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TECHNICAL PANEL

Nebraska Information Technology Commission
Tuesday, December 12, 2000 - 9:00 a.m.
Varner Hall - Board Room
38th and Holdrege, Lincoln, Nebraska

APPROVED MINUTES

MEMBERS PRESENT: Michael, Beach, Nebraska Educational Telecommunications; Steve Henderson, Department of Administrative Services; Christy Horn, University of Nebraska; Steve Schafer, Chief Information Officer; and Walter Weir, University of Nebraska

MEMBERS ABSENT: Michael Winkle, Nebraska Information Technology Commission

ROLL CALL AND MEETING NOTICE

The Chair, Walter Weir called the meeting to order at 9:10 a.m. Roll call was taken. Four members were present. A quorum existed to conduct official business. The meeting notice was posted on the NITC and Public Meeting Calendar website on December 8, 2000.

PUBLIC HEARING - TECHNOLOGY ACCESS CLAUSE HEARING - 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.

Ms. Horn provided background information on the Technology Access Clause. The hearing was held open for public comment until 10:00 a.m. There was no public comment.

Ms. Horn voiced a concern regarding the first sentence in 5.d. which could possibly negate all other statements and recommended taking it out completely. Discussion followed.

Mr. Henderson moved that the Technical Panel endorse the Technology Access Clause with the recommended change of omitting the first sentence of 5.d. Mr. Beach seconded the motion. Roll call vote: Beach-Yes, Henderson-Yes, Horn-Yes, Schafer-Yes, and Weir-Yes. Motion was carried.

PUBLIC COMMENT

There was no public comment.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES - November 14 and November 29

Mr. Weir moved to approve the November 14th and November 29th meeting minutes. Mr. Henderson seconded the motion. Roll call vote: Beach-Yes, Henderson-Yes, Horn-Yes, and Weir-Yes. Motion was carried.

BRIEFING ON THE GIS STRATEGIC PLAN (PDF)
Larry Zink, Intergovernmental Data Services

The GIS (Geographic Information Systems) Steering Committee is a partnership of state, local and federal government entities working together to foster and guide cooperative GIS implementation in Nebraska. The strategic plan was approved by the GIS Steering Committee a month ago. Following are the key elements of strategic plan: 1) spatial data a critical component of I.T. infrastructure; 2) benefits of coordinated public investment in GIS; 3) a spatial data infrastructure model for Nebraska; and 4) strategic direction and initiatives. As the plan is implemented and guidelines/standards are developed, the GIS Steering Committee will ask for the assistance and technical review of the Technical Panel. The Panel posed the following questions and inquiries for clarification and/or additional information at a later time.

  1. What implications are there for network bandwidth if a statewide GIS database was developed and used for GIS traffic?
  2. What security needs and issues will be implicated by GIS data sharing?
  3. What considerations have been made of e-commerce and the "selling" of GIS data?
  4. Has Internet 2 been considered as a statewide solution or regional transport network between institutions?
  5. Has any thought been given to using State or Community colleges as the Nebraska regional data centers referred to in the GIS Annual Report?
  6. What consideration has been given to gathering funding for the operations of the Statewide GIS Bureau?
  7. How does GIS interplay with the "Technology Across Nebraska" initiative?
  8. What role, if any, will County Extension educators play in GIS outreach and education?
  9. What about a GIS portal concept as a one-stop shop for GIS information?

Mr. Zink will take the inquiries back to the GIS Steering Committee and report back at a later time.

PROJECT REVIEW - Distance Learning Project (PDF 145k)
Tom Carlstom, Superintendent of Humphrey Public Schools, and Chair of the Crossroads Consortia and Alan Wibbels, Co-Chair of the NITC Education Council

The Crossroads Consortium is made up of 10 school districts. The Excellence in Education lottery monies for major competitive grants has been reduced from $5 million to $1.5 million per year. Most of the lottery dollars will be used to fund innovative projects that improve quality incentive programs in schools. The Consortium is proposing legislation to fund school districts that have not received funding for distance education. Data is being collected from approximately 56 school districts that do not have distance learning capabilities. The proposal was presented to the Education Council and the Council was in support. Mr. Wibbels clarified that the Education Council was in support of the proposal but did not endorse any particular video standard. The Council recommended that the Consortium develop the proposal further and to have the proposal reviewed by the Technical Panel.

Mr. Schafer arrived at 9:56 a.m.

