December 11, 2009--Corning Cable Systems (Hickory, NC), part of Corning Incorporated's (Corning, NY) Telecommunications segment, will supply product and design assistance to Case Western Reserve University (Cleveland, OH) and its partners in a historic initiative to test the power of super-high-speed Internet access to change people's lives in poorer, inner-city neighborhoods (see also "Are 100G networks ready for prime time?" and "OFC 2009: What a difference a year makes").
The Center on Urban Poverty and Community Development at the Mandel School of Applied Social Science at Case estimates that as many as 72% of the households in and around the University in the city of Cleveland have no Internet access. Traditional use of the Internet, however, is the least of their problems, as many families fall well below the definition of poverty.
"We believe that access to the Internet at the international gold standard of one Gigabit/sec, coupled with integrated training and support, can change people's lives for the better," says University Vice President for Information Technology Services, Lev Gonick. "Collaborating with more than 40 community participants, we intend to launch a University-sponsored research program to bring healthcare services, safety and security services, energy use and management support, and science education initiatives to our community in ways that will, potentially, be transformative. And, we will study the outcomes in order to make this program one that can be replicated around the country and around the world."
Corning Cable Systems' FlexNAP Terminal Distribution System will provide design flexibility to Case Western Reserve University's fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) network (see also "Corning develops bendable FTTH fiber") . The cost-effective method of deploying optical fiber in outside plant distribution networks enables speeds significantly faster than traditional field installations. Compatible with both aerial and below-ground applications, the cable and network access points are tested and shipped as a complete distribution cable/terminal system.
Other organizations joining Case in the initiative include University Hospitals, The Cleveland Clinic, MetroHealth Hospital System, the City of Cleveland, OneCommunity, the Great Lakes Science Center, and a coalition of public safety forces. At full capacity, the program seeks to connect more than 25,000 residents of the city. "Sustainable use and adoption of super-high- speed Internet connectivity in our neighborhoods is about basic human needs," Gonick says. "If broadband doesn't speak to the urgent needs around public and personal safety, health and wellness and a wide range of educational initiatives, then Internet access will remain largely irrelevant to a large segment of our population."
For more information, go to www.corning.com.
--Posted by Gail Overton, [email protected]; www.laserfocusworld.com.