Merit Network Recognized by Computerworld as a 2013 Computerworld Honors Laureate

ANN ARBOR, Mich., April 23, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- IDG's Computerworld Honors Program has announced Merit Network, Inc. as a 2013 Laureate in recognition of the REACH-3MC Project (Rural Education Anchor Community Health care – Michigan Middle Mile Collaborative).  The annual award program honors visionary applications of information technology promoting positive social, economic and educational change.

"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 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." 

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.  

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.

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.

About The Computerworld Honors Program

Founded by International Data Group (IDG) in 1988, The Computerworld Honors Program is governed by the not-for-profit Computerworld Information Technology Awards Foundation. Computerworld Honors is the longest running global program to honor individuals and organizations that use information technology to promote positive social, economic and educational change. Additional information about the program and a Global Archive of past Laureate case studies, as well as oral histories of Leadership Award recipients can be found at the Computerworld Honors website.

About Computerworld

Computerworld is the leading source of technology news and information for IT influencers, providing peer perspective, IT leadership and business results. Computerworld's award-winning website (http://www.computerworld.com/), bi-weekly publication, focused conference series, custom solutions and custom research forms the hub of the world's largest (40+ edition) global IT media network and provides opportunities for IT solutions providers to engage this audience. Computerworld leads the industry with an online audience of over 3.5 million unique, monthly visitors (Omniture, August 2012) and was recognized as the Best Website by ASBPE and TABPI in 2012. Computerworld is published by IDG Enterprise, a subsidiary of International Data Group (IDG), the world's leading media, events and research company. Company information is available at http://www.idgenterprise.com/.

About Merit Network

Merit Network, Inc. is a nonprofit corporation owned and governed by Michigan's public universities, owns and operates America's longest-running regional research and education network. In 1966, Michigan's public universities created Merit as a shared resource to help meet their common need for networking assistance. Since its formation, Merit Network has remained on the forefront of research and education networking expertise and services. Merit provides high-performance networking and IT solutions to Michigan's public universities, colleges, K-12 organizations, libraries, state government, healthcare, and other non-profit organizations.

For more information: www.merit.edu

About REACH-3MC

The REACH Michigan Middle Mile Collaborative (REACH-3MC) constructs 2,287 miles of open-access, advanced fiber-optic network through rural and underserved communities in Michigan's Lower and Upper Peninsulas. The network provides backhaul to key connection points in Wisconsin and Minnesota. REACH-3MC connects 143 community anchor institutions as the network is built and will pass 900 more over time. Led by Merit Network, Michigan's research and education network, REACH-3MC includes sub-recipients from the private sector to make broadband readily available to households and businesses that lack adequate service options in the 52 counties that make up the project service area. REACH-3MC is funded by two grants (Round I and Round II) from the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP) as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), commonly referenced as the Stimulus Package.

For more information: www.merit.edu/meritformichigan

Note: All product and company names are trademarks of their respective companies.

SOURCE Merit Network, Inc.