V.
Alaska Distance Education Consortium
Sponsored Education Group Participant (SEGP) Proposal
This agreement between the Alaska Distance Education Consortium (ADEC) and the University of
Alaska will facilitate participation with Internet2 and access to the Abilene network for all eligible
institutions in the state of Alaska.
Table of Contents:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Introduction
AKSEGP Policy Development Process
SEGP Network Overview
Definition of Terms
1. Introduction
At the request of U.S. Senator Ted Stevens, University of Alaska President Mark Hamilton convened
the Alaska Distance Education Consortium (ADEC) in the summer of 2000. The consortium is an
executive group of policy makers representing higher education, K-12 education, vocational
education, military affairs, health education and the private sector. The mission of ADEC is to:
 Develop a long-term distance education and technology strategic plan that effectively
develops, coordinates, and expands distance education opportunities and Alaska’s
information technology infrastructure.
 Determine the role of educators, telecommunication companies, community organizations,
government agencies and other stakeholders in meeting the needs identified by members.
ADEC enters this agreement with the understanding that a SEGP agreement for Alaska will directly
benefit Alaskans who wish to participate in distance education, both formally through courses and
programs, and informally through projects, events and lifelong learning. ADEC and the University
intend to enter into a separate agreement include ADEC as Sponsored Education Group Participant
in Abilene.
For the 2006/2007 school year, assuming that the SEGP network is operational, there will be no cost
to eligible institutions for engaging in appropriate activities involving access to Internet2. The
University of Alaska, in partnership with the telecommunications carriers in Alaska, will provide
access to the network guided by policies established by the Alaska Sponsored Education Group
Participant (AKSEGP) Advisory Group and consistent with the terms established by Abilene and
Internet2.
For AKSEGP: Eligible institutions are defined as all Alaskan. educational and research institutions
including Pre-K-20 schools, libraries, museums, supplemental education service providers, tribal
organizations, government agencies, hospitals, health facilities and specialized education institutions
such as the Alaska Challenger Center, the Alaska Sealife Center and the Alaska Native Heritage
Center.
2. AKSEGP Policy Development Process
There will be four groups that will meet to develop policy, procedures and the technical
infrastructure for AKSEGP.
a.
AKSEGP Infrastructure Workgroup:
This group, consisting of representatives from all of Alaska’s telecommunications providers has been
meeting regularly to develop the AKSEGP Network Overview (attached). This group will continue
to meet regularly until the network is established. Once AKSEGP is available to all Alaskan
sponsored participants (eligible institutions), this group will meet as needed to plan for the
maintenance and upgrades of the network.
At the next meeting of this group, they will elect a facilitator who will serve for one academic year
(September through August). The facilitator will be responsible for meeting arrangements and
agendas, communication with members regarding the work of the group and communicating with
other constituencies as needed.
b. AKSEGP Network Operations Group
This group will operate the AKSEGP Network. Engineers and technicians, a sub-group of the
AKSEGP Infrastructure Group will install, maintain and upgrade the network as needed in order
to provide access to eligible institutions. The operators will work closely with the Infrastructure
Work Group to determine the technical specifications and requirements for the network, guided by
terms established by Abilene and Internet 2 and policy established by ADEC.
c. AKSEGP Advisory Committee:
This group will be responsible for writing policy for AKSEGP consistent with the terms established
by Abilene and Internet2. Membership will be open to representatives from all eligible institutions,
as well as members of the AKSEGP Infrastructure Workgroup. This group will meet in July of
2006 for an initial two day meeting to draft policy regarding: appropriate use, communication with
constituents, fee structures, responsibility for network maintenance and upgrades and
governance/administration of the AKSEGP. This group will be facilitated by the Director of
ADEC.
d. ADEC Advisory Committee:
The ADEC Advisory Committee consists of representatives from all core and affiliate member
organizations (34). The ADEC Advisory Committee will review the policy drafted by the AKSEGP
Advisory Committee and recommend either that the policy be returned to the AKSEGP Advisory
Committee for revision or clarification, or that the policy be sent to the University of Alaska for
review. In August of 2006, the AKSEGP draft policy will be reviewed by the University of Alaska.
