Membership
Why Join OSHEAN
OSHEAN is more than a service provider — it's a member-owned community. Joining connects your organization to a regional collaborative built around the missions of Community Anchor Institutions.
Why membership works
A cooperative technology backbone for Community Anchor Institutions.
OSHEAN brings critical infrastructure, member relationships, and practical IT expertise into one shared operating model.
Member-owned
A mission-first community model for institutions that serve the public good.
Carrier-class
Optical transport, IP networking, and trusted connections engineered for resilience.
Shared expertise
Security, cloud, and network guidance shaped by member needs.
Regional impact
Infrastructure that strengthens education, research, healthcare, and public service.
Membership fit
Built for Community Anchor Institutions
OSHEAN serves organizations whose technology supports education, research, healthcare, public service, and community impact across Rhode Island and the surrounding region.
Member advantages
What membership can provide
Explore the infrastructure, technology access, community, and support available through the OSHEAN membership model.
A private regional network
Access to the 700+ mile Beacon fiber network — private, resilient, 400G-capable infrastructure connecting 160+ institutions across RI and southeastern MA.
Aggregated buying power
Members share the economics of a consortium: premium services, vendor partnerships, and pricing that individual non-profits could not achieve alone.
A full security portfolio
Managed firewalls, DDoS protection, MFA, DNS-layer protection, vulnerability detection, cyber exposure management, and GRC — proven on OSHEAN's own network first.
Internet2 & cloud exchange
Unmetered access to Internet2's research backbone and private transport to AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, and Oracle — exclusive to OSHEAN in Rhode Island.
A collaborative community
Peer-to-peer collaboration, professional education, member forums, and events that develop expertise across the membership.
24/7/365 support
A Network Operations Center that never closes, a member portal with real-time analytics, and engineers who work as part of your team.
Our community
Our Member Community
160+ Community Anchor Institutions across Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts ride the OSHEAN network.
Getting started
A clear path from fit to next step
The membership conversation begins with your mission and technology needs, then moves toward a concrete path forward.
What happens next
1
Confirm fit
We start with your organization type, location, mission, and whether OSHEAN membership is the right vehicle.
2
Map needs
Together we look at connectivity, security, cloud, support, and any timing or procurement constraints.
3
Shape a path
OSHEAN follows up with the right technical and membership contacts so the next step is concrete.
Membership questions
What prospective members ask first
Start with the essentials, then contact OSHEAN for organization-specific eligibility, service, and procurement questions.
What is OSHEAN?
OSHEAN, Inc. is Rhode Island's nonprofit Research and Education Network (REN). Founded in 1999, OSHEAN is a member-owned coalition of universities, K-12 schools, libraries, hospitals, government agencies, and other non-profit organizations dedicated to providing innovative Internet-based technology solutions for its member institutions and the communities they serve.
Who can become an OSHEAN member?
Membership is open to Community Anchor Institutions — colleges and universities, K-12 schools and districts, libraries, healthcare organizations, state and local government agencies, and other non-profit organizations in Rhode Island and the surrounding region. Contact us to discuss membership for your organization.
What is a Research and Education Network (REN)?
A REN is a specialized network operator that serves the research, education, healthcare, and public-service communities of a state or region. As Rhode Island's REN, OSHEAN is the Regional Network Connector for Internet2 — the nationwide 400/800Gbps research and education backbone — and a founding member of the Northeast Regional Education Network (NEREN).
How is OSHEAN governed?
OSHEAN is a non-profit governed by a Board of Directors drawn from its member institutions — CIOs and technology leaders from the region's universities, schools, libraries, healthcare systems, and government agencies. Meet the current board on our Team page.
How do I learn more or get a quote?
Reach out through our contact page, call (401) 398-7500, or email info@oshean.org — our Member Services team will follow up to discuss your organization's needs.
OSHEAN acts as a key strategic technology partner by facilitating member collaboration and providing best-in-class technology solutions and services that provide operational efficiencies and transform traditional enterprise operating models in support of its members' missions.
Ready to join the OSHEAN community?
Let's talk about what membership can do for your organization and the communities you serve.