About MUFN

In 2009, the Metropolitan Unified Fiber Network (MUFN) combined 15 Madison area groups to request a federal grant to improve network infrastructure between them. MUFN was awarded a $8.86MM BTOP grant from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA).

As part of the grant, MUFN offers wireline services via fiber optic strands consistent with the NTIA BTOP NOFA non-discrimination & network interconnection obligations. MUFN supports ubiquitous and pervasive network access that is open and affordable using open, standard protocols. MUFN supports network neutrality and will not limit, restrict, prioritize or otherwise hinder system users’ access to any lawful Internet content, applications or services of their choice except for reasonable system preservation purposes (e.g. security events). Rather, we offer services on a best effort basis with all services subject to the legal needs of law enforcement.

Madison-Public-Library-and-Public-Health

How Users Access MUFN

System users, at their full expense, are permitted to connect their choice of hardware to dark fiber strands, provided such hardware does not adversely affect the use by and/or electronic or optronic equipment of other system users. MUFN project facilities will enable system users to connect to at least 10 Internet Service Providers providing countless applications and services at either of two locations in the MUFN service area. MUFN will prominently display non-discrimination, network management and interconnect policies on an organization website and provide notice of policy changes to system users.

UW-Madison operates a local, settlement-free peering exchange called Madison Internet Exchange or MadIX. Service providers are invited to interconnect at layer 2 with 1 or 10Gbps Ethernet to both UW-Madison and to each other to improve community Internet service. There are twenty-three networks currently participating in this data exchange. MUFN system users can directly interconnect to service providers at their own expense (e.g. fiber jumpering) and effort.

Wholesale Partners

MUFN commits to providing wholesale access to network components (e.g. dark fiber) via a City of Madison agreement with MUFN Commercial Partners (ISP), SupraNet Communications, Inc and Winmetro, LLC. MUFN Commercial Partners will negotiate business arrangements, capacity limits, reasonable financial terms, and technical conditions for interconnect with requesting commercial parties while MUFN shall work with not-for-profit entities. MUFN agrees to submit to binding arbitration if such negotiations were to reach an impasse.

FAQs

Q: What is MUFN?

A: MUFN is a local collaborative fiber-optic network serving education, health, government, libraries, non-profit, and other anchor institutions in the Dane County Area by providing middle-mile infrastructure which unifies and augments existing telecom resources to facilitate enhanced Internet, point-to-point connectivity, and application sharing.

Q: Does MUFN offer internet services to residents, non-profits or businesses?

No, MUFN is not an Internet Service Provider (ISP). MUFN is comprised of non-profit members and two commercial network service providers.

If you are looking for an ISP, you can reach out to SupraNet or WIN to see how they can help you.

System Interconnection and Network Management

Other MUFN system interconnection and network management practices include:

Users must pay all initial and ongoing costs to connect to MUFN facilities
System users can request interconnect at MUFN system manholes, handholes, identified interconnection “wire serving or termination” locations and other splice points as determined by MUFN and designated in the course of negotiation.
MUFN may route system user fiber through its facilities at MUFN’s sole discretion, provided such routing does not materially impact system user’s use of facilities.
System users shall execute a separate agreement with reasonable terms and conditions for interconnection of MUFN facilities with a 3rd party facilities.
MUFN, with 120-day notice and minimized disruption to system user, may at its sole option and full expense, substitute fiber on any fiber segment(s) or portions thereof with an equal number of alternative fiber of like quality and specifications without impact to other portions of an existing agreement
MUFN or its agents will be responsible for performing all “One Call” cable locates and fiber restoration activities and provide notification to system users via a 24×7 NOC.

MUFN History Timeline

2000 - 2006
Roundtable / Identified Mutual Interest Projects
2007
Formally developed “pin map”
2008
Network engineering / BTOP grant submission
2009
BTOP Grant Received
Won $8.86MM BTOP grant from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA)
2010 - 2012
Built network / bootstrapped operations
2013
Formed MUFN-Consortium, Unincorporated Association
2014
Received 501(c)4 designation from IRS