TECHNICAL PANEL
Nebraska Information Technology Commission
Wednesday, January 18, 2006, 9:00 a.m.
Varner Hall - Board Room
3835 Holdrege St., Lincoln, Nebraska
MINUTES
MEMBERS PRESENT:
Mike Beach, Nebraska Educational Telecommunications Commission
Brenda Decker, Chief Information Officer, State of Nebraska
Steve Henderson, Department of Administrative Services, State of Nebraska
Christy Horn, University of Nebraska, Compliance Officer
Kirk Langer, Lincoln Public Schools
Walter Weir, University of Nebraska
CALL TO ORDER, ROLL CALL, NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING
Mr. Weir called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m. A quorum was present at the time of roll call. The meeting notice was posted to the NITC website and the Nebraska Public Meeting Calendar on December 13, 2005 (rescheduled on December 27th). The meeting agenda was posted to the NITC Website on January 17, 2006.
PUBLIC COMMENT
There was no public comment.
APPROVAL OF DECEMBER MINUTES
Ms. Decker moved to approve DECEMBER 13, 2005 the minutes as presented. Mr. Beach seconded the motion. Roll call vote: Beach-Yes, Decker-Yes, Henderson-Yes, Langer-Yes, and Weir-Yes. Results: Yes-5, No-0. Motion carried.
STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES - RECOMMENDATION TO THE NITC
Land Record Information and Mapping Standards (PDF 74k) | Comments Received (3) (PDF 96k)
Mr. Zink was present and stated that the GIS Advisory Committee has reviewed the comments. He reviewed the recommended changes.
Ms. Horn arrived.
Mr. Beach moved to recommend the Land Record Information and Mapping Standards (PDF 74k) to the NITC for final approval. Mr. Henderson seconded. Roll call vote: Weir-Yes, Langer-Yes, Horn-Yes, Henderson-Yes, Decker-Yes, and Beach-Yes. Results: Yes-6, No-0. Motion carried.
DISCUSSION: DISTANCE EDUCATION ENHANCEMENT TASK FORCE RECOMMENDATIONS AFFECTING THE NITC (PDF 15k)
Tom Rolfes, Education I.T. Manager
The document presented questions of potential responsibility for the Technical Panel, Education Council, and CAP. The legislative bill may be introduced this morning. Per the recommendations contained within the DEETF final report, the NITC is responsible for setting minimum standards for hardware and software related to distance education. The CIO bids for hardware and software, scheduling software or scheduling services, and learning management systems. The Technical Panel would recommend these standards to the NITC for approval. Some K12 schools are approaching contract deadlines this summer. Mr. Beach stated that the Statewide Synchronous Video Network Work Group will be meeting on February 3rd to develop a standard (or bid specifications) for scheduling software. Efforts will be made to have a recommendation at the February 14th Technical Panel meeting. Due to her work with videoconferencing, it was suggested that Jayne Scofield participate in the work group. Mr. Langer will take the lead to work with ESU’s Network Operations Committee (NOC) to develop standards for routers & switches. The ESU-NOC will be meeting on February 28th in Lincoln.
It is not apparent in the recommendations as to whom or what entity the Distance Education Council will report. The council will be receiving funding. Purchases over $10,000 have to be approved by the Technical Panel.
A question was raised regarding the definition of “link to” in the recommendation that reads, “The Nebraska Chief Information Officer will arrange for all school districts, E.S.U.’s, and
public postsecondary education institutions to have the opportunity to link to Network
Nebraska at the earliest available opportunity.” Some members felt the statement was too broad and undefined. Suggestions for wording included: “to link to Network Nebraska as determined by the CIO” or “to access Network Nebraska as determined by the CIO”.
The anticipated timeframe is to have recommended standards for the Technical Panel’s review at the February or March meeting and to be approved for the 30-day comment period. The Technical Panel will review and make a recommendation to the NITC for the April NITC commission meeting. Mr. Beach stated that best efforts will be made to accomplish the timeline but that the panel may need to discuss an alternative plan.
STATEWIDE TECHNOLOGY PLAN - ACTION ITEMS
Eight strategic initiatives were approved by the NITC at their September meeting. The action items were to be developed by the Technical Panel and advisory councils. The following action items were reviewed and discussed:
Network Nebraska (PDF 14k)
Statewide Synchronous Video Network (PDF 16k)
Digital Education (PDF 10k)
State Government Efficiency (PDF 28k)
Security and Business Resumption (PDF 17k)
Mr. Weir moved to approve the action items pending recommended changes from the Education Council which is meeting on Friday, January 20th. Ms. Decker seconded. Roll call vote: Decker-Yes, Henderson-Yes, Horn-Yes, Langer-Yes, Weir-Yes, and Beach-Yes. Results: Yes-6, No-0. Motion carried.
The initiatives that were developed at the August joint meeting will be included in the action items.
The following additional action items from the other councils were presented but required no action by the Technical Panel.
E-Government (PDF 15k)
Telehealth (PDF 15k)
IT Planning and Development (PDF 21k)
REGULAR INFORMATIONAL ITEMS AND WORK GROUP UPDATES (AS NEEDED)
CAP. The work group is meeting today after the Technical Panel meeting.
Security Work Group. Steve Hartman reported that the work group proposed the following changes to the charter:
Scope: Last sentence was changed to read as follows, “The security architecture must address issues relating to authentication, authorization, confidentiality, data integrity, non-repudiation, and isolation which includes all wired or wireless data communication inbound and outbound of the State’s protected network environment.”
Membership: Changed Facilitator to “State Information Security Officer”. Last sentence now reads, “Any member of the NITC Councils or Technical Panel may participate on the work group, with permission of the sponsor. The sponsor of the workgroup may solicit memberships from other entities to provide a cross section of perspectives and information.”
Timeframe: Wording was changed to read, “This work group will continue in existence until this charter is repealed.”
The work group raised the question regarding who should be the sponsor. The panel recommended that the CIO’s office be listed as the "Lead Agency."
Mr. Henderson moved to approve the Revised Charter with the changes discussed. Mr. Langer seconded. Roll call vote: Horn, Yes, Henderson-Yes, Decker-Yes, Beach-Yes, Weir-Yes, and Langer-Yes. Results: Yes-6, No-0. Motion carried.
The Security Work Group recommended that the Disaster Planning policies be the responsibility of the Business Continuity / Disaster Recovery Shared Services Work Group. The Security Work Group would provide input only. The panel agreed.
Ms. Decker informed the paned that with the collaboration of MISAC, the CIO’s office distributed cyber security posters and cards from the NITC. Agencies are requesting more posters and cards.
Statewide Synchronous Video Network Work Group. Activities and update were provided earlier in the meeting under the Distance Education Task Force Report agenda item.
OTHER BUSINESS
Mr. Becker informed the members that State Records Board grant application review process has changed. A separate group will meet to review these grant applications.
Legislative bills relating to information technology will be tracked on the NITC website.
NEXT MEETING DATE
The next meeting of the NITC Technical Panel will be held on Tuesday, February 14, 2006, 9:00 a.m. at Varner Hall, 3835 Holdrege in Lincoln, Nebraska.
Ms. Horn moved to adjourn the meeting. Mr. Beach seconded. All were in favor. Motion carried.
Meeting was adjourned at 10:40 a.m.
Meeting minutes were taken by Lori Lopez Urdiales and reviewed by Rick Becker of the Office of the CIO/NITC.
Meeting Minutes