welcome to the "technical" discussion

Bob Carlitz (bob@hamlet.phyast.pitt.edu)
Mon, 17 Mar 1997 17:46:07 -0500 

	Welcome to the online discussion on User Policy and
Technical Underpinnings (technical@info-ren.pitt.edu).  Joe Kern
and I will be serving as co-moderators for this discussion.
The idea, as with the other online discussions, is to try to 
summarize lessons learned in the NIE program and to identify
needs for future research.

	The present discussion deals with technical issues and
with management issues associated with network implementations.
This includes such topics as acceptable use and technical support.  
The overall conference focus is meant to be upon how technology
can support efforts at educational reform, so we should try
keep that in mind as we proceed.

	I would like to suggest that we deal with the technical
issues first and then turn to the management or user policy
issues.  To some extent we need to be clear on what we are
trying to manage before getting into too much detail with
how to manage it.  And, having just spent some time in setting
up the infrastructure for the present conference, I'm deeply
immersed in some of the technical questions right now.

	We have two and a half weeks for the online discussion.
I would suggest that we spend the first week on technical
questions, the second week on user policy and the remaining
time attempting some sort of synthesis of our discussions.  At
the meeting we can use this as the basis for our breakout
session.

	I listed the following technical topics on the conference
Web site:
	Metropolitan area networking infrastructure 
	Site servers 
	Modem pools 
	Interoperability 
	Equipment replacement and upgrade schedules 
Please jump in with other topics I may have omitted.

	What I'll try to do every other day or so is to list a few
questions or talking points on one of these topics and invite
discussion participants to use these questions as a jumping-off point.
Please feel free to bring in other topics that you feel we should
address.

	So here goes: 

	METROPOLITAN AREA NETWORKING INFRASTRUCTURE

1- Internet Service Providers.
	a- Do most school district know where to turn to find
a suitable ISP?
	b- Do suitable ISPs exist in most cities?
	c- Should there be more research on how to provide
school districts with wide area connectivity?
	d- Should federal and state agencies be helping school districts
to form collaboratives and buyers clubs to allow for affordable Internet
connectivity?
	e- Do schools and school districts have the expertise they need
to make intelligent purchases in this area?
	f- What experience do NIE projects bring to this area?
	g- What other sources of information exist for people to
learn about available options for Internet Service provision?

2- Metro Area Connectivity.
	a- Are schools and school districts knowledgeable about
available technical options for Metro Area connectivity?
	b- Do most communities have a range of competitive
options available to provide connectivity for their schools?
	c- Are the available options affordable?
	d- Should there be more research on mechanisms for connectivity
to school buildings?
	e- What mechanisms for Metro Area connectivity have NIE projects
deployed with particular success?
	f- Where can schools and school districts go to learn more
about this topic?  Can connectivity providers be relied upon to
provide accurate information.

	In separate messages Joe and I will try to answer some of these
questions based upon our experience with Common Knowledge: Pittsburgh.
Please describe your experience in this area, and please supplement 
the list of questions given above if you spot topics that I've
neglected to list.

	Thanks for your participation.

	Bob Carlitz