The state will award $10 million to help expand the Internet2 project in Texas, Gov. Rick Perry announced Tuesday.
Virtual physicians, underwater explorations above sea level, real-time live music performances and instruction from thousands of miles away were all touted as part of the innovations of Internet2.
The new technology will allow schools to share information around the world at speeds more than 4,000 times the rate of a standard dial-up modem and more than 800 times faster than that of a cable modem.
"The funds will put Texas institutions of higher learning on the cutting edge of network capabilities, help Texas compete for research dollars and jobs in new industries, and enable the development of revolutionary Internet applications that will benefit academia, industry and the public," Perry said.
The Lonestar Education and Research Network, which is made up of 31 Texas colleges and universities, will use $7.5 million of the total Texas Enterprise Fund grant to create a sophisticated networking backbone in Texas that will be connected to the Internet2 network and National LambdaRail, a new coast-to-coast optical fiber network that will be four times as fast as existing technology.
The money comes from the TEF, which was approved by the Legislature last year at Perry's request. The fund was enacted to help create new jobs in Texas and recruit new employers.
"The governor had lots of different funds he could have chosen to take the funds from," said Dan Updegrove, vice president for information technology at the University. "He chose TEF because being connected to this network will keep us competitive about research, which will bring grants that lead to new technologies and, in turn, new jobs."
This connection will keep Texas competitive with other states, such as California, which already have the technology to access Internet2, Updegrove said.
"Our state is a magnet for growth," said Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst. "People aren't coming by accident, and we want to continue to keep the state growing."
The other $2.5 million will be used to further develop the Texas Internet Grid for Research and Education, which makes the network easier to navigate.
"If you need to send specialized data to a computer that requires a very fast network, it can be complicated to navigate," Updegrove said.
Texas Advanced Computing Center is a partner in creating the software. Tina Romanella de Marquez, communications and development manager, said her company is essentially paid to be an integrator.
"Texas Tech, Rice and Houston don't have the same systems we have. This software will act as a grid allowing all of the campuses to access the network," de Marquez said.
A press conference following Perry's announcement started with questions concerning Internet2 but quickly shifted gears toward school finance. The Texas Supreme Court could hear an appeal on a recent ruling that would stop funding to Texas schools if legislators don't find a suitable solution.
Perry said he had full faith that law makers would have a bill that all the Legislature could agree on, and that if such a bill was put in front of him, he "wouldn't be afraid to call a special session next week."
"We believe the system is broken," Perry said. "The judge's decision means little."
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