ANN ARBOR – Merit Network has been named a 2013 Laureate in recognition of the Rural Education Anchor Community Health care ? Michigan Middle Mile Collaborative program. The annual award program honors visionary applications of information technology promoting positive social, economic and educational change.
The REACH-3MC project features public-private collaboration, pairing Merit, Michigan’s Research and Education (R&E) network, with seven commercial ISPs to achieve a cost-effective solution that benefits all sectors of society: homes, businesses and community anchor institutions.
“Technology continues to play a pivotal role in transforming how business and society functions. For the past 25 years the Computerworld Honors Program has had the privilege of celebrating innovative IT achievements,” said John Amato, vice president & publisher, Computerworld. “Computerworld is honored to recognize the outstanding accomplishments of the 2013 class of Laureates and to share their work. These projects demonstrate how IT can advance organizations’ ability to compete, innovate, communicate and prosper.”
Merit and the REACH-3MC Project are recognized in the Mobile Access award category for a unique fiber-optic infrastructure build-out through rural and underserved areas of Michigan, Northern Wisconsin and Minnesota. REACH-3MC improves access to digital information, programs and services for populations in its service area, and mobile access is a key byproduct of the fiber-optic infrastructure.
“Merit is proud to be recognized by Computerworld for all our hard work on behalf of our community,” said Don Welch, president & CEO, Merit Network. “Merit has a vision of equal opportunity to access information throughout Michigan and the REACH-3MC collaboration has propelled us to the brink of achieving our vision. This network lays an information-age foundation for education and economic development that will reap returns for decades.”
The Computerworld Honors Program awards will be presented at the Gala Evening and Awards Ceremony on June 3, 2013 at the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium in Washington, D.C.
