GUESTS: J. E. Osting, Bob Huffman, Rick Stephens, Ray Perry, Sheri Rose, Kent Howell, Joe Piccini and John Witt
STAFF: Doug Robinson; Executive Director of KIRM and Jessamine Saufley
Chair Couch called the meeting to order at 10:00 a.m. in the KTLN room at Anderson County High School in Lawrenