By Earving L. Blythe
Vice President Information Technology, Virginia Tech

Increasingly, "big science" and engineering research will require access to computing, storage, collaboration, and grid infrastructure linked by extremely high capacity fiber optic networks. Any research institution in the US without access to national optical research network infrastructure will be severely disadvantaged for attracting research in any area related to or dependent upon computation, visualization, or digital collaboration. The NSF-sponsored Distributed Terascale Facility (DTF) and Extensible Terascale Facility related network does not extend into the South (nor into the Washington, D. C. area). Arguably, the computational capabilities and facilities that would justify extension of this infrastructure into the South do not currently exist.

There is concern that the "right" robust fiber and optical infrastructure does not exist in the right places in the South to enable a level of aggregation which could justify extension of advanced optical networks into the South. More generally, fiber infrastructure is now touted as abundant in the US, but in reality the so called "fiber glut" exists only between and within large metropolitan areas. The "fiber glut" access points do not lie within economical reach of the vast majority of Virginia communities. This same circumstance applies to over 90 percent of the communities in the southern region of the United States.

In contrast to most of our public communications network infrastructure, and even several of our national advanced research communications networks, to be economically and technically feasible, the enabling communication infrastructure must reflect the full functional and economic potential of today's communications technology, plus be able to quickly integrate emerging new capabilities. This is not a prevailing characteristic of the nation's embedded communications infrastructure.

We must look for opportunities to become partners in national advanced research network development efforts, and, with success, Virginia Tech would gain the opportunity to:

• Ensure placement of backbone nodes in our region.

• Influence the national agenda for development and management of this critical research infrastructure.

• Enhance our visibility among other top research institutions and funding agencies.

• Leverage relationships and agreements to enhance development of state based fiber initiatives.

• Establish leadership at regional, national, and international levels.

• Ensure competitiveness for our institutional programs through early and effective access at the lowest possible cost to us.

Implementation of an optical grid infrastructure for research and education in the south will create a significant "pull through" opportunity for economic development. If seized upon, such an opportunity could be managed into an enormous competitive advantage on a global scale for the entire region.

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