comprehensive roadmap for internet and intranet connectivity for the university’s four campuses at Capitol Hill, Fendall, the medical school at Catholic Hospital, and Sinji. The roadmap provides a clear plan with roles, responsibilities, and milestones explicitly identified for network rollout. To support implementation of the campus connectivity roadmap, Digital Liberia engaged the University of Oregon’s Network Startup Resource Center (NSRC) to deliver a Campus Network Design and Operations training for 36 IT professionals from nine of the Liberia Research Education Network (LRREN) member universities. As part of the training, participants designed campus networks for their universities. Then, NSRC trainers and the Digital Liberia team visited sites on eight campuses to conduct network assessments to broadly validate the design and identify the specific requirements of each campus for connection to LRREN. None of the universities assessed had an effective campus network. To improve connectivity at the University of Liberia, Digital Liberia procured equipment for a campus fiber backbone network and supporting power solutions. Installation began in FY 2019 and is expected to be complete in the second quarter of FY 2020. This will significantly enhance teaching, learning, and research, and will facilitate the LRREN’s establishment. Digital Liberia’s provision of the campus network to the University of Liberia will provide the model for smaller members. Expected Result 8 Improved access to education and research materials for prioritized tertiary education institutions To expand educational opportunities as a benefit of improved connectivity, Digital Liberia laid the groundwork to develop the LRREN. The network will enable faculty and students to teach, research, and learn using high-speed, low-cost internet. The establishment of a LRREN is a key component of the government’s e-Government Strategy and USAID’s objective of expanding the demand for and use of high-quality fiber for internet. Digital Liberia assisted eleven public and private universities to the LRREN by developing the Constitution and Articles of Incorporation as the basis for registration as a non-profit entity. The LRREN constitution established the governance structure as the general assembly, board of directors, technical advisory LRREN Founding Members committee, the CEO and the secretariat, and details the • University of Liberia composition and requirements of each. The LRREN Coordinator • Stella Maris Polytechnic (University of Liberia) and Infrastructure Lead (Starz College of • African Methodist Episcopal Technology) began performing voluntary roles of interim CEO University and chief technology officer (CTO), respectively. Digital Liberia • Tubman University developed the LRREN roadmap to guide the network’s • United Methodist University development and implementation, and NSRC updated and • African Methodist Episcopal Zion finalized the document. The roadmap details the activities University required for a research education network from formulation to • Cuttington University full implementation. The task team, university presidents, board of directors, CEO, CTO use the roadmap to guide activities • Bluecrest University College through full implementation. It covers activities in awareness • Starz College of Technology creation/team building, governance, strategic partnerships, • Bomi Community College resource mobilization, capacity building, regulatory/statutory • Grand Bassa Community College requirements, technical requirements, and operations. Digital Liberia guided the LRREN to submit official requests to the LTA for a special purpose ISP license and to CCL for the allocation of capacity designated for education and health. The LTA has approved both requests at minimal or no cost for the LRREN, and issued an authorization for LRREN to operate as an ISP in April 2020. Digital Liberia also developed a two-year business and financial plan that provides LRREN with informed estimates on unique costs associated with the provision of internet and content services, options for membership fees, revenue sources, operating costs, and equipment requirements. DIGITAL LIBERIA FINAL REPORT | 22