The latest High Performance Network Connection program from NSF has been announced. The purpose of this program is to encourage additional U.S. institutions of higher education and institutions with significant research and education missions to establish high performance Internet connections (at or above 45mbits per second) where required to facilitate cutting edge science and engineering research.

The announcement, itself, and instructions for proposal submission are located at

http://www.interact.nsf.gov/cise/descriptions.nsf/pd/hpnc?openDocument

Some significant changes from previous announcements are that * In addition to universities and colleges, proposals may be submitted by non-profit, non-academic organizations, including independent museums, observatories, research laboratories, professional societies and similar organizations in the US that are directly associated with educational and research activities and are not currently connected to an advanced network (45mbps) ; * Proposals from groups of institutions, none of which has been previously funded by NSF for a high performance connection, are encouraged where the proposers can, in addition to meeting other criteria outlined in the Program Solicitation, demonstrate a clear cost savings by connecting together rather than separately ; * Scientists involved in the proposed research must be represented as co-PIs (principle investigators); * Proposals must include a plan to extend the reach of the proposed connection beyond the group of early adopters. If you do not have a high performance/advanced network connection, let me encourage you to read the solicitation and consider applying. If you already have a connection, please consider circulating this information so that other institutions have a similar chance to benefit from this program. If you are interested in attending proposal writing workshop aimed specifically at this announcement, please send me an email to that effect.

Do not hesitate to contact me for additional information.

Gregory E. Monaco, Ph.D. Program Director, Advanced Networking __________________________________ National Science Foundation 4201 Wilson Boulevard, Rm. 1175 Arlington, VA 22230 703-292-8948 (voice ANIR) 703-292-4550 (voice direct) 785-554-9657 (cell) 703-292-9010 (fax)