TECHNICAL PANEL

Tuesday, February 13, 2001
Varner Hall, Regents Board Room
3835 Holdrege, Lincoln, Nebraska

APPROVED MINUTES

MEMBERS PRESENT:
Michael Beach, NETC; Brenda Decker, Department of Administrative Services; Christy Horn; Assistive Technology-UNL; Steve Schafer, Chief Information Officer; Walter Weir, University of Nebraska; and Michael Winkle, NITC Executive Director

OTHERS PRESENT:
Mahendra Bansal, Natural Resources; Rick Golden, University of Nebraska; Bruce Dienes, IBM; and Rick Becker, Tom Rolfes, Lori Lopez Urdiales, Office of the CIO/NITC

ROLL CALL AND MEETING NOTICE

The Chair, Walter Weir, called the meeting to order at 9:02. Roll call was taken. There were four members present at time of roll call. A quorum existed to conduct official business.

PUBLIC COMMENT

There was no public comment.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Mr. Schafer moved to approve the minutes as presented. Mr. Beach seconded the motion. Roll call vote: Beach-Yes, Schafer-Yes, Weir-Yes, and Winkle-Yes. Motion was carried.

PROJECT REVIEWS -Approval of Community Technology Fund Reviewers
Anne Byers, Community Information Technology Manager

The list of reviewers was made available to the Panel prior to the meeting for their review. Ms. Byers reported that there were a couple of reviewers that had not responded or confirmed.

Ms. Decker and Ms. Horn arrived at approximately 9:06 a.m.

Ms. Byers is having difficulty finding a reviewer without a conflict of interest for Grant Number 12-Creating a Common Framework for Integrating Surface Water Data. Mr. Schafer suggested that there may be other members that serve on the GIS Steering committee that may be able to assist. A grant reviewer is also needed for Grant Number 21-Access for a Better Crete through Technology Language Communication which involves translation software. Members offered suggestions for possible reviewers from the Department of Education and the University of Nebraska.

Mr. Beach moved to approve the list of reviewers for the Community Technology Fund grants. Ms. Horn seconded the motion. Roll call vote: Winkle-Yes, Weir-Yes, Schafer-Yes, Horn-Yes, Decker-Yes, and Beach-Yes. Motion was carried.

PROJECT REVIEWS, Bridging the Telecommunications Gap Project
Tom Rolfes, Education Information Technology Manager

Mr. Rolfes reported that the consortium has taken the Panel's recommendations and revised their proposal. Mr. Rolfes entertained comments and questions from the Panel.

Mr. Winkle moved that it be affirmed that the Technical Panel has done a technical review of the proposal and that it be forwarded to the sponsoring entity. Ms. Decker seconded the motion. Roll call vote: Decker-Yes, Beach-Yes, Winkle-Yes, Weir-Yes, Schafer-Yes, and Horn-Yes. Motion was carried.

STATE GOVERNMENT INFRASTRUCTURE
Jeff Dean, IMServices

Copies of the presentation were distributed to the Panel members. Topics covered in his presentation were the layers of security, services that are currently being evaluated, issues affecting security, and the financial impact to agencies. Mr. Dean entertained comments and questions from the Panel.

STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES - Resolution: GIS Standards and Guidelines (PDF 48k)
Steve Schafer, Chief Information Officer

Currently, there is no direction for agencies to develop or propose guidelines and/or standards for GIS (Geographic Information System). The purpose of the resolution is to bring the issue to the table in order to begin development.

Mr. Schafer moved that the Technical Panel adopt the GIS Standards and Guidelines resolution:

Pursuant to Section 81-2604 (4), the Technical Panel of the NITC requests that the GIS Steering Committee recommend standards and guidelines in the following areas:

• land record modernization
• GIS metadata standards
• database development
• internet access to GIS data and attributes from multiple sources,
• including use of interactive mapping technologies
• development of a statewide GIS

Mr. Winkle seconded the motion. Roll call vote: Horn-Yes, Schafer-Yes, Weir-Yes, Winkle-Yes, Beach-Yes, and Decker-Yes. Motion was carried.

STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES -NIDCAC Standards
Steve Schafer, Chief Information Officer

A volunteer group of people was formed to determine if there should be separate standards for local and state government. Group members included Steve Henderson, Brenda Decker, Ron Bowmaster and Steve Schafer. The group met last week and it was recommended that there not be a separate set of standards. Instead, documentation will be developed on best practices that both local and state government can adopt. IMServices and the Division of Communication will develop the documentation and report back to the Technical Panel.

STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES -Quality Assurance and Management
Steve Schafer, Chief Information Officer

One of the results of the CHARTS evaluation was that it was noted that the state did not have standards or policies for quality assurance. Mr. Schafer stated that this is a topic that must be be addressed by the Technical Panel in the near future. It will become critical for upcoming projects such as NIS.

UPDATE - Wireless Project
Brenda Decker, Department of Administrative Services

Staff have met with the Governor and Lori McClurg, Department of Administrative Services Director. The hearing on LB679 was held last week. Approval for the next step of the project is anticipated by end of the week. If so, the RFP will be released and the Advisory Board will begin the development and review of the policies and standards. Once approved, the implementation plan will be brought to the Technical Panel.

UPDATE - Network Architecture
Brenda Decker

Future funding is needed for FY02 and FY03 for the Consultant position for the TINA/NETCOM project. Educational entities are willing to contribute to the funding. The ESU's have appointed Al Schneider to talk with the Division of Communication regarding their contribution. In addition to assisting with the needs assessment from educational institutions, the consultant will also be responsible for the following: 1) development of certain aspects of the RFP; 2) coordination between the Division of Communications, prime contractor and subcontracts; and 3) analysis of and building of potential business models (to apply for USF funds).

The target date for the RFP is getting close. Ms. Decker recommendation that the Technical Panel have separate meeting (possibly two meetings) to review the RFP prior to the NITC April meeting. It is important in the communication and expectations of the project. Mr. Becker will assist in arranging the meeting.

Senator Osborne is making presentations on Telecommunications in western Nebraska and has requested that either Ms. Decker or Mr. Winkle be part of the presentation.

UPDATE - Security Architecture
Steve Schafer, Chief Information Officer

Several activities have been planned:

• On May 18th, a 3-4 hour forum for management level staff (date is tentative)
• A 2-day fall conference is being planned. The Nebraska CERT group is doing a conference in August on the same topic. State agencies will be encouraged to attend this conference, as well.
• Quarterly 1/2 day forums on specific topics will be held.

The fourth phase would be the development of templates for agency use. Experts skilled and talented in documentation procedures would be utilized.

Discussion followed regarding Mr. Dean’s presentation and the 164 addresses issue. Mr. Schafer to put this issue on the Work Group's agenda. He also suggested that this could be include as an action item for Statewide Technology Plan.

UPDATE - Assistive Technology

The Work Group has not met recently. There is a need to broaden the work group to include more technical person. Work Group members have been asked to provide recommendations for new members. Ms. Horn would like to concentrate on once a week meetings to get work done.

UPDATE - E-Government Architecture

The Work Group has been meeting monthly and has a draft almost complete.

UPDATE - Video Standards

At its first meeting, the Work Group developed a set of criteria for reviewing standards. Members are researching these standards. A spreadsheet will be developed. Next month's meeting will focus on determining a short list. If the Work Group stays on track, the July time lines will be met.

OTHER BUSINESS

Mr. Weir wanted members to be thinking about hosting an NITC Technical Panel Conference to provide an update on the Technical Panel activities, and possibly bring in a keynote speaker, charge a fee. Mr. Beach suggested that may be possible if the Panel wanted to hold this during the NEB*SAT Users Conference, June 5-6, 2001 in Grand Island. The conference has expanded to include other entities. If the Panel wants to do this, Mr. Beach would need to know topics, speakers, budget contribution, and expected numbers as soon as possible. The Panel opted to discuss this in further detail at a future meeting.

Mr. Schafer commented that the Technical Panel may need to have a special meeting to review the NIS implementation plan in order to have it ready for the NITC approval at the April 25th meeting. Mr. Becker will work on scheduling the meeting.

Mr. Schafer reported that the State Government Council has formed a work group to study issues relating to an enterprise directory for state government.

Mr. Weir announced that Educause is sponsoring a "Gathering of State Networks" conference, April 29-May 1st. Rick Golden will be attending and will provide a report to the Technical Panel.

NEXT MEETING, DATE, TIME AND LOCATION

The next meeting of the Technical Panel will be held on Tuesday, March 13th, 9 a.m., Varner Hall, Regents Board Room, 3835 Holdrege Street, Lincoln, Nebraska

ADJOURNMENT

At 11:35 a.m., Mr. Schafer moved that the meeting be adjourned. Mr. Beach seconded the motion. Roll call vote: Beach-Yes, Decker-Yes, Horn-Yes, Schafer-Yes, Weir-Yes, and Winkle-Yes. Motion was carried.

Minutes were taken by Lori Lopez Urdiales and reviewed by Rick Becker, Office of the CIO/NITC.

Meeting Minutes