As the regular member of Internet2, UA is responsible for making certain that the AKSEGP
operates according to the terms established by Internet2. After the University’s review, the policy
will either be returned to the ADEC Advisory Committee for revision, or sent directly to the ADEC
Executive Committee. Following the meeting of the ADEC Executive Committee, AKSEGP policy
will be distributed widely and posted on the ADEC website.
AKSEGP Infrastructure Workgroup
AKSEGP Network Operations Group
AKSEGP Advisory Committee
ADEC Advisory Committee
UA Policy Review
ADEC Executive Committee
3. SEGP Network Overview
The University of Alaska will submit a Letter of Sponsorship to extend its Participation Agreement
with Abilene to the Alaska Sponsored Education Group Participant. AKSEGP will agree to abide by
the Abilene Network Terms of Participation and the Abilene Conditions of Use. In accordance with
its Letter of Sponsorship, the University of Alaska will have the right to terminate the AKSEGP’s
Abilene Participation at any time.
The AKSEGP network will be neutral towards participating internet service providers. All Alaskan
telecommunications will have an equal opportunity to access the network for appropriate Internet2
traffic.
Only appropriate Internet2 traffic will be transported through the AKSEGP network. UA, as the
regular member of Internet2 accepts responsibility for making certain that only I2 appropriate traffic
is disseminated by AKSEGP.
For the first year the following costs will be shared between the University of Alaska and Alaskan
Internet Service Providers.
-- costs for the development of the AKSEGP network
-- costs associated with bandwith to transport the Internet2 traffic
-- costs associated with the maintenance and operation of the AKSEGP network
The AKSEGP Advisory Group will determine a structure for fees to be charged to support the
network and participation in the network after the 2006-2007 school year. The proposal for fees will
be approved the ADEC Executive Committee.
4. Definition of Terms: Internet2 and Abilene Terms of Affiliation
Abilene Network, Abilene is an advanced backbone network that supports the development and
deployment of the new applications being developed within the Internet2 community. Abilene
connects regional network aggregation points, called gigaPoPs, to support the work of Internet2
universities as they develop advanced Internet applications. Abilene complements other highperformance research networks.
Abilene Connector, Abilene connectors are research and educational institutions connecting directly
to the Abilene network. Abilene connectors may be gigaPoPs, universities, affiliate members or other
regional networks.
Abilene Primary Participant, Primary Participants are Regular, Affiliate and Corporate members
who pay membership fees. Primary institutions are typically colleges and universities, but may also be
other types of research organizations with the capability of committing and deploying the substantial
resources necessary to implement Internet2 capabilities. Before requesting an application to become
an Abilene Primary Participant, your organization must be an Internet2 member.
Advanced Backbone Network, The high-performance networks participating in Internet2 that
provide the environment in which new network applications and capabilities can be deployed and
tested.
Affiliate Members, Affiliate members are nonprofit organizations that are research- and/or
education-oriented. Affiliate members are organizations with a strong interest in the mission and
goals of Internet2. Many affiliate members are providing leadership in developing the Internet2
gigaPoPs. . Affiliate members pay Internet2 membership dues and Abilene connection fees (if
connected).
Affiliate Membership Collaboration Sites, Affiliate members that are nonprofit organizations that
are research- and/or education-oriented labs and who meet certain conditions may apply to become
collaboration sites. They may connect directly to Abilene or through a gigaPoP. Affiliate members
with collaboration site status are responsible for Internet2 membership dues and Abilene connection
fees. In addition to the Collaboration Site Application, the Abilene Participation Application is also
required.
Corporate Member, Internet2 corporate members are committed to promoting the development
and deployment of advanced Internet applications and network services. Corporate members are
responsible for Internet2 membership dues and Abilene connection fees if they choose to be an
Abilene Participant.
Corporate Partners, Corporate partners commit $1million+ dollars over the course of three years.
Internet2 corporate partners and sponsors have made significant commitments to collaborating with
Internet2 universities. Corporate partners are responsible for Internet2 membership dues and
Abilene connection fees they choose to be an Abilene Participant.
Corporate Sponsors, Corporate sponsors commit $100,000+ dollars over the course of three years.
Internet2 corporate partners and sponsors have made significant commitments to collaborating with
Internet2 universities. Corporate sponsors are responsible for Internet2 membership dues and
Abilene connection fees they choose to be an Abilene Participant.
