Internet2 Partners with ResearchChannel to Explore High Bandwidth Internet Video

Seattle, Washington – October 11, 1999 – Internet2 announced today that it will partner with ResearchChannel to form a new working group that will use ResearchChannel’s high quality, high bandwidth Internet video technology experiments to focus on developing advanced technologies for delivering high bandwidth, on-demand video over the Internet.

ResearchChannel is a consortium of leading research institutions experimenting with innovative methods of distributing broadcast quality video. Working with Sony Electronics Inc., ResearchChannel recently used Internet2 networks to send high definition television (HDTV) from Stanford University to the University of Washington at more than 270 megabits per second, or nearly 5,000 times faster than a typical modem.

“High-bandwidth, better than broadcast quality video over the Internet is the kind of application not possible today that Internet2 is working to enable. The Internet2 ResearchChannel Working Group will help Internet2 members develop the capabilities and tackle the challenges on the horizon for the commercial Internet of the next century,” said Douglas Van Houweling, president and CEO of the University Corporation for Advanced Internet Development (UCAID), the organization leading Internet2.

In addition to demonstrating HDTV, ResearchChannel will use Internet technology to deliver video for broadcast on a commercial cable system from the Fall 1999 Internet2 Member Meeting taking place in Seattle from October 11 to October 13. Three plenary sessions from the Internet2 Member Meeting will be delivered via Internet2 networks at MPEG-2 broadcast quality to Seattle viewers of the University of Washington’s cable channel, uw2.tv, on channel 76.

“Each new ResearchChannel high bandwidth distribution experiment dovetails with Internet2’s advanced network development and country-wide backbone,” said Amy Philipson, director of ResearchChannel. “This partnership promises to fulfill the goals of each entity while serving as the basis for the development and evaluation of advanced applications for the next generation Internet.”

About ResearchChannel
ResearchChannel links a growing global audience to the revolutionary developments, insights and discoveries of leading research and academic institutions through online, on-air and on-demand video distribution formats. Founded as a way to share breakthrough research with the public, the ResearchChannel consortium includes world-renowned universities and research institutions. Video programming ranging from technology and science innovations to fascinating arts and humanities topics is shared in its original form and without interruption.

About Internet2
Internet2, a project of the University Corporation for Advanced Internet Development, provides leadership and direction for advanced networking development within the U.S. university community. Its programs are devoted to network research, technology transfer, and collaborative activities in related fields such as distance learning and educational technology. Internet2 is a collaborative project by over 160 U.S. research universities, in partnership with industry leaders and U.S. federal agencies, to develop a new family of advanced applications to meet emerging academic requirements in research, teaching and learning. www.internet2.edu.