Gig.U, the University Community Next Generation Innovation Project, released a Request for Information (RFI), inviting private sector entities to join Gig.U in bringing next generation networks and services to university communities across the country. The RFI process convenes the collaboration between Gig.U members and the private sector, who hope to work together to provide innovative, cost-effective strategies that will accelerate the deployment of ultra high-speed connectivity to the nation’s leading research universities and their surrounding communities.
The RFI will seek input from university communities, leading Internet service providers and other interested entities with final responses due to Gig.U on November 9, 2011. Respondents and Gig.U members will also have an opportunity to learn more about the RFI process and engage in a dialogue with university and community members during Gig.U’s RFI workshop on Sept. 26 at the University of Chicago. The RFI can be found on the Gig.U website, www.gig-u.org.
Since its national launch on July 27, Gig.U has expanded its institutional membership to 37 universities, adding eight research institutions to its nationwide roster. New members include: California Institute of Technology, Florida State University, Georgia Institute of Technology, University of Arizona, University of Colorado – Boulder, University of Maine, University of Nebraska – Lincoln, and the University of Oklahoma.