A non-profit consortium of colleges, universities, school districts and other organizations in Kansas organized for the purpose of facilitating communication and providing connectivity to the Internet via a statewide TCP/IP network.

Kentucky: KTLN

The Kentucky TeleLinking Network is an educational telecommunications “network of regional networks” intended to improve access to, and the quality of, educational offerings provided for elementary and secondary (P-12) schools, as well as graduate and professional school preparation.

Louisiana: LaNet

The backbone for this intrastate network service consists of six points of presence (POPs) in various metropolitan areas across the state of Louisiana.

Maine: MSLN

Maine School and Library Network connects state schools and libraries to the Internet.

Maryland: SAILOR

A project of Maryland Public Libraries that leverages Internet technology to facilitate resident access to information anywhere, anytime at no charge.

Massachusetts: MITI

Massachusetts Information Turnpike Initiative is a high-speed Internet access project for public non-profit organizations, institutions, departments, and agencies.

Michigan: Merit Network, Inc.

A nonprofit, member-owned organization formed in 1966 to design and implement a computer network between public universities in Michigan. After 40 years of innovation, Merit continues to provide high-performance networking and services to the research and education communities in Michigan and beyond.

Minnesota: Onvoy

Established to enhance Minnesota's academic, research, and economic environment through computer and information networks.

Mississippi: MCSR

The Mississippi Center for Supercomputing Research provides free accounts for the research and instructional use of students and faculty at all of Mississippi's public universities.

Missouri: MOREnet

Links Missouri to a world of knowledge through a statewide research and education network. Schools, public libraries, academic institutions, and state agencies linked to the network have access to a secure broadband Internet connection, staff training, technical support and electronic resources, making equitable access possible across Missouri.

Nevada: NevadaNet

A robust statewide backbone network inclding UCCSN college campuses, K-12, hospitals, Native American communities, and a limited number of state and government entities.

New Jersey: NJEDge.NET

A statewide data/video network providing New Jersey's colleges and universities access to instruction, research, and public service opportunities.

New York: NYSERNet

A private not-for-profit corporation created to foster science and education in New York state.

North Carolina: NCREN

The North Carolina Research and Education Network provides high-speed Internet, video, audio, and data center services to universities and other institutions across the state.

North Dakota: STAGEnet

The North Dakota Statewide Technology Access for Government and Education network provides broadband connectivity, Internet access, video conferencing and other networking services for all state agencies, colleges and universities, local government, and K-12.

Ohio: OARnet

The networking division of the Ohio Supercomputer Center.

Oklahoma: OneNet

The state's telecommunications and information network for education and government.

Oregon: NERO

A high-speed core network with hubs in Portland, Corvallis, and Eugene.

Rhode Island: RINET

The Rhode Island Network for Educational Technology, Inc. provides complete Internet solutions for schools, libraries, municipalities, as well as high quality technology programs and services in support of K-12 teaching, learning and administration.

Tennessee: ConnecTEN

Provides technology solutions for state government and K-12 schools.

Texas: LEARN

The Lonestar Education and Research Network provides high-speed connectivity between 33 institutions of higher education and to research networks across the country in support of higher education's research, teaching, health care, and public service missions.

Utah: UEN

The network for Utah public schools, secondary schools, district offices, public elementary schools, and advanced technology centers.

Vermont: GOVnet & K12net

A network serving government, libraries, and K-12 schools in Vermont.

Virginia: NetworkVirginia

A network serving the state of Virginia.

Washington: DIS

Provides technology leadership for govenrment organizations across Washington.

West Virginia: WVNET

Serves West Virginia's public higher education computing and networking needs.

Wisconsin: WiscNet

Wisconsin's education, research, and public service network.

Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act (CALEA)

Passed by the U.S. Congress in 1994, CALEA requires providers of commercial voice services to engineer their networks in such a way as to assist law enforcement agencies in executing wiretap orders. In late 2005 the FCC voted to extend CALEA to include facilities-based Internet service providers. VoIP campuses will be required to deploy technical solutions allowing authorized law enforcement and homeland security agencies to monitor and intercept communications during the course of criminal investigations. These strict regulations are also intended to prevent unauthorized surveillance and abuse. The following links are provided as sources of information as to who must comply, equipment compliance, and general resources to assist in meeting the May 14, 2007 compliance deadline.

• EDUCAUSE resource page on CALEA
• Federal Communications Commission (FCC) CALEA Information
• Wireline Competition Bureau of the FCC
• FBI's CALEA Information
• CALEA: How Telecommunications Reform Could Impact You [Video presentation by Wendy Wigen, EDUCAUSE, at the 2005 IHETS Tech Summit, 00:53:03].
• MOREnet's policy briefing [CALEA compliance for educational organizations]

Local, regional, and national state networks

These networks serve a substantial portion of higher educational institutions in the midwest (including Indiana) and other regions across the nation.

• Abilene: Aproving ground for high-bandwidth technologies, this cross-country backbone is10 gigabits per second, with the goal of offering 100 megabits per second of connectivity between every Abilene-connected desktop.
• I-Light: Composed of a fiber optic backbone and a circuit-based network, this expanding network is in development and will eventually connect all public and independent Indiana universities and colleges to a dedicated high-speed network.
• Internet2: Led by more than 200 U.S. universities, working with industry and government, Internet2 develops and deploys advanced network applications and technologies for research and higher education, accelerating the creation of tomorrow's Internet.
• National Lambda Rail: Advancing the research, clinical, and educational goals of members and other institutions by establishing and maintaining a unique nationwide network infrastructure that is owned and controlled by the U.S. research community.
• NEREN: The NorthEast Research and Education Network fosters the development of a regional optical network in New England.
• NoX: The Northern Crossroads facilitates advanced networking and collaboration among research institutions in New England.

Magazines, newsletters, journals, and other publications

• Campus Technology: This magazine features topics including advanced networking, administrative systems, portals, security, electronic publishing, presentation technologies, course management systems, technology infrastructure, and strategic IT planning.
• CIO: This business technology magazine targets senior IT leaders and staff in the business and corporate worlds.
• EDUCAUSE Quarterly: A practitioner's journal for college and university managers and users of information resources—information, technology, and services.
• Federal Computer Week Magazine: This business technology magazine provides coverage of government, business and technology issues to help government IT decision-makers achieve results and meet agency missions.

• Portals: A magazine for those interested in a variety of business portal strategies and solutions.
• Public CIO: This magazine targets information technology change agents, helping them understand and make choices in leading their organizations into the future, connecting them to their peers, offering valuable insights, and coaching on developing an effective management style.
• The Data Warehousing Institute (TDWI): TDWI offers three newsletters on business intelligence and data warehousing with comprehensive industry news and analysis focused on the latest business intelligence tools, technology, and trends, written for IT leaders and business executives who plan, build, deploy, and use business intelligence products and solutions.
• Wired: A trend-setting magazine covering the people, companies, technologies, and ideas that transform lives, identifying the latest technologies to enhance and improve business, education, entertainment, and other fields.

Professional organizations

• The American Society for Information Science & Technology: The society for information professionals leading the search for new and better theories, techniques, and technologies to improve access to information.
• The Association of Information Technology Professionals: AITP offers opportunities for information technology (IT) leadership and education through partnerships with industry, government, and education.
• IEEE Computer Society: Leading provider of technical information, community services, and personalized services for the world's computing professionals.
• Information Technology Association of America: ITAA provides information about the IT industry, its issues, association programs, publications, meetings, and seminars.
• The Quilt: A dynamic forum where leaders from throughout the regional networking community build on the intellectual capital and best practices of network service providers worldwide.
• SSTI: State Science & Technology Institute is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to improving government-industry programs that encourage economic growth through the application of science and technology.
• Women in Technology International: WITI is a global organization helping tech-savvy women attain their professional goals.