Access to the UB Regional Fiber Network Policy

The University at Buffalo (UB, university) provides UB-owned fiber optic cable plant access as a way to deepen the university’s impact and outreach in the regional community and strengthen programs and partnerships that contribute to the economic vitality of Western New York. Access to the fiber optic cable plant, known as the UB Regional Fiber Network (RFN), is available through RFN partnerships.

RFN partnership is encouraged for qualifying prospective partner institutions. Organizations that meet the following criteria are eligible to become RFN partners:

Public entities, especially New York State (NYS) funded entities, are encouraged to become an RFN partner for cost sharing and maximization of benefit. NYS departments and institutions can leverage shared assets to minimize collective expenditures. Non-State public organizations such as county, city, and town governments provide access to regional right-of-way and benefit their citizens through participation in the partnership. 

Private not-for-profit and private educational entities that have an affiliation with the university may participate as an RFN partner for the duration of the affiliation. These organizations benefit from working with UB and fit well within the university’s mission of community outreach.

Private entities that are affiliated with the university may become an RFN partner for the length of the affiliation relationship, as determined by the appropriate dean or vice president. 

Private businesses doing joint research with the university may participate as RFN partners as long as there is a formal joint research effort underway, as named in a sponsored research project jointly held with the university. The term of this partnership will expire at the conclusion of the project term. Affiliation relationships for joint research partners must be approved by the Vice President for Research and Economic Development and will be limited to only those devices required to satisfy the needs of the research effort.

Private businesses located on UB or UB Foundation property may participate as an RFN partner when the university desires to minimize the construction and management of duplicate physical communications infrastructures in university space.  (See the Information Technology Services in UB Owned, Controlled and Managed Space Policy.)

The university constructed a private fiber optic cable plant that was designed to meet its own needs for communications transport in the region. In constructing this infrastructure, UB partnered with other government, educational, and public benefit organizations that had similar interests or were willing to provide right-of-way. By sharing the costs of construction, savings were achieved for both the university and our partners.

The cost of new construction for additions to the cable plant network has been funded by the organizations desiring access; the organizations also pay a pro-rated fee for access to existing assets. This approach has allowed the university to extend the existing infrastructure and grow the footprint for the benefit of future adjacencies. The resultant Regional Fiber Network (RFN) is managed by the university and maintained through pro-rated maintenance fees that are charged in proportion to use by each RFN partner.

The financial relationships between the university and our RFN partners are governed by licenses or, in the case of public entities, Memoranda of Understanding (MOU).

• Build, maintain, operate, and promote the UB RFN.
• Ensure isolation of network traffic from other UB Information Technology (IT) Services.
• Negotiate with current and potential RFN partners.
• Codify negotiations between UB and the RFN partner in a license or, where applicable, Memorandum of Understanding signed by the VPCIO and administrative head of the RFN partner.

• Approve affiliation relationship for joint research partners.  

• Approve private entity affiliation relationships.