There are many benefits to a GPN membership. We are best known for our physical internet connection, but we provide so much more. We support a vibrant and active collaborative community.
There are two aspects to GPN membership: network and consortium. Each has a separate fee.
The consortium is “everything but the network”. Research computing, cyber infrastructure, grant assistance, and training. Each of these consortium activities began as a community of practice that continue to meet today. Over time, they were codified into committees.
Each member may participate in our various committees. These have evolved and changed over time, but currently consist of the following:
The Cyberinfrastructure Program committee (CIP) is made up of research computing directors. This group has collaborated and submitted several successful grants in the past, and is waiting to hear on another in 2025.
The security committee discusses recent cybersecurity vulnerabilities and how each campus manages them. Recent topics include HECVAT and cybersecurity insurance. At the GPN Annual Meeting, this group organized a Department of Homeland Security tabletop exercise workshop.
The Network Technical Advisory Committee (NTAC) is made up of members from each state network. They guide GPN’s physical network upgrades and routes. They also discuss current networking difficulties and technologies. This group discusses network improvements and hardware performance with each other. The NTAC recommends GPN network hardware improvements.
Each state has a voting member on the Network Program Committee (NPC). With guidance of the NTAC , the NPC directs the network of GPN.
Each GPN member state has a voting delegate on the Executive Council (EC). The EC makes all final decisions for GPN and directs its budget.
GPN works with other state and regional networks around the country. The Quilt is a national organization made up of state and regional networks. Belonging to GPN gives you access to their bulk purchase program. The Quilt also specializes in helping members take advantage of state and federal broadband initiative programs. One of their goals is to help smaller states get their fair share of federal dollars.
By coordinating with other state networks, we provide our members with better network services. We have agreements with BOREAS-net. Connections in Dallas.
GPN also collaborates with national organizations such as ACCESS and Internet2.
Full Member
Affiliate Member, University
Membership Benefits
What we do for our members?
GPN is a recognized national leader in advanced networking services. GPN manages and operates a High Performance Research and Education Network that
- We currently offer 100 Gbps and 10 Gbps connection ports for our members. We pool resources and connections to save our members money.
- Provides peering and caching services (Google, Netflix, Akamai) that reduce traffic on members’ commodity networks
- Peering with Internet exchanges such as KCIX, MICE and IX-OKC. These provide valuable direct and backup routes to cloud providers.
- Via Internet2, we connect our members to cloud services such as Azure, AWS
- Assistance with grants. We provide letters of support and also submit joint proposals.
- GPN members have a shared history, common values, and mutual trust.
- GPN is recognized as a national model of collaboration
- Provides opportunities for individuals (even at the same university) to meet.
- Provide support to researchers and research computing support staff at smaller universities via GP – ARGO
- Supports of several communities of interest
- Brings national experts to the region
Opportunities for Collaboration
GPN actively seeks out and helps our members pool their knowledge and expertise. By providing a venue for collaboration, we all get better! These efforts start out as our communities of interest and grow from there. Recent successful partnerships include:
- FABRIC network research
- Cybersecurity concerns
- Temporary data storage hardware installed at the Kansas City POP
- OSG nodes
- Research computing user support
Rate & Fees
GPN has two general fee categories:
- GPN Consortium Fees
- GPN Network Fees
GPN Consortium Fees support the overall management and operations of the Consortium as well as research and cyberinfrastructure initiatives, working groups, workshops, maintaining an online presence and the GPN Annual Meeting.
GPN Network Fees support a variety of network-related services to participants of the GPN Network Program. These services include equipment upgrades and paying for Network Operations Center staff time to install and maintain regional network services.
How to Join
For more information, please contact Mickey Slimp, Executive Director at
mick@greatplains.net