Posts
EDUCAUSE is working with representatives from across the research and education network (REN) community to highlight the importance of closing the institutional digital divide.
EDUCAUSE has consistently pressed for funding both to ensure that higher education students can overcome digital divides and to strengthen the networks that support research and education, as John O'Brien, President & CEO at EDUCAUSE reports.
As Congress and the
Biden administration negotiate a major federal investment in broadband,
we at EDUCAUSE are happy to work with our sister organizations to
elevate the voice of higher education in the debate. I am particularly
encouraged by our recent collaboration, led by Internet2 and The Quilt,
with representatives from across the research and education network
(REN) community. Through that process, we have come together to
highlight the importance of closing the institutional digital divide, which is essential to achieving vital national objectives.
Photo: EDUCAUSE Review
Shortly before Memorial Day this year, our working group released The Minds We Need: Research and Education Infrastructure Inclusion, Innovation, and Competitiveness. This report calls for a nearly $5 billion investment in REN infrastructure as a key element of addressing the broadband, research, and education goals of the United States. Together, we argue that this injection of funding into state and regional RENs and the country's research and education network backbone, Internet2, will make it possible to connect every college and university—including every community college, historically black college and university (HBCU), minority-serving institution (MSI), tribal college and university (TCU), and college and university-related research facility—to advanced, research-quality broadband.
Furthermore, the proposed funding will enable these critical connections while also expanding the capacity and capabilities of the networks for all of the institutions that rely on them...
Creating this rising tide of connectivity to lift all of higher education's boats will, in turn, allow institutions of all types across the country to incorporate bandwidth-intensive, multimedia knowledge resources into their courses and programs, enriching and extending the quality and effectiveness of the learning opportunities they make available. It will also open the door for many more institutions and students to participate in research projects and activities, which again will generate new, more advanced learning opportunities while strengthening academic research.
Source: EDUCAUSE Review
