The University of Nebraska has established an advanced multimedia platform to broadcast real-time learning and cultural video materials over Internet2. This project encompasses research, education, and outreach activities benefiting the State of Nebraska as well as more than 160 Internet2 universities and many federal and research institutions.

This multidisciplinary project received support from the University of Nebraska and a grant from National Science Foundation (NSF) to facilitate real-time video broadcasting of SCOLA (Satellite COmmunications for LeArning) programs to at least 160 universities and other Internet2 members.

SCOLA is a nonprofit Nebraska organization, which provides real-time foreign news, cultural and video language programs via satellite to the United States federal government and many teaching institutions. The importance of this programming is verified by the size of SCOLA's viewing audience. In 1999, SCOLA had an estimated audience of 15 million viewers in the United States.

The infrastructure for Internet2 broadcasting of SCOLA signals provides an unparalleled research resource with catalytic impetus and wherewithal to address the real-time video multicasting and video storage and mining problems. These issues include analysis of multicast routing and its quality of service extension, reliable multicast transport protocol, and scalability and security in multicasting.