What began in the early 2000s as a way to connect NIU’s main campus to branch facilities in the suburbs quickly grew into an innovative regional engagement commitment.
In the beginning, there was NIUNet – a roughly 175-mile fiber optic loop throughout the western Chicago suburbs and greater northern Illinois region. Using both newly constructed segments and previously unused leased underground fiber, experts from NIU’s Information Technologies and dealmakers in NIU Outreach formed partnerships with local governments, school districts, hospitals and other institutions to bring high-speed connections to their front doors.
NIUNet’s success begat the next chapter in NIU’s broadband story: a 900-mile network spanning nine counties in the northwest part of the state. Launched in 2010 and called the iFiber project, it brought NIU its largest-ever grant: $68.5 million. The initiative increased Internet speeds more than 1,000 times in a region looking for competitive advantages to attract new business.
In DeKalb, another $15 million investment from local, state and national agencies helped both public agencies and private businesses take full advantage of high-speed Internet connections. The DATA network, as it was called, allowed schools, libraries, public safety organizations, hospitals and others to recognize 1000% increase in speed and the ability to share technical resources, video and educational services – all while reducing costs.
Another $21 million federal grant created the NIU-led Illinois Rural Health Network (IRHN). That project connected 88 locations across the state to a lightning-fast broadband network. Health providers in rural areas can consult with specialists, monitor patients in remote locations, transmit and receive very large files such as MRI scans – all in a matter of seconds.
President Peters called NIU’s role in broadband development “a perfect example of how universities engage with their service regions today.”
“This is a 21st century twist on the old land grant model,” Peters said. “At the turn of the 20th century those universities worked with farmers to increase yields and cut costs. Today, we’re working with the broader community to improve quality of life and address a range of social issues.”
Click on photos to enlarge.
