Northern Tier Networking Consortium

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Northern Tier Networking Consortium

• R.Ford - NTNC Secretary
• Assoc. VP for IT (CIO) - U.Montana
• MARCH 2005

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Northern Tier Story - Quick Version

• If this was 1803-1806
• Wed be Lewis Clark wishing that the Missouri
  River system went all the way across the Northern
  Tier
• If this was 1870
• Wed be looking at the map trying to assure that
  railroad lines go into and across the Northern
  Tier
• If this was 1955
• Wed be looking at the map trying to assure that
  the interstate highway system goes into and
  across the Northern Tier
• But because this is 2005
• Were looking at the map trying to assure that
  next generation networking goes into and across
  the Northern Tier

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Northern Tier Network Consortium www.ntnc.org

• NTNC Background
• Initiated Spring 2003 by universities in WA, MT,
  ND, SD, MN, WI -- later joined by ID, IA, NB
• Anchored by GigaPoPs at each end
• Joined by other academic, non-profit, and
  state/federal government entities
• Sponsored as a project by Internet2
• Goal1 Facilitate east to Chicago, west to
  Seattle
• Goal2 Facilitate golden spike part to achieve
  Seattle/Chicago throughway
• Form Combine state/regional networks, maintain
  GigaPoP relationships, and add to national
  network footprint

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Northern Tier Network ChallengeTo get on the
map