TECHNICAL PANEL

Meeting Minutes
Tuesday, August 10, 1999, 9 a.m.
Executive Building, 521 S 14th Street, 2nd Floor Conference Room
Lincoln, Nebraska

Members Present: Brenda Decker, Director, Division of Communication, State of Nebraska; Peter Ford, Nebraska Educational Telecommunications; Rick Golden, representing Walter Wier for the University of Nebraska.

Others Present: Michael Winkle, NITC Executive Director; Steve Schafer, State Chief Information Officer; Jim Ohmberger, Information Management Systems, State of Nebraska; Rick Becker, Government Information Technology Manager; and Lori Lopez Urdiales, NITC/CIO Administrative Assistant.

CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL: The meeting was called to order by Rick Becker, Government Information Technology Manager, at 1:35 p.m. All members (and or their representative) were present. Mr. Becker announced that public notice was given by electronic means by posting the meeting date, time, location and agenda via the website on August 3rd.

PUBLIC COMMENT: There were none.

APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES: Ms. Decker moved and it was seconded by Mr. Golden to approve the July 13th minutes. Roll Call Vote: Decker-Yes, Ford-Yes, Golden-Yes. Motion carried.

TECHNICAL PANEL CHARTER:

Mr. Winkle reported that due to time constrains, the charter for the Technical Panel was tabled by the NITC until the next meeting to be held late August or early September. Members were asked to review it once more before the next NITC meeting. A membership change will be proposed to the NITC to include the NITC Executive Director and the State Chief Information Officer. A question was raised on Section 7.1 Chair(s). It does not state how the Chair will be elected. Mr. Schafer suggested the wording "The Technical Panel may elect a chair or designee".

POOL OF SPECIALISTS:

Mr. Becker distributed a revised web based form. Mr. Ford asked about the importance of receiving resumes of interested persons. The areas of expertise are broad. It was recommended to utilize a drop down list for person to check off their expertise. In lieu of a resume, a supervisor or department head would co-sign the form verifying the person's expertise in the areas listed. Mr. Ford offered to help Mr. Becker list communication and network areas. Mr. Ohmberger offered to help with databases and applications. It was suggested that Mr. Becker contact Bill Pjatcek about imaging. A disclaimer is also needed on the form. Mr. Becker would like to have everyone's information by August 31st for the next meeting.

STATEWIDE TECHNOLOGY PLAN:

Inventory - Presentation: Telecommunications Infrastructure Study (TINA)

Tim Erickson, Ingovernmental Data Services, conducted the presentation. TINA Objectives include the following:

• Prepare a comprehensive inventory and assessment of the current telecommunications infrastructure
• Identify new telecommunications and information technologies and plan for the future public and private development.
• Identify current and future information applications requirements for communities of interest: 1) state and local government, higher education, K-12, libraries, tribal governments, community networks, etc. and 2) providers
• Identify policy issues for consideration by appropriate policy making entities
• Identify the implication that a proper network design would have on economic development
• Engage communities of interest in preparing telecommunications strategies recommendations with a business case, budget and timeline
• Recommend an on-going process to implement, review and revise to meet needs
• Provide dialog with communities of interest
• Inform Nebraska public officials about strategies

Mr. Erickson informed the group that a web site is being developed to keep the public up-to-date on the project. The survey instrument should be available from the consultant next week. Review and recommendations will be solicited by the Technical Panel, NITC Councils, senators, state agencies and outside agencies. It was decided by the group to wait on gathering information regarding data bases until the statewide plan has been developed. This would be the next step.

Members recommended that additional slides be included in the presentation: (1) objectives - why the study?; (2) specific steps and time lines; and (3) detail how it supports the statewide plan.

It is the CIO/NITC's staff recommendation to approach the Government and Community Council to contribute $20,000 each from their technology funds. The CIO/NITC will contribute $10,000 toward the study. After the Councils approve the recommendation, it will be taken to the NITC for approval.

Mr. Ford moved and it was seconded by Mr. Golden to approve the staff's recommendation for TINA funding. Roll Call Vote: Decker-Abstained, Ford-Yes, Golden-Yes. Motion carried.

Standards and Guidelines

Mr. Schafer reported that Part 3.A Process for Preparing, Reviewing and Updating Standards and Requirements and Part 4.A Overview of Planning and Project Management Requirements will be brought before the NITC at their August meeting for approval. Technical Panel members were asked to provide feedback electronically to Mr. Schafer.

Technical Review Process

Project Proposal Forms and the Assessment Instrument will be discussed and reviewed by NITC at the August meeting. The Councils, Budget Office, Appropriations and Transportation staff will have an opportunity to review the forms for final approval by the NITC at the November meeting.

Members felt that projects still needed to have an opportunity to come to the Technical Panel for clarification of projects. The following was a suggestion for the process:

• Technical Review - Preliminary level (Programmatic, Budgetary, Technological)
• Technical Review - High level expertise (Pool of Specialists)
• Draft response with summary - to Technical Panel and Project Sponsor
• Meet with sponsors if necessary
• Final review and recommendation to the NITC

OTHER BUSINESS: There was none.

NEXT MEETING DATE: The next meeting will be held September 14, 1999, 9 a.m. Meeting was adjourned at 11:00 a.m.

Minutes taken by Lori Lopez Urdiales, CIO/NITC Administrative Assistant and reviewed by Rick Becker, Government I.T. Manager.

Meeting Minutes