It was recommended to include information on the amount of anticipated traffic and technology options for distance learning in the final draft. It was anticipated the final draft would be completed by December 25th for review by the Technical Panel at the January meeting.

APPROVAL OF REPORT ON THE NIS PROJECT - Review of RFP for the NIS Project (PDF 139k)

Upon approval by the Technical Panel the report will be submitted to the NITC and the Director of Administrative Services. There were no additional comments or input from the Panel.

Mr. Schafer moved to adopt the Report on the NIS Project. Mr. Henderson seconded the motion. Roll call vote: Beach-Yes, Henderson-Yes, Horn-Yes, Schafer-Yes, and Weir-Yes. Motion was carried.

APPOINT TECHNICAL PANEL REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE NIS PROJECT

Mr. Weir moved to nominate Don Mihulka as the Technical Panel representative for the NIS Project. Mr. Schafer seconded the motion. Roll call vote: Weir-Yes, Schafer-Yes, Horn-Yes, Henderson-Yes and Beach-Yes. Motion was carried.

SECURITY POLICIES (PDF 233k) - REVIEW AND RECOMMENDATION TO THE NITC

Discussion occurred regarding an annual review of the policies where agencies can provide input and recommendations. The annual review process will need to be discussed in the near future.

Mr. Beach moved that the Technical Panel adopt the proposed Security Policies to be submitted to the NITC. Mr. Schafer seconded the motion. Roll call vote: Beach-Yes, Henderson-Yes, Horn-Yes, Schafer-Yes, and Weir-Yes.

Mr. Henderson moved that the Technical Panel conduct a review of the Security Policies by November 1, 2001. Mr. Beach seconded the motion. Roll call vote: Weir-Yes, Schafer-Yes, Horn-Yes, Henderson-Yes and Beach-Yes.

TECHNICAL PANEL MEMBERSHIP RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE NITC

The following membership changes were submitted:

  • Michael Beach - Member representing Nebraska Educational Telecommunications Commission
  • Bob Huber - Alternate for Michael Beach, Nebraska Educational Telecommunications Commission
  • Rick Golden - Alternate for Walter Weir, University of Nebraska Computing Services Network

Mr. Weir moved to approve the membership recommendations and changes for the Technical Panel. Mr. Schafer seconded the motion. Roll call vote: Weir-Yes, Schafer-Yes, Horn-Yes, Henderson-Yes and Beach-Yes. Motion was carried.

ELECTION OF CHAIR OF THE TECHNICAL PANEL FOR 2001

Mr. Schafer nominated Walter Weir to serve another term as Chair. There were no other nominations.

Mr. Henderson moved that nominations cease and that Mr. Weir be elected chair of the Technical Panel. Mr. Beach seconded the motion. Roll call vote: Beach-Yes, Henderson-Yes, Horn-Yes, Schafer-Yes, and Weir-Abstained. Motion was carried.

INFORMATIONAL ITEMS AND WORK GROUP UPDATES (as needed)

Wireless project – No report.

Network Architecture Work Group (TINA) – No report. The next meeting will be held on January 8, 2001.

Security Architecture Work Group – Mr. Schafer reported that the next step for the Work Group is an implementation and architecture plan, as well as to discuss how to communicate to agencies. The Work Group's charter states that Work Group will exist until the end of February 2001 or until the work is completed. It was suggested that for all Work Groups a task and target date be set with the understanding that the Chairs will remain in place and the members shall active and called upon when needed.

Assistive Technology Work Group – Ms. Horn reported that the clause is now completed. The next tasks will be to develop guidelines, a checklist and training.

E-Government Architecture Work Group – Mr. Schafer reported that the Work Group is making progress. Issues being addressed are as follows: governance and development of clear requirements for web development that would accommodate standards and encryption but still encourage creativity. Mr. Weir will recommend someone from the University to serve on the workgroup.

Video standards - Mr. Beach reported that a plan as to the group's focus and direction and recommendations membership would be ready for the January meeting.

OTHER BUSINESS

There was no other business.

NEXT MEETING DATE & ADJOURN

The next meeting of the Technical Panel will be held on Tuesday, January 9, 2001, 9:00 a.m. in the Regents Board Room, Varner Hall, 3835 Holdrege Street in Lincoln, Nebraska

Mr. Beach moved to adjourn the meeting. Mr. Henderson seconded the motion. Roll call vote: Weir-Yes, Schafer-Yes, Horn-Yes, Henderson-Yes and Beach-Yes. Motion was carried.

The meeting was adjourned at 11:37 a.m.

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

Meeting Minutes