Access to the UK "Fat pipe" fibre-optic Communication Circuit

DARPA、NSF、NASA和DOE都要求通过计算机网络将他们的CONUS受赠者和承包商与英国的同事和设施连接起来。过去，每个机构通过单独采购低速(9600至56,000波特)，通常是卫星，在大西洋两岸受影响地点的网络之间单独满足这些需求。电信业存在相当大的规模经济。通过讨论达成相互协议，这些机构能够通过共享一条分数T1(512kb/S)光纤线路来满足它们对美英计算机连接的所有需求。DARPA已经同意作为采购电路的代理；该项目的目的是补偿DARPA同意的NSF分担的费用。

DARPA, NSF, NASA, and DoE all have requirements to connect their CONUS grantees and contractors with a computer network to colleagues and facilities in the United Kingdom. In the past, these needs have been met by each Agency individually, through individual procurements of low-speed (9600 to 56,000 baud), typically satellite, circuits between networks at affected sites on either side of the Atlantic. Substantial economies of scale exist in the telecommunications industry. Through discussions leading to mutual agreements, the agencies are able to meet all their needs for US-UK computer connectivity by sharing a single fractional-T1 (512 kb/s) fiber-optic circuit. DARPA have agreed to act as the agent for procuring the circuit; the purpose of this project is to compensate DARPA for NSF's agreed-to share of the cost.