At the recommendation of the GNC, to more formally recognize the vital role that state and regional networks play, and to engage these organizations more fully within the Internet2 community, The Internet2 Board of Trustees established the Research and Education Network membership category in 2006. This new category is open to any organization that is metropolitan, state, or multi-state in scope, and whose principal mission is to provide network infrastructure and services primarily to the research and education community in the relevant geographic area, including, but not limited to, access to the Internet2 national network infrastructure and services. Through this new membership category, these organizations will be able to fully leverage the benefits available to Internet2 members.