TECHNICAL PANEL

Thursday, June 5, 2003, 1:30 p.m.

Nebraska State Office Building, Lower Level F

301 Centennial Mall South, Lincoln, Nebraska

APPROVED MINUTES

MEMBERS PRESENT:

Mike Beach, Nebraska Educational Telecommunications

Brenda Decker, Department of Administrative Services, State of Nebraska

Lance Perez, University of Nebraska (Alt. for Christy Horn)

Kurt Langer, Lincoln Public Schools, K-12 Representative

Steve Schafer, Chief Information Officer, State of Nebraska

Walter Weir, Chief Information Office, University of Nebraska

CALL TO ORDER, ROLL CALL AND MEETING NOTICE

Mr. Weir called the meeting to order at 1:30 p.m. There were four members present at the time of roll. A quorum existed to conduct official business. The meeting notice was posted to the NITC and Public Meeting Calendar web sites on May 7, 2003 and the meeting agenda was posted to the NITC web site on May 30, 2003.

PUBLIC COMMENT

There was no public comment.

APPROVAL OF APRIL 9, 2003 MINUTES

Ms. Decker moved to approve the April 9th minutes. Mr. Perez seconded the motion. Roll call vote: Decker-Yes, Perez-Yes, Langer-Yes, Schafer-Yes and Weir- Yes. The motion was carried by majority vote.

STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES

Groupware Architecture – Use of Computer-based Fax Services by State Government Agencies - Set for Public Comment

Mr. Becker asked that action on this item be tabled pending review of the document by the Division of Communications. Mr. Weir distributed written information on Virtual Messenger, software that uses computers for voice and fax messaging. This software is used at UNL. Mr. Schafer asked if the University would be interested in aggregating efforts with the State. Mr. Weir agreed and offered invite Rick Haugerud to come to Technical Panel.

Hardware Architecture – Minimum Workstation Configuration Guidelines

The Minimum Workstation Configuration Guidelines for State Government and for K-12 Public Education are scheduled for review in June 2003. Mr. Weir recommended that the minimum requirements should be upgraded. Members were asked to review both guidelines and submit their recommendations to Mr. Becker. These will be discussed at a future meeting.

General Discussion of Standards and Guidelines

Rick Becker

A standards and guidelines template was distributed to the members. Mr. Becker was thanked for his efforts.

TECHNICAL PANEL PRIORITIES AND ACTION ITEMS – REVISION FOR 2003-2004

Mr. Becker provided a scorecard of the Technical Panel’s action items for the past year. Of the nine action items, five have been completed and no action taken on four. Staff recommendations for changes were included in the draft revision.

Mr. Langer arrived at 1:47 p.m.

It was recommended to change the wording of “technical support” to “technical assistance”.

Mr. Schafer moved to approve the 2003-2004 Priorities and Action Items with the recommended word change of technical support to technical assistance. Ms. Decker seconded the motion. Roll call vote: Weir-Yes, Schafer-Yes, Langer-Yes, Perez-Yes, and Decker-Yes. The motion was carried by majority vote.

REGULAR INFORMATIONAL ITEMS AND WORK GROUP UPDATES (as needed)

Accessibility Architecture Work Group. There was no report.

CAP, Brenda Decker. The project is close to awarding the contract for Phase 1. Discussions have occurred regarding changing the start time for Phase 2 and combining Phases 2 and 3. Discussions with Tier 2 communities, such as Wayne, are underway.

Security Architecture Work Group, Steve Schafer. The standards and guideline for wireless and remote access are almost competed. It is anticipated that these will be ready for the Technical Panel’s review in July. Other issues the Work Group is exploring include: secure communications including e-mail; spamming; regional CERT teams; and developing a strategic plan. The Work Group is evaluating a Web-based Security Awareness Training program. A vulnerability assessment is underway and the third phase will be testing. A grant has been awarded to develop a Continuity Plan.

Statewide Synchronous Video Network Work Group, Tom Rolfes. The Work Group met in Kearney before the Nebraska Distance Learning Conference. Seventeen of the twenty-five members were present. At a prior meeting, task groups were formed to address specific tasks. Task group reports will be posted to the NITC Web site by June15th. Input will be solicited from each sector. A recommendation will be brought to the Technical Panel at the September 10th meeting. The e-learning initiative has been included in the Education Council’s priorities and actions items.

Wireless, Brenda Decker. Lieutenant Governor Heineman has resigned from the commission due to his homeland security responsibilities. Sheriff Miller has also resigned. General Lempke is replacing Lieutenant Governor Heineman and Terry Wagner is replacing Sheriff Miller. The initial report has been received from the consultants. Legal counsel resigned due to lack of funding for his position. The new chair is Colonel Nesbitt from the State Patrol.

NIS. The project is winding down. The team is working on a punch list of items needing to be done before the project ends.

BRIEFING ON “CONVERGENT TRANSPORT BACKBONE NETWORK SERVICES” RFP (SCA-0262) Brenda Decker

Mr. Weir provided a presentation entitled “KAN-ED Creating the Kansas Information Highway for Schools, Libraries, and Hospitals.”. Kansas appropriated $10 million a year from their Universal Service Fund for the project. Mr. Weir agreed to provide a copy of the CD to members and stated that it would be good to have a collaborative effort to develop such a CD for Nebraska.

Ms. Decker stated that four proposals were received: Adesta, Alltel, Dark Fiber Solutions and Sprint.

Mr. Beach arrived at 2:22 p.m.

Ms. Decker stated that the evaluations have been completed and the evaluation team believes they’ve reached consensus. The announcement for intent to award is scheduled June 11th. If permission is given, the announcement may be moved up to June 10th for the NITC meeting. Mr. Weir thanked Ms. Decker and the respondents for their efforts.

Ms. Decker moved that the Technical Panel hold a closed session for the purpose of receiving a briefing on the “Convergent Transport Backbone Network Services” RFP number SCA-0262, currently under review by the Division of Communications; and that no formal action shall be taken in closed session. Mr. Langer seconded the motion. Roll call vote: Decker-Yes, Perez-Yes, Langer-Yes, Schafer-Yes, Weir-Yes, and Beach-Yes. The motion was carried by majority vote.

The closed session began at 2:27 p.m.

At 3:17 p.m., Mr. Schafer moved to end the close session. Mr. Weir seconded the motion. Roll call vote: Beach-Yes, Decker-Yes, Perez-Yes, Langer-Yes, Schafer-Yes, and Weir-Yes. The motion was carried by majority vote.

The open session resumed at 3:17 p.m.

OTHER BUSINESS

Mr. Weir expresses concern about telehealth subcommittee’s efforts with the telehalth network plan. He would like to see more collaboration among the subcommittee, CAP and the PSC so that there aren’t separate networks. Mr Schafer stated that the subcommittee does plan to work the state and that he has been in communications with staff and the subcommittee regarding CAP’s efforts.

NEXT MEETING DATE AND ADJOURNMENT

The next meeting of the NITC Technical Panel will be held on Wednesday, July 9th.

Ms. Decker moved to adjourn the meeting. Mr. Beach seconded the motion. All were in favor. The motion was carried by voice vote.

The meeting was adjourned at 3:35 p.m.

Meeting minutes were taken by Lori Lopez Urdiales and reviewed by Rick Becker of the Office of the CIO.

Meeting Minutes