The funding will cover costs of telecommunications transport from the STAR TAP switch in Chicago to the M9 switch in Moscow and University of Tennessee-based operational expenses. The Russian Ministry of Science and Technology is providing matching of total communications cost, as well as its own operational expenses. The University of Tennessee requests partial support for two line positions and full support for a support staff position. The support staff position, created within the Center for International Networking Initiatives, will supply general staff support and project management assistance to all members of the MirNET Consortium.
Partial support is requested as indicated on the budget forms for the two co-project investigators.
2 Network Technician positions devoted to network monitoring, problem resolution, reporting and other duties. Position is Director for the Center of International Networking Initiatives and will be responsible for project planning, information dissemination, reporting, fund raising, liasing with Russian team members and other duties related to overall project management. The University of Tennessee will also contribute funds for necessary equipment and software including workstations, servers, and network equipment.