March 27-28, 2000

FOR RELEASE: Immediate
Contacts:
Susan Andrews
Northwestern University
s-andrews@northwestern.edu
+1-847-467-5930

Peggy Keegan
C-SPAN
pkeegan@c-span.org
+1-202-626-8797

Greg Wood
Internet2
ghwood@internet2.edu
+1-202-331-5360

Mike Maney
IBM
mmaney@us.ibm.com
+1-914-766-4530

C-SPAN, iCAIR and Internet2 Announce New Digital Video Initiative
New initiative supported by existing and experimental IBM and other technologies

Washington, DC--March 28, 2000--Today the International Center for Advanced Internet Research at Northwestern University (iCAIR), C-SPAN, and Internet2 announced an initiative to advance a new generation of Internet media applications initially focused on higher education. IBM, a founding member of iCAIR, will support the new initiative with a new combination of existing and experimental technologies. Other technologies include high-performance components that comprise the advanced networks. The technologies at iCAIR will enable video content, high-quality digital encoding, high volume storage, digital content management, and the indexing, retrieval, and viewing of content through a video portal.

"This initiative will help develop experimental capabilities to interact with video content and to integrate digital video for research and education applications," said Robert Kennedy, executive vice president of C-SPAN.

"This project demonstrates iCAIR's advanced digital media technologies for the Internet, which will soon provide powerful multimedia experiences to anyone, anywhere, anytime," said Joel Mambretti, director of the International Center for Advanced Internet Research.

This experimental system is currently in development at iCAIR and is being demonstrated today in Washington, D.C. during the Spring 2000 Internet2 Member Meeting.

This initiative with C-SPAN is the latest step in an effort by Internet2 and iCAIR to develop a national Digital Video Network (I2-DVN). I2-DVN will provide a variety of digital services initially focused on higher education. Supporting this network will be emerging advanced Internet technologies that guarantee high quality video and audio services. Initial trials of the I2-DVN have already been successfully conducted by the Metropolitan Research and Education Network (MREN), a seven-state upper Midwest regional advanced network linked to high-performance backbone networks.

International Center for Advanced Internet Research, Northwestern University (iCAIR): iCAIR was established by Northwestern and IBM, with Cisco Systems, Ameritech, and other corporate partners to accelerate the development and implementation of advanced Internet technologies and services (www.icair.org). Northwestern University, established in 1851, is a leading private research and teaching institution with 17,700 undergraduate, graduate and professional students enrolled in 12 schools and colleges. It is considered one of the top ranked institutions for effective use of technology. For more information about Northwestern University, visit its Web site at http://www.northwestern.edu.

C-SPAN, which marks its 21st anniversary in March, offers commercial-free round-the-clock coverage of public affairs via cable and satellite and on the Internet. C-SPAN was created in l979 by the cable television industry as a public service to the nation. For more information about C-SPAN, visit its Web site at http://www.c-span.org.

Internet2 is developing and deploying advanced network applications and technologies for research and education, accelerating the creation of tomorrow's Internet. For more information about Internet2, see: http://www.internet2.edu/.

IBM: IBM is the world's leading provider of information technology products and services and an Internet2 Corporate Partner. IBM creates, develops, and manufactures the industry's most advanced information technologies, including computer systems, software, networking systems, storage devices and microelectronics. For more information about the company, please visit http://www.ibm.com.

Metropolitan Research and Education Network (MREN): MREN, designed in 1993 and implemented in 1994 by a consortium of research organizations, is one of the world's most advanced high performance networks. MREN was designed to support a wide range of advanced applications and to accelerate the development of next generation Internet technologies. MREN established the world's first GigaPOP in 1995. For more information, go to http://www.mren.org.

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