Recent developments EBS licenses, I-Light, and work plan progress  

February 27, 2007
Contact: communications@ihets.org

Greetings! As the board and its operating committees move forward with the budget planing process and the services reviews, the IHETS consortium continues to strengthen and improve the organization and its services.

The Executive Committee has approved and recommended renegotiation of the existing 17 EBS lease contracts and 2 EBS licenses that are under Memorandum of Understanding agreements with Sprint. Sprint initiated the release of the licenses in a letter IHETS received on February 12. Sprint proposes to extend the lease term from 23 years to 30 years for the 17 and wants to move the two under MOU's to lease contracts for 30 years.

There are 5 additional licenses currently not under lease that are held under the name of Indiana University and Vincennes University on behalf of the consortium. These 5 licenses will have to bid through an RFP process, following the universities' policies. Our Washington attorney, Rini Coran is investigating what the true market value of the licenses might be for the IHETS consortium and will guide us through the process.

I-Light: some details on the change in support structures and processes that are taking place as they relate to support of services and network management, monitoring and Internet access. As of the 12th of February, all support matters relating to network connectivity and Interned access issues are to be directed to the I-Light service desk. All other service and support related issues including SUVON, video conferencing, IHETS Interactive (audio and video web conferencing), audio and video streaming, firewall services and security services, member support and technical consulting please continue to be directed to the IHETS help desk. Notre Dame has recently connected to I-light, DePauw University, Earlham College, Grace College, and Indiana State University are scheduled to connect soon but due to fiber build outs, the exact dates are not set.

IHETS workplan studies are moving right along. Both technology services and e-learning services committees are engaged in surveying consortium members to determine the importance they place on these services and therefore, which, if any, should be continued. The results of these determinations are scheduled to be known in early March. For those services that are to be continued or any new services added, outcome measures, performance goals, and marketing opportunities will be developed.

In the next issue of this newsletter, we will continue to keep you informed about the latest developments related to these and other issues.

Regards,

O'Neal Smitherman, vice president for information technology & CIO
Ball State University
Chair, IHETS Technology Operations and Applications Committee
Member, IHETS Board of Directors