Corporate Collaboration Sites, Corporate members who have research- and/or education-oriented
labs and who meet certain conditions may apply to become corporate collaboration sites. It is
common for corporate collaboration sites to have existing research orientated relationships with
Internet2 Regular Members that require a high performance connection. Corporate collaboration
sites may connect directly to Abilene or through a gigaPoP. Corporate members with collaboration
site status are responsible for Internet2 membership dues and Abilene connection fees. In addition to
the Collaboration Site Application, the Abilene Participation Application is also required.
GigaPoP, GigaPoPs are regional network aggregation points formed by Internet2 universities to
connect to a variety of high performance, and other types of networks. GigaPoPs provide scalable
high-speed connection points. Internet2 gigaPoPs do not pay Internet2 membership dues. A
university may be its own gigaPoP, a gigaPoP may be part of a University or its own separate entity.
International MoU Partner, through mutual agreements with similar organizations around the
world, Internet2 is establishing ties that will help ensure the continued global interoperability of
advanced networking, and enable collaboration between U.S. researchers, faculty, students and their
overseas counterparts. An international advanced network organization that has signed a
Memorandum of Understanding to participate in Internet2 activities may connect to Abilene via a
peering network. International partners are not subjected to Internet2 membership dues and are not
considered Internet2 members.
International University, Universities not located in the United States may not become members of
Internet2. Instead, Internet2 has developed relationships with International Partners who are also
dedicated to advanced networking. In some cases, the International Partner may operate a high
performance network by which an International University may connect. Many International Partner
organizations peer with the Abilene network.
NGIX (Next Generation Internet eXchange point)
Peering Networks, Peering networks are located in the U.S. or internationally that peer with the
Abilene network. The peering network is dedicated to high-performance research and education.
Examples include the vBNS, NREN, DREN, and ESnet.
Regular Member Universities, Member Universities are leading the Internet2 effort to develop
new networking capabilities and advanced applications necessary to enhance research and education
into the next century. Member universities are responsible for Internet2 membership dues and
Abilene connection fees (if connected).
Sponsored Educational Group Participants (SEGP), Networked aggregates of educational
institutions (including nonprofit and for-profit K – 20, technical, and trade schools) which may also
include museums, art galleries, libraries, or hospitals that require routine collaboration on
instructional, clinical, and/or research projects, services, and content with Primary participants or
with other Sponsored participants. Internet2 will charge the Connector for the Sponsored
Educational Group Participant an annual fee of $30,000 per connector per state, plus a variable fee
of $2,000 times the current number of Congressional representatives for that state. Sponsored
Educational Group Participants may pay fees to the Connector and/or to the sponsoring Internet2
member, where these fees apply to the specific conditions of connection. No fees are assessed
directly of the Sponsored Educational Group Participant itself by Internet2. This fee structure will be
assessed on an annual basis. Sponsored Educational Group Participants or NOT considered
members of Internet2.
Sponsored Participants, Sponsored participants are educational institutions (including both notfor-profit and for-profit K-20, technical, and trade schools), museums, art galleries, libraries,
hospitals, as well as other non-educational, not-for-profit or for-profit organizations that require
collaboration on instructional, clinical and/or research projects with Primary participants or with
other sponsored participants. Such organizations are either not eligible or not able to become an
Internet2 member. Only Internet2 University members who are primary participants may sponsor a
sponsored participant. Sponsored participants are not responsible for membership dues to Internet2
and do not pay any fees to the Abilene Network. Sponsored participants may be responsible for
costs associated to the Abilene Connector or to transport (e.g., local loop) providers. These costs are
at the discretion of their sponsoring Internet2 Regular Member who is an Abilene primary
participant.
(Terms provided by Internet2 at http://abilene.internet2.edu/community/terms)
This agreement will be effective upon the approval of the sponsorship agreement between the
University of Alaska and Internet2.
University of Alaska (Regular Internet2 Member)
By:
Its:
Steve Smith
Chief Information Officer
Date:
ALASKA DISTANCE EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY CONSORTIUM (AKSEGP
Managing Organization),
An Agency of the University of Alaska
By:
Its:
Date:
Scott Christian
Executive Director