Today's colleges are bandwidth-starved. Faculty and students cannot count on adequate connectivity to enable the use of Internet resources in classroom presentations, video-conferencing, and other activities where it is essential that the remote information be available rapidly at the expected time.

The Internet 2 project seeks to develop a second-generation Internet built on both dramatically-faster networking speeds and the ability to reserve portions of this bandwidth for time-critical services. They are developing projects to demonstrate the scholarly benefits that might accrue from such a resource.

Canada recently announced new networking technology that dwarfs the Internet2 project: "The new Canadian network, known as CA*Net3, can transmit the contents of the U.S. Library of Congress in one second, according to the network's architects." (cite) (commentary)

Locally, Telergy is quietly building a state-wide network by extending fiber optic lines along both the Thruway, Northway, and other major highways. They are installing 6 fiber bundles each reportedly holding 96 fiber optic lines. With today's technology, this is sufficient cumulative capacity to transmit at 500 gigabaud! The fibers themselves can carry even greater capacity once engineers develop the necessary electronic technologies. Under the Saratoga Smart Cities initiative, Telergy is developing plans to extend a Sonet network through the city, linking Skidmore and several other sites to the Northway fiber backbone.

At present, these networks are being built on the assumption that people will soon develop useful applications for this capacity.

Are colleges like Skidmore considering the future role for local collections once their entire contents can be transmitted within a reasonable time to any other network location?

Are Skidmore's faculty considering how this might change the character of future scholarship and education?

Is Skidmore adequately preparing its students for careers living and working in this new information economy?

• Assured bandwidth leads to new pricing models.