Revised January 2015

The Northern Tier Networking Consortium (NTNC) is a partnership formed by its members to address mutual interests in advanced networking facilities and shared cyberinfrastructure that can be layered on top of such facilities.

Mission

The Northern Tier Networking Consortium seeks to develop and sustain advanced networking capabilities and shared cyberinfrastructure facilities, in order to support the educational, research, and economic vitality of the Northern Tier region.

Membership

Regular voting membership is available to those entities which endorse the terms of this charter, agree to pay annual dues, and are accepted by a vote of the NTNC Steering Committee.

All tribal colleges are welcomed to be non-voting members and encouraged to participate in all meetings and activities.

NTNC and Internet2 have agreed that Internet2 will support NTNC by providing various types of organizational service and assistance, described in detail in a separate Memo of Understanding. While this or another similar agreement remains in force Internet2 shall be considered a special member of NTNC (non-voting, no dues charged).  As described below, the NTNC shall consider the addition of new members and/or new types of membership in the future.

Steering committee

A Steering Committee shall oversee the operation of the NTNC.  The Steering Committee shall be self-governing, and shall establish its own rules and other procedures consistent with this Charter. Voting members of the Steering Committee shall consist of one representative from each member state. The Steering Committee shall be led by Officers as described below.

The Steering Committee shall meet at least one time a year in person. Additional Steering Committee meetings may be called by the Chair of the Steering Committee or at the request of any three voting members of the Steering Committee.

Steering committee

A Steering Committee shall guide operation of the NTNC between meetings. The Steering Committee shall consist of the following representatives:

• one representative from each state, determined by the NTNC members from that state;
• at least one representative from the following constituencies recognized by NTNC -- universities, Internet2 gigapops (AKA connectors, aggregators), state IT organizations, and federal labs; and
• other members so-designated on a permanent or temporary basis by the Steering Committee. 

As long as NTNC is affiliated with Internet2 by the current or similar Memo of Understanding, Internet2 will also be represented on the Steering Committee by a special non-voting representative designated by Internet2.

Officers

Each year the voting members of the Steering Committee shall elect a Chair (President), Vice-Chair (Vice-President), and Secretary/Treasurer.

Membership, types of participation and dues

The Steering Committee shall be responsible for considering requests from entities wishing to join the NTNC.  Following this consideration the Steering Committee will make a recommendation for final approval or disapproval of the request by the Steering Committee.

The Steering Committee shall be responsible for recommending annual dues levels, for final action by the Steering Committee. In general this action should be finalized in January or February of the year, 10 to 11 months before the dues level is to take effect.

The Steering Committee shall be responsible for considering possible new types of participation and/or membership in the NTNC, as well as the requirements, responsibilities and restrictions associated with a new participation and/or membership level, for final action by the Steering Committee.

Any NTNC member which for any other reason wishes to no longer participate in the NTNC should notify the NTNC Chair in writing within a reasonable time period.

Commitments on behalf of Internet2 and member entities

Commitments made on behalf of the NTNC require prior approval by the Steering Committee.

Neither the NTNC officers nor Steering Committee may make commitments, financial or otherwise, on behalf of an individual member, except as it applies to specific participation within the context of NTNC actions approved by the Steering Committee.

Neither the Steering Committee nor any other NTNC member may make commitments, financial or otherwise, on behalf of Internet2 without Internet2’s explicit written approval, given in advance.

Term

This charter shall be reviewed every year by mutual agreement by the Steering Committee (i.e., the designated representatives of the member entities).