EAST LANSING, Mich. — The East Lansing-based Prima Civitas Foundation and Michigan State University are part of a national, higher education consortium that has come together to seek higher-speed retail broadband for its various communities.
The consortium, dubbed "Gig.U," is housed at Colorado's Aspen Institute and is made up of as many as 25 university communities across the country.
The goal, said Steve Webster, Prima Civitas CEO and board chairperson, is to advance innovation and economic growth by upgrading the communities to ultra-high-speed broadband services made available by commercial providers. Ultra high speed is 1 gigabit-per-second connectivity.
"This project has the potential to be transformational for the capital region," Webster said. "It's an opportunity for our community to offer higher level broadband and accelerate its growth as a hotspot for knowledge economy jobs.
"This public/private partnership offers a strong competitive advantage for our region that few communities across the country could match."
Ken Theis, chief operating officer for Lansing-based technology firm Dewpoint Inc. and a PCF board member, added: "Representing the corporate side of Greater Lansing, I am pleased to be a part of the collaborative efforts between MSU, PCF and community businesses to ensure mid-Michigan is well placed for this transformational opportunity."
Research university communities have been invited to the effort because they have the demographics and expertise most favorable for very-high-speed Internet connectivity.
"We're very pleased to be partnering with the Prima Civitas Foundation on this project," said David Gift, MSU's vice provost for libraries, computing and technology. "If successful, this would ensure that our community has access to the best broadband of any community in the world."
The consortium is building on the work that was done last year when communities, including Lansing and East Lansing, took part in a national competition to lure Google higher-speed Internet connectivity to their areas. Kansas City, Kan., eventually won that competition, but about 1,100 communities applied, showing broad interest in having very-high-speed connectivity.
The consortium will be working directly with communities and commercial service and infrastructure providers to develop effective business models.
###
The Prima Civitas Foundation exists to serve all residents of Michigan in creating a new, prosperous and sustainable economic future for our great state. As an economic driver committed to transforming the way we do business, PCF is a center for innovation in the 21st century economy that will define Michigan's future. PCF is a 501 (c) 3 nonprofit organization. Visit us on our website at www.primacivitas.org, call us at (517) 999-3382 or e-mail us at info@primacivitas.org.
Michigan State University has been working to advance the common good in uncommon ways for more than 150 years. One of the top research universities in the world, MSU focuses its vast resources on creating solutions to some of the world's most pressing challenges, while providing life-changing opportunities to a diverse and inclusive academic community through more than 200 programs of study in 17 degree-granting colleges.