Policy Regarding Payment of Member Fees

State or regional networking organizations that act as direct connectors to the Internet2 Network and pay associated fees make a significant commitment to the Internet2 community and its goal to provide advanced networking infrastructure and services for research and education. Based on this commitment, Internet2 believes that R&E Network membership status should be formally attached to signing a connection agreement and be extended without any additional fees, as a reflection of its own commitment to partner with state and regional networking organizations and to include them fully in the membership community and in the governance of Internet2.

Definition: “Research Active” higher education institutions means an institution that has $40,000,000 or more of annual R&D expenditures as self-reported to the NSF HERD database.

Therefore,