NETnet Information

NETnet is an internet service distributor. Unlike an Internet Service Provider (ISP), we do not sell internet access. Rather, ISPs bring their service to our Center for Educational Technology where we "distribute" it to our member institutions. We pass on the ISPs charges to the member institutions, forming an instant value-added service to our affiliated organizations that they, individually, might otherwise not have had available. As a result, we are not in competition with commercial ISPs but rather in cooperation with competitive, aggressive ISPs who are willing to help us more fully leverage our members' limited financial resources. NETnet began distributing internet service in 1998 when 10 rural public school districts formed the SUPERNET Consortium, asking the NETnet Center for Educational Technologies to house their internet bridge. From 10 members and a small connection to the internet, SUPERNET has expanded to 17 members (1 of which represents over 20 local campus locations) and increased its internet access 600-700%. In the process, the current ISP created a "point of presence" in the NETnet facility, connecting this new resource to its central facility by fiber optics to ensure quality service and long-term growth capabilities. In the first quarter of 2004, NETnet will launch a much larger version of the public school project to service its 15 member colleges and universities. The project is the result of a 1-year planning process culminating in a formal bid awarded to SBC Datacomm in 2003. The multi-year contract and technology design will bring a redundant OC-3 of internet access to the NETnet facility, where it will be broken up and distributed on the NETnet network. The service includes 24x7x365 monitoring and maintenance by the SBC Technical Assistance Center (TAC). The NETnet Internet Distribution Initiative includes the following technologies and equipment: OC-3 pipe to Tyler. Redundant pipe to Nacogdoches.