example, ATM/SONET). The initial deployment will provide a 45 megabits per second (Mb/s) back- 

 bone service; upgrades to higher speeds are planned as soon as technology and budgets permit. 



A key feature of this procurement is the use of as yet untariffed telecommunications provider services 

 in an alpha test mode. In order to meet this procurement's deployment schedule, the telecommunica- 

 tions industry has accelerated its prototyping and deployment plans. The IITA component of the 

 HPCC Program will later use these technologies via commercial services from the telecommunica- 

 tions industry and router vendor market. 



NASA and ARPA will use NASA's geostationary Advanced Communications Technology Satellite 

 (ACTS), launched in 1993, to provide even higher speed (for example, 622 Mb/s) ATM/SONET 

 transmission to remote sites such as Alaska and Hawaii. The deployment will allow the HPCC agen- 

 cies to gain experience in interfacing both terrestrial and satellite high speed communications systems. 

 ARPA manages the development and deployment of the ACTS High Data Rate Terminals. 



Internet Network Information Center (InterNIC) 



In 1992, NSF issued a competitive solicitation for an Internet Network Information Center (InterNIC) 

 to provide a variety of services to the worldwide Internet community. Awards were made to three 

 organizations listed below to collaborate in providing these services. Information about how to con- 

 nect to the Internet, pointers to network tools and resources, and seminars on various topics held 

 across the country is available from the InterNIC Information Services (listed on page 167 in the 

 Contacts section). 



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