Since 1996 Internet2 has promoted the missions of members by providing both leading-edge network capabilities and unique partnership opportunities that together facilitate the development, deployment, and use of revolutionary Internet technologies.
During 2006 the Internet2 community continued to deliver on its collective commitment to provide advanced networking capabilities that are increasingly critical to research and education, to promote the use of advanced applications that do not work well or at all on the commercial Internet, and to foster the broader adoption of leading-edge networking technologies. In 2006, particular emphasis was placed on member engagement, the new Internet2 Network deployment, advanced digital content delivery, health care networking, cyberinfrastructure, security, and middleware. These priorities were determined in consultation with the Internet2 Board of Trustees and Advisory Councils, and significant progress was made in these areas throughout the year.
Member engagement, always a key priority for Internet2, was a particular focus during 2006. The Governance and Nominations Committee was established to seek extensive member input in developing a set of recommendations for updating Internet2 governance structure and processes. The recommendations, which were approved and are now being implemented, include revising the Board of Trustees and Advisory Councils, and establishing a new membership category to more formally engage regional and state networks.
Based on discussions with Internet2 members and regional networks—and feedback garnered during the Community Design Workshop—plans for the new network were finalized in 2006. Deployment began in earnest during the last quarter of 2006, with the first segment complete before the end of the year. Federated authentication was the watchword for Internet2 Middleware Initiative, with Shibboleth adoption continuing to grow both in the United States and abroad, and new supporting tools and services continuing to be deployed.
Finally, October 2006 marked the 10th anniversary of Internet2's founding. The Fall 2006 Internet2 Member Meeting was held in Chicago, site of the 1996 meeting where Internet2 began. The Fall Member Meeting commemorated the collective commitment and investment made over the previous decade by Internet2 members and the broader community to advanced networking in support of research and education. The collaborative model of engagement was key to the initial development of the Internet, is at the heart of Internet2, and will continue to be critical to fostering new networking technologies.