Great Plains Network Consortium Participation Agreement

1. Terms of the Agreement.
   
   This Agreement, for participation in a regionwide academic telecommunications consortium, is made and entered into by and between the Great Plains Network Consortium (hereinafter referred to as GPN) and _________________________ (hereinafter referred to as Consortium Representative) as a representative of a GPN member, defined in the Consortium Governance Bylaws. The term of this agreement shall commence on July 1, 2001 and continue through June 30, 2002; provided, however that the agreement shall be automatically renewed for additional one-year terms commencing on July 1, 2001 subject to the right of either party to terminate at any time, without liability or cause, by providing four months written notice of termination.

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2. Conditions for Participation
   
   The purpose of the GPN is to advance the collaborative use of technology and networking in education and research, and work together to share resources for the benefit of all consortium members. To that end, the Consortium Member and GPN agree to the following conditions:
   1. The Consortium Member and GPN agree to comply with all conditions and requirements as set forth in the Consortium Byaws. The consortium member acknowledges receipt of a copy of the Bylaws.

   2. GPN shall provide services as defined in the GPN Service Plan as they may be amended from time to time.

   3. Select a Service Level Agreement (SLA) from the options available for services covered by SLAs.

   4. The Consortium Member agrees to pay member dues as specified in the GPN SLAs, said expenses to be determined and formally approved in accordance with the Consortium Bylaws at a level consistent with maintaining the financial viability of the collaboration. Dues will be paid to the University of Kansas Center for Reserch, Inc. (KUCR), the fiscal agent of GPN.

   5. In no event shall KUCR, or GPN, or the membership, become liable for any indirect, consequential, special, exemplary, or incidental damage of whatever kind and however caused, including, but not limited to time, money or goodwill, arising out of the services provided by this agreement.

   6. The Consortium Representative agrees to indemnify and hold KUCR, GPN, and the membership, both harmless from and against any claim or liability resulting from, due to, or arising out of the Consortium Member connection to or use of the GPN Network.

3. Signatures
   
   

   Consortium Member Represenatative	GPN/KUCR Representative
   Signer's Name ____________________________	Signer's Name ____________________________
   Signature/Date ____________________________	Signature/Date ____________________________
   Title ____________________________	Title ____________________________

Service Types

Service Types are the individual components of services offered by GPN. They range from membership to commodity internet services. The Service Types are then combined to form service level agreements. Examples are Described below. Invoices for services are sent out dependent of the type of service and are due within 30 days. The fiscal year for GPN begins on July 1 of each year.

1. Regular Membership/Research Service
   
   The Regular Membership/Research service type provides basic membership for all universities in a state, including one representative on the board of directiors of the GPN. It also provides access to all collaboration and video services provided by GPN. (Current Fees: $16,000/year. Invoices: Sent at the beginning of the fiscal year).

2. Associate Membership/Research Service
   
   The Associate Membership/Research service type provides basic membership for any entity whose major focus is the research and education community within the region. No representation on the board of directors of GPN is implied, although it also provides access to all collaboration and video services provided by GPN. (Current Fees: $10,000/year. Invoices: Sent at the beginning of the fiscal year).

3. GPN Connection Service
   
   The GPN Connection service type provides connectivity to the infrastructure of the GPN network and is available to all educational and non-profit organizations in the state. GPN agrees to maintain network supporting advanced services such as multicast, IPv6, and differentiated services. GPN will also maintain an infrastructure capable of supporting connections at DS-3 and OC-3 levels. The consortium member must agree to pay for all costs to connect to the GPN infrastructure, and all connections must support a minimum bandwidth of DS-3. (Current Fees: $85,000/year for up to OC-3 connecitvity. Invoices: Sent at the beginning of the fiscal year).

4. Transit to Abilene Network for Internet2 Members/Sponsored Participants Service
   
   The Transit to Abilene Network for Internet2 Members/Sponsored Participants service type provides transit to the Abilene network. GPN agrees to support a connection with a bandwidth of at least OC-12. GPN also agrees to support multicast, IPv6, and differentiated services in connecting to the Abilene network. (Current Fees: $75,000/year. Invoices: Sent at the beginning of the fiscal year.).

5. Transit to Abilene Network for Internet2 for Sponsored Educational Group Participants Service
   
   The Transit to Abilene Network Internet2 Sponsored Educational Group Participants service type provides transit to the Abilene network. GPN agrees to support a connection in accordance with the member connectivity. (Current Fees: The Abilene Fee, $30,000 plus $2,000 times the number of legislators in a state. Invoices: Sent at the beginning of the fiscal year.).

6. Research/Education/Government Lab Connectivity Service
   
   The Research/Education/Government Lab Connectivity service type includes connectivity to the GPN network as defined above and transit to the Abilene network, also defined above. The participant must agree to pay for all costs in connecting to the GPN infrastructure. Moreover, participant must be in compliance with the Abilene CoU, and must obtain agreement with Abilene for connectivity before connecting to GPN. (Current Fees: $50,000/year for DS-3 connectivity. Invoices: Sent at the beginning of the fiscal year.).

7. Transit to the Commodity Internet Service
   
   The Transit to the Commodity Internet service type provides connectivity to the Commodity Internet. GPN agrees to support a connection whose minimum bandwidth is the sum of the bandwidths currently subscribing to this service type. (Current Fees: $180/mbps/month. Invoices: Sent on a monthly basis).

8. Circuit Contract Service
   
   The Circuit Contract Service is a service whereby GPN contracts for physical circuits to a location at the member site. GPN contracts for such services and then passes all costs directly on to the member representative. (Current Fees: GPN Contract costs. Invoices: Sent on a monthly basis.)

Service Level Agreements

Service level agreements are combinations of the service level types described above. Here are some sample agreements together with some examples of an entity agreeing to a service level agreement.

1. Regular Membership/Research
   
   Includes the following service types (Current Fees: $16,000/year):
   • Regular Membership/Research

   Examples are the members from South Dakota and North Dakota.

2. Associate Membership/Research
   
   Includes the following service types (Current Fees: $10,000/year):
   • Associate Membership/Research

   There are currently no such examples.

3. State Network Connection with Commodity Services
   
   Includes the following service types (Current Fees: $176,000/year plus Commodity bandwidth costs):
   • Regular Membership/Research Service
   • GPN Connectivity Service
   • Transit to Abilene Network for Internet2 Members/Sponsored Participants
   • Transit to the Commodity Internet Service

   Examples are the members from Nebraska.

4. State Network Connection with Commodity Services and Contract Circuit Service
   
   Includes the following service types (Current Fees: $176,000/year plus Commodity bandwidth costs plus circuit costs):
   • Regular Membership/Research Service
   • GPN Connectivity Service
   • Transit to Abilene Network for Internet2 Members/Sponsored Participants
   • Transit to the Commodity Internet Service
   • Circuit Contract Service

   Examples are the members from Kansas.

5. State Network Connection with Contract Circuit Services
   
   Includes the following service types (Current Fees: $176,000/year plus circuit costs):
   • Regular Membership/Research Service
   • GPN Connectivity Service
   • Transit to Abilene Network for Internet2 Members/Sponsored Participants
   • Circuit Contract Service

   Examples are the members from Arkansas.

6. State Network Connection with Transit to Abilene for State Network
   
   Includes the following service types (Current Fees: $176,000/year plus $30,000/year plus $2,000 times the number of US state representatives):
   • Regular Membership/Research Service
   • GPN Connectivity Service
   • Transit to Abilene Network for Internet2 Members/Sponsored Participants
   • Transit to Abilene Network for Internet2 for Sponsored Educational Group Participants Service
     

   Examples are the members from Missouri.

7. Research/Education/Government Lab Connection
   
   Includes the following service types (Current Fees: $50,000/year):
   • Associate Membership/Research Service
   • Government Lab Connectivity Service

   An example is the associate member NOAA.