Office of Information Technology

Technology Appropriations Board
Minutes of the meeting December 12, 1996

Location: AHT 4th Floor Conference Room
Time: 1:00-3:00 PM

In attendance:

The report of the Telecommunications Subcommittee was presented and discussed by the full committee. The Telecommunications Subcommittee Report, along with issues raised in the discussion, is given as follows:

Priorities, based on student priorities which were made clear at the Telecommunications subcommittee meeting on 12/4/96. The student priorities are best expressed in the flyer titled "Technology is part of the UTK experience," subpart titled "Enhancements Supported by the UTK Technology Fee," where the elements are listed in PRIORITY ORDER, except that the list should read for TNS elements:

Priorities

1. Expansion and upgrade of the on-campus data network -- DORMS
2. Subsidized off-campus access and support to the UTK network
3. Enhanced student support services (e.g. slip assist, NIC and software installation)
4. Expansion and upgrade of on-campus network -- ACADEMIC BUILDINGS

The priorities were selected based on the efficient use of resources, the financial constraints, and the need to meet the goals set in the original plan for the first year use of the technology fee. It was noted that in the first fiscal year, one year of expansion for the network is planned, although only a half-year of income will be available from the fee. All priorities will be pursued simultaneously, with the expectation that a portion of each will be accomplished in the first year.

It was restated that 33% of the ports can be made available in Year One; however, as this number is not expected to be requested by students, the equipment will be acquired on an as-needed basis to avoid unnecessary debt service on borrowed funds. There will be no restrictions on availability of ports to particular dorms, as ports will be available in each of the buildings. The goal is still to complete all dorm rooms by the end of Year Three.

A new survey of demand for ports in the dorms will be requested, for planning purposes, and to track the utilization of network ports in the dorms.

Guiding Principles

1. Make sure administrative uses are paid out of Administrative budgets.
2. Utilization of STF funds to wire and activate Faculty Offices is acceptable since the principle of student traffic use is satisfied (potentially, at least -- by e-mail traffic, etc.)
3. In order to use STF funds to install, upgrade or support a port, the operative principle is that the port must deal with -- receive or send -- student traffic. This can also be put in a related way which somewhat expands the idea: if a secretary, for example, deals with and provides assistance to students as part of his/her job, than that person's port probably qualifies for student support. (As opposed to an office manager who seldom even talks to, let alone provides services to, students.)

In determining eligibility for funding of a network connection by the technology fee, the Board will be asked to review the requests, until precedents are accumulated for this judgement. The Office of the Vice Chancellor for Information Infrastructure will be empowered to make this decision subject to the review of the Board.

Summary of Year One Recommended Actions

The Subcommittee -- in its collective judgment -- recommends the following:

1. Extension of the fiber backbone to all dorms on campus.
2. Re-wiring of the dorms as needed to support NS standards (current) and preparation and activation of SERs.
3. Acquisition of hubs to support 33% of total in Year One and 66% of total in Year Two.
4. Implementation of the new design expanded enhanced modem pool with SLIP/PPP at a cost of approximately $10/month/port and ISDN at a comparable cost of approximately $10.
5. Wiring of 18 classrooms with one port per classroom, minimum.
6. Wiring/re-wiring of and fiber to (as needed) Taylor Law, S&E, Dougherty Engineering, and Perkins Hall.
7. The committee supports the TNS estimate of additional FTE for customer services and technical support.

The Telecommunications Subcommittee Report was approved unanimously by the full committee. It was requested that monthly updates be provided to the full board, detailing the progress on each of the priorities.

The current status of the upgrade and expansion of the network was reviewed, and the following information provided:

• The networking in Taylor Law Building and the Science & Engineering Building is near completion.
• An RFQ will be released within a few weeks for the outsourcing of the remote dial-up services. It is expected that enhanced services, including access to MACs, UNIX machines, and Novell servers, will continue to be provided by the university. Currently the existing modem pool is being re-designed to provide ISDN service at an affordable cost.
• Electronic equipment and the fiber between floors is being installed in the dorms.
• A dedicated T-1 line for access to the Internet has been acquired, in addition to the two existing shared T-1 lines.
• Accounting procedures are being defined for the utilization and management of the technology fee.
• Staff are being assigned for support of the SLIP/PPP services and the usage of ports in the dorms. The goal is to enhance the front-end support to minimize the subsequent support requirements. Initially, these support functions will be available at Dunford Hall, but are expected to be moved to new space in Aconda Court during Spring Semester.
• In rental properties, plans are being made to provide telephone service from the existing UTK switch when the current BellSouth contract expires on August 7, 1997, because the BellSouth rate is expected to quadruple at that time. Planning is also in progress to provide ISDN access to rental housing.

Agenda Items for the next meeting:

• Report by DII on the plan for the layout, staffing, and functions to be performed at the new Aconda Court Center for all DII support services.
• Presentation of the draft of a glossary/handbook of TNS services.
• Review of the First Year budget for use of the technology fee.

Members will be contacted regarding Spring Schedules so that meetings may be planned. Although monthly meetings are desired, it is expected that two meetings per month will be necessary in January and February.