9. THE MICHIGAN MOONSHOT INITIATIVE

Merit Network Inc. is an independent nonprofit Research & Education (R&E) organization, owned and governed by 12 of 13 Michigan’s public universities. We launched the Michigan Moonshot initiative in 2018 as a collective call to action to bridge the digital divide in Michigan. The goal is to expand broadband access by informing policymakers, fostering public-private partnerships, encouraging collaboration and narrowing the homework gap, so everyone can benefit from the advantages that high-speed internet service brings. Merit is one of more than 40 R&E networks in the country. Like Merit, these organizations serve as ISPs to public higher education institutions and contribute to the ecosystem of organizations, partnerships and approaches aimed at solving broadband issues. Besides delivering connectivity, R&Es offer network and cybersecurity services, provide training and educational materials, and serve as centers of collaboration. Merit’s history of educational, technological and governmental partnerships provides a trusted foundation for the Moonshot initiative. Founded in 1966, Merit was the first R&E network in the U.S., and our network still stands as the longest-running R&E network in the country. Merit’s name stems from its original moniker, the Michigan Educational Research Information Triad. It was created by Michigan State University, the University of Michigan and Wayne State University to share resources by connecting the universities’ mainframe computers. This ongoing partnership, which continues to expand, paved the way for the commercial internet as it is known today. We managed NSFNET, the forerunner to the internet, on behalf of the National Science Foundation from NSFNET’s beginning in 1988 through its end in 1995. Merit provides network, security and community services to about 400 member organizations, which include Michigan’s public universities, colleges, K-12 organizations, libraries, state governments, health care organizations and other nonprofits. With a fiber-optic network spanning more than 4,000 miles in Michigan, Merit is ideally situated to bring together partners in statewide broadband accessibility under the Moonshot initiative.

The Moonshot initiative rests on three pillars:

• Data Mapping Analysis • Education, Resources and Funding • Infrastructure

This approach has been designed to be applicable to any region that is unserved or underserved by broadband access.

Data Mapping Analysis Provide communities with expert GIS and broadband support to assist with data collection and mapping, analysis, grant storytelling and infrastructure planning Leverage user-driven data and open source tools to provide accurate, granular, household-level outputs and visualizations

Michigan Moonshot Pillars

Education, Resources and Funding Share educational materials, host community events and offer technical assistance to support and empower local leaders and communities to demonstrate tangible progress toward broadband expansion Infrastructure

As a statewide network operator, Merit is positioned to assist communities with our infrastructure expertise. We approach this from an agnostic perspective in support of all ownership models, technologies and collaborator arrangements Activities include:

• Developing a citizen science/crowdsourcing approach to assessing the homework gap. • Sharing information statewide. • Fostering public-private partnerships. • Develop educational materials on planning, building and running a network. • Establishing unbiased community connectivity teams to provide expertise in data analysis, broadband technologies, financing, sustainability, grant writing, project management and network construction. • Helping communities understand and access funding and one-time construction subsidies. • Working with partners on research and policy recommendations.

• Organizing Communities of Practice — opportunities for networking, sharing industry best practices and professional development.

These groups meet quarterly, with options for remote participation. (Limited to professional staff at Merit Member organizations.) • Helping communities gather granular data and create maps showing the types and speeds of internet connections so they can make plans for improving their infrastructure.

This includes a study conducted with our

Moonshot partner the Quello Center at

Michigan State University to assess the homework gap in Michigan (see page 9), and conducting surveys on behalf of counties (see page 19). • Managing the Moonshot Marketplace: Here

Michigan Moonshot members and Merit

Members can purchase goods and services needed to plan, build and run their networks from trusted partners. We pre-negotiate rates for discounts and deals with vendors and contractors for every aspect of planning, building and running a network, including equipment.

Merit also regularly holds Moonshot educational events and webinars, where subject matter experts: • Provide overviews of nationally available frameworks and resources to help communities jump-start their networks. • Share updates on crowdsourced connectivity data.

• Explain the financial models, funding sources and feasibility cases for community networks. • Explore wired and wireless solutions for connectivity. • Provide overviews of current and future broadband policy. • Create next steps for communities and anchor institutions.

“To go fast, go alone. To go far, go together.” — Vint Cerf, a “father” of the internet

We’re in this together. Go to MichiganMoonshot.org to see how we can help you build a more equitable and inclusive network for your community.

PATHFINDER PROGRAM

The Pathfinder program offers step-by-step consultations on setting up a network. We have on hand subject matter experts plus local leaders who have already walked this path before. They will help you:

• Assess conditions and set goals

• Collect data and resident sentiment

• Select an ownership and operations model

• Perform feasibility, inspection and pre-engineering work

• Navigate legislative and legal requirements

• Secure funding

• Engineer, build and operate the network

See details at https://www.merit.edu/community/moonshot/pathfinder/.

Participation in this program can be funded through a Michigan Moonshot Community Grant. Learn more here.