Tom Rolfes, Education I.T. Manager

1. Tom Rolfes, Education I.T. Manager Office of the Chief Information Officer and Nebraska Information Technology Commission 402.471.7969 tom.rolfes@nitc.ne.gov Comprehensive Websites:www.nitc.state.ne.us www.networknebraska.net

2. Operational Update on LB 1208 • Major policy changes and definitions • Defines the statewide network as Network Nebraska under the direction of the Chief Information Officer and the University of Nebraska • Legislates the distance learning consortia out of existence by June 30, 2007 and gives responsibilities to the ESUs • Creates the Distance Education Council • Provides for a web-based event clearinghouse and statewide scheduling software system

3. Operational Update on LB 1208 • Network Access • “The Chief Information Officer shall provide (Network Nebraska) access to each school district, each educational service unit, each community college, each state college, and the University of Nebraska at the earliest feasible date and no later than July 1, 2012.” • “The network shall meet the demand of state agencies, local governments, and education entities (public and private K-12 and higher ed).”

4. Operational Update on LB 1208 • Bid for Equipment and Software • “The Chief Information Officer shall bid for such (telecomputing or distance education) equipment and software and shall allow educational entities as defined (public and private K-12 and higher ed) to participate in such statewide leasing or purchasing contracts.”

5. Operational Update on LB 1208 • eRate Application • “The CIO shall apply in aggregate for reimbursements from the federal Universal Service Fund on behalf of school districts requesting to be included in such aggregated application.”

6. Operational Update on LB 1208 • Standards and Guidelines • “The Nebraska Information Technology Commission shall adopt minimum technical standards, guidelines, and architectures upon recommendation by the technical panel.”

7. Nebraska Distance Learning Consortia(showing ESU boundaries)

8. Nebraska Distance Learning Consortia(showing fiber infrastructure)

9. Graphical depiction of fiber capacity by application and bandwidth

10. Operational Update on LB 1208 • First, the technical standards… • IP Communication Protocol Standard for Synchronous Distance Learning and Videoconferencing, 11/13/03 • Contracting Guidelines for Upgrade of Distance Learning Services, 11/13/03 • Video and Audio Compression Standard for Synchronous Distance Learning and Videoconferencing, 9/9/04 • Network Edge Device Standard for Entities Choosing to Connect to Network Nebraska, 5/1/06 • Scheduling Standard for Synchronous Distance Learning and Videoconferencing, 5/1/06 • Standard for Learning Management Systems, Group lead to be named on 11/22/06

11. Operational Update on LB 1208 • In May the CIO named eight (8) activity groups to fulfill the responsibilities of LB 1208… • Cost Structure/Billing • Distance Education Council Collaboration • Network Design/Support • Statewide eRate Application • Statewide Scheduling System • Edge Device Bidding • Video Codec Bidding • Other DL Equipment Bidding

12. Operational Update on LB 1208 • …composed of over 70 volunteers with eight activity leads and five CIO staff working part time on the Project Management team… • Scheduling System Bid is complete • Network Design and Edge Device RFP is being released • Video Codec RFP will be finished by Dec. 1 • Over 100 Letters of Agency have been collected for eRate filing for the first Phase of implementation

13. Operational Update on LB 1208 • …with numerous K-12 and higher education people working long hours without any compensation to keep the project “in the green”. • Cost structure and billing algorithm has been developed to recover direct and indirect costs associated with interregional transport and the staffing of Network Nebraska • List of other DL equipment has been developed after having experienced a 2-day vendor fair in Kearney on Nov. 2-3

14. Operational Update on LB 1208 • What’s the future? • Why does all this matter? • Isn’t one T-1 of Internet enough? • What problem is this technology trying to solve? • Can distance learning ever be as good as face-to-face instruction? • Won’t teachers’ jobs be at risk?

18. Internet2 Sponsored Education Group Participation States (38 in 2006)

19. Internet2 Sponsored Education Group Participation States (38 in 2006)

20. Internet2 K20 Connectivity Survey

21. Tom Rolfes, Education I.T. Manager Office of the Chief Information Officer and Nebraska Information Technology Commission 402.471.7969 tom.rolfes@nitc.ne.gov Comprehensive Websites:www.nitc.state.ne.us www.networknebraska.net