Did you know that almost every state has a research and education network (REN) like OneNet? OneNet is part of the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, and some RENs are divisions of state government like us, while others are part of a higher education institution or are stand-alone nonprofit organizations.
RENs also serve different subscribers or member groups. Some networks just serve education and research. While others, like OneNet, also serve libraries, government agencies or health care providers.
Regardless of our administration or subscriber groups, we all have the same mission of advancing research and education through high-performance networks in the states we serve.
Key to RENs’ Success
A vital key to each REN’s success is membership in The Quilt.
The Quilt is a national coalition of advanced regional RENs. The Quilt represents 43 networks across the country. Through the collaborative forum of The Quilt, member organizations have access to a broader set of expertise and knowledge than any single organization working on its own.
The Quilt member networks serve more than 900 universities and thousands of other educational and community anchor institutions.
OneNet’s membership in The Quilt helps accelerate research discovery, advance national and global education, and improve the delivery of services.
Advocating for RENs
The Quilt plays a critical role at the national level in advocating for RENs.
“As The Quilt, we advocate on behalf of RENs by serving as a unified national voice that represents the unique needs, capabilities, and public-service missions of our member networks,” said Jen Leasure, president and CEO of The Quilt. “Our advocacy efforts include engaging with federal and state policymakers, funding agencies, and industry/commercial partners to ensure that RENs are recognized and supported as vital infrastructure.”
“Through our advocacy efforts, we highlight the essential role RENs play in enabling research and innovation, expanding broadband access, and powering advanced research through purpose-built networks,” she said.
Opportunities to Share Best Practices
A benefit of membership in The Quilt is the opportunity to share and learn best practices from other R&E networks.
The Quilt hosts two annual membership meetings, as well as regular meetings for network CEOs. OneNet team members participate in these meetings to learn about advances in network services and to collaborate with other networks to boost the effectiveness of all our services.
“The key value The Quilt provides to its members is a collaborative platform that amplifies the collective strength, knowledge, and innovation of the U.S. research and education networking community,” Leasure said. “We bring together nonprofit RENs from across the country to share best practices, align strategies, advocate for common interests, and develop shared services and solutions that advance member missions.”
“Through this collaboration, The Quilt fosters a trusted environment where members can learn from one another, engage in joint initiatives, and increase their national impact—whether through policy advocacy, community engagement, or advancing cutting-edge cyberinfrastructure,” she said.
The Quilt also hosts monthly workgroups for REN staff in areas such as network services, communications, finance, member development, and policy. OneNet’s team members see these workgroups as another opportunity to learn best practices and share resources.
“I have participated in The Quilt’s communications workgroup since 2013,” April Goode, director of OneNet strategic planning and communications, said. “It’s given me the opportunity to build relationships with communications professionals in other states. I not only learn from their successes but can bring challenges to the group to brainstorm possible solutions. It’s helped me be a better communicator for our network.”
The Quilt Purchasing Power
The Quilt also brings together members to leverage purchasing power and create cost savings. They coordinate various contracts that offer discounts on products and services required to support network connectivity.
“OneNet purchases upstream bandwidth and network hardware through Quilt contracts,” Brian Burkart, OneNet chief technology officer, said. “The discounts we receive enable us to operate more efficiently, provide better services and pass cost savings on to our subscribers.”
OneNet’s Role in The Quilt Community
OneNet has been a Quilt member since 1999, participating in meetings, working groups and committees each year.
“The Quilt and its members across the country are critical partners for OneNet,” John Hennessey, associate vice chancellor for Information Technology and OneNet, said. “From The Quilt leadership and other RENs, we learn how to improve network connectivity across our state and region, better serve the missions of our subscribers, and advocate for internet access for Oklahoma citizens.”
As an active member of The Quilt, OneNet’s leadership not only reaps the benefits but strives to offer our expertise and support to the community as well.
“Within the national REN ecosystem, OneNet brings valuable leadership, operational expertise, and a strong commitment to public service,” Leasure said. “OneNet has been an active contributor to national initiatives focused on broadband expansion and next-generation network services.”
“OneNet’s ability to bridge local needs with national priorities has made it an essential partner in advancing the mission of RENs—to deliver secure, high-performance, and inclusive network infrastructure that powers education, research, and community development across the United States,” she said.
