Earlier this month, our team joined research and education network (REN) leaders, technologists, and community partners from across the country at The Quilt’s Winter Conference in New Orleans. The Quilt is a national coalition of 43 public and non-profit regional RENs in the U.S, including Link Oregon.
Across plenaries, working groups, and hallway conversations, a shared theme emerged: while advanced infrastructure is essential for resilient, future‑ready connectivity, it is trusted human networks—empowered by that infrastructure—that help communities truly thrive.
Jackie Wirz (Link Oregon) presents at the Quilt Winter Conference (Feb 2026)
Our team participated in deep dives into numerous areas of work, including:
Expanding Digital Belonging Through eduroam
The eduroam Support Organization (eSO) Working Group sessions, with participants from 11 states, offered an energetic forum for discussing how to expand eduroam—a highly secure roaming Wi‑Fi authentication service that supports learning and connection across libraries, K-20+ education, museums, and other community spaces. Participants highlighted the value of partnering with universities and anchor institutions to seed deployments and build regional momentum and emphasized the need to support smaller or rural sites that may require additional technical or operational help.
As the sole Support Organization for eduroam in Oregon for K–12 schools, libraries, and museums, Link Oregon is actively working with Oregon ESDs on deployments and is committed to growing adoption. Reach out if you are a K–12 school, ESD, library, or museum interested in how eduroam can expand digital connectivity for your students and patrons.
The Human Network Behind the Fiber Network
Link Oregon Executive Director Jackie Wirz led a strategic discussion with Andy Binder, CEO of the Idaho Regional Optical Network (IRON) —Idaho’s counterpart to Link Oregon. Their session underscored the theme that the true strength of a REN lies in the human network it enables.
While RENs operate advanced, future‑ready infrastructure, participants emphasized that their real value comes from deep, trusted relationships and active member engagement. RENs serve as expert advisors and problem solvers for members navigating complex technology decisions, while never losing sight of their core missions: enabling digital connectivity that fuels lifelong learning and economic mobility across all communities.
There was broad consensus that “network abundance” will be critical for driving innovation as technologies like artificial intelligence see mainstream adoption and high‑performance computing research projects accelerate across university environments.
Link Oregon is actively partnering with member institutions on a variety of statewide cyberinfrastructure initiatives including via the Cyberinfrastructure Alliance of Oregon (CIAO).
Jackie Wirz (Link Oregon) and Andy Binder (Idaho Regional Optical Network) lead a REN strategy panel (Feb 2026).
Quantum Networking on the Horizon
Quantum sessions explored early architectural models and regional pilots. Quilt members discussed how secure, high‑capacity regional networks will play a foundational role in enabling quantum communication, sensing, and computation. Participants compared lessons from early deployments and dove into the operational realities of integrating quantum capabilities into existing REN infrastructure.
While still early, quantum networking represents a strategic long-term area of interest for Link Oregon. Along with our university partners, we are exploring pathways for developing next‑generation network operations infrastructure that could enable hybrid classical/quantum networking models, including a pilot quantum testbed in Oregon.
Thanks to the Quilt and all the RENs who made the Winter conference a rich and engaging learning experience for us. We’re invigorated by sharing knowledge and resources with our fellow RENs. Whether advancing eduroam adoption, planning for AI‑ready infrastructure, or exploring the next frontier of quantum networking, the work ahead for us on behalf of our members is both ambitious and deeply human. It reflects our organizational tagline: “Built for Innovation. Powered by Community.”
-Link Oregon team
The Link Oregon team unwinds at the Quilt Winter Conference (Feb 2026)