PREPnet Acceptable Use Policy The intent of this policy is to clarify certain cases which are consistent with the purposes of PREPnet, not to exhaustively enumerate such possible uses. For a particular use of PREPnet to be acceptable, all of the following conditions must be met: 1. All use must be consistent with the purposes of PREPnet as stated in the Pennsylvania Research and Economic Partnership Network Consortium Charter. 2. All data on PREPnet must originate or terminate at a member or affiliate institution in Pennsylvania. --- Pennsylvania Research Partnership Network Consortium Charter The Pennsylvania Research Partnership Network Consortium [the Consortium] is an organization of research institutions within Pennsylvania whose goals are to enhance and support research activities within the State by providing and promoting high-speed data communications facilities and services for these institutions, and thus foster economic development within Pennsylvania. Purposes of the Consortium The purposes of the Consortium include the following: ~ To increase the opportunities for collaboration in academic research between colleagues at the various research institutions throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. ~ To make it feasible for research colleagues in the state to exchange not only simple messages and texts, but also significant amounts of data, including graphics images, experimental data, etc. ~ To provide better access throughout the Commonwealth to research resources at the universities and in the industrial firms which are their research partners. (Examples of such resources would include the computing facilities of the Pittsburgh Supercomputing Center, catalogs of library holdings of the major universities, and, possibly, specialized data bases of industrial partners.) ~ To contribute to the economic development of the Commonwealth by facilitating the transfer of new technologies from laboratories and research centers to businesses and industries. ~ To provide interconnection of the statewide network with similar regional and national networks, such as the National Science Foundation backbone network, to extend these opportunities on a national scale. Definitions PRPnet refers to the high speed data communication network to be established among the Consortium members in pursuit of the above-mentioned purposes. The PRPnet Unit of the the MPC Corporation consists of the people under its auspices who have responsibility for the on-going coordinating and operational activities of PRPnet. The MPC Corporation is a joint-venture of Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Pittsburgh, formed as a vehicle for cooperative work between those universities. Activities The initial activity by which the Consortium will pursue these ends is PRPnet itself, the Pennsylvania Research Partnership Network. PRPnet is established as a cooperative effort of the Consortium members, government, and industry. Structure The charter institutions of the Consortium, a mix of public and private institutions, are: ~ Carnegie Mellon University ~ Drexel University ~ Lehigh University ~ Pennsylvania State University ~ Temple University ~ University of Pennsylvania ~ University of Pittsburgh The Consortium is governed by a Steering Committee comprised of representatives of its charter institutions and the Co-Directors of the PRPnet unit of the MPC Corporation. The PRPnet unit of the MPC Corporation, located in Pittsburgh, acts to coordinate the activities of the Consortium with its business and governmental associates, to serve as business agent for the Consortium, and to implement PRPnet. The Pittsburgh Supercomputing Center assists the Consortium by supporting the PRPnet unit of the MPC Corporation by providing technical and administrative staff support for the Consortium and network gateway functions for PRPnet. Acceptance By signing below, the institution hereby expresses its commitment to participate as a charter member of the Pennsylvania Research Partnership Network Consortium, as defined in this document and in Attachments A,B,C, and D, accepting the duties and responsibilities as well as the benefits of such membership. Signed:__________________________________________ Title:____________________________________________ Representing:_____________________________________ Date:____________________________________________