Next step' in Internet's evolution

Houston Chronicle ^ | Sept. 18, 2003, 6:31AM | By ERIC BERGER

[BellStar]

Computer scientists at Rice University say the Internet
is developing wrinkles.

So they're proposing, along with colleagues at other universities, to radically overhaul America's Internet
infrastructure, from the backbones that transport data around the world, to conduits into homes.

To jump-start the process the National Science Foundation awarded $7.5 million Wednesday to several
academic institutions, including Rice, to develop technologies 2,000 times faster than dial-up and up to
250 times faster than DSL or cable modems. And they want to bring this ultra high speed to 100 million homes.

"We need to take the next step," said Ed Knightly, an associate professor of electrical and computer
engineering at Rice.

In recent years high-tech leaders, as well as organizations such as the Brookings Institution, have
pushed the federal government for a national initiative on universal broadband access. They estimate
a proliferation of ultra high-speed Internet access could generate up to $500 billion for the economy.

The consortium of scientists charged with the task will focus during the next five years on determining the
best, most economical configuration of routers, fiber-optic cable and other network infrastructure.
They will also study network reliability and security issues.

Rice will be the center of wireless research. Knightly's team will set up several wireless beacons
around the Rice campus to test technology that can deliver high-speed Internet access. The goal is to send
out focused beams to nearby computers, rather than a mass signal in every direction.

Eventually, he said, anyone with a laptop should be able to sit down anywhere in Houston and tap into an
ultra-broadband connection.

Current broadband technologies of cable and DSL lines operate well below the threshold needed to consistently
deliver DVD-quality television or videoconferencing.

With the proposed standard of 100 megabits per second, experts say, the Web's true potential can be achieved:
High-definition video can be delivered on demand. Home videos can be sent to family members in a
matter of seconds. Employees can work from home, with a video image of a co-worker one push of a button away.

None of it will come cheap. At an estimated $500 to $1,000 per home, the potential price tag could top $100
billion.

Critics say there is no proof more broadband will make people more productive. They also note that although
broadband access is available to the vast majority of U.S. consumers at home, only about one-third -- some
40 million Internet users -- connect via broadband.

But, says the project's leader, industry is already rushing to make super-broadband available in some
communities. If the entire network is not upgraded, such changes could create a bottleneck that bogs down
the entire system, said Hui Zhang, an associate professor of computer science at Carnegie Mellon University.

And although there is no guarantee industry will adopt the project's recommendations, Zhang noted that AT&T is
a partner in the research, and many of the participants have worked in industry.

"It's valuable to step back, and take a look at the network as a whole," Zhang said. "If this is going to
be there for the next 100 years, it's important to do it right."

[knews_hound]

Wiring for networks comes in many "flavors".

All are rated by their speed.

Category 3 is unshielded twisted pairs (phone wire), with a rating of 10 MB max. In practice, this is suitable for most home applications.

Next is Category 5, also unshielded twisted pair (phone wire on steriods) and allows for a max data rate of 100 MB.

After that you get to Category 6, also unshielded twisted pairs but the specs for the cable and connectors are very harsh and the installation methods are likely beyond most home users. That rated data rate is 1000 MB (1 Gigabit)

I decided that when I was networking my home this time, I will not do it again so I overkilled it.

I have 2 outlets in every room minimum, each outlet carries three Category 5 rated cables, two One Gigabit Coax cables (RG6) and a pair of Multimode Fiber Optic Cables on ST connectors.

I sincerely doubt I will be using the fiber anytime soon, but as I said, I do not want to run cable again so I felt it was best to be prepared.

Did this (over) answer your question?

Cheers,

knews hound

[q_an_a]

I am within 8 miles of downtown Dallas and can not get DSL because Verizon is playing games, while they suck up costs from every possible small business system. What is more stupid is I had an ISDN line (two digital) cancelled that service and verizon said, "We can't get digital into your office." The whole utility industry is in the toliet.

[adam_az]

why go to the expense and effort of compressing video if it may not be necessary soon?

Server computers can serve more customers if they stream compressed files, because each individual transmission uses less i/o.

[stainlessbanner]

Forecast: Faster FReep times ahead!

[stainlessbanner]

filing

[LibertyAndJusticeForAll]

Yes, but would-be investors reading such articles shy off if they think something better is around the corner. Explanations sound like manipulation to the wary and non-technical.

[adam_az]

People who don't understand technology are stupid for intvesting in tech companies.

It's pretty dumb to invest in any industry you don't understand unless you have a full-time professional investment advisor.

[rdb3]

I am within 8 miles of downtown Dallas and can not get DSL because Verizon is playing games

Have you considered SBC? I'm only 5 miles away from downtown Dallas and have had SBC DSL for four years.

[Paul C. Jesup]

My entire home is wired for 100MB connections (category 5 wiring).

That is mb (Mbits), not MB (Mbytes, 8 bits makes 1 byte).

Yea, Ethernet 10/100 wiring, standard network protocals for most home and business in-house computer networks.

If you can get 100mb to the home and businesses, the in-house protocals should be able to handle.

Lets just hope that the RIAA and MPAA don't kill it first.

[spodefly]

To jump-start the process the National Science Foundation awarded $7.5 million Wednesday to several academic institutions, including Rice, to develop technologies 2,000 times faster than dial-up and up to 250 times faster than DSL or cable modems. And they want to bring this ultra high speed to 100 million homes.

Porn and spam vendors rejoiced at the news. And 15 year old script kiddies will now be able to infect more computers faster than ever before.

[LibertyAndJusticeForAll]

I agree, professional objective advice is always a wise idea. But, there are a lot of small-time investors who think they cannot afford or think they don't need advisors. The stock market is not appealing to them right now and for whatever reasons they like investing in high-tech startups. They generally have just enough information to be annoying and reach stupid conclusions (sometimes that works for a CEO and sometimes it doesn't).

[Billthedrill]

Critics say there is no proof more broadband will make people more productive.

I'm living proof. Think of how much more time I'll be able to waste working between FR posts...

[Bogey78O]

When you pas current through a wire a EM field is created. To minimize the field wires are twisted. This mutes the fields effect on wires near it. Cat.3 uses minimal twists as well as shielding. As a result it's good enough for talking over but not optimal for data.

[xp38]

I've heard that term mentioned lately. I think it means a "hurricane" of data is headed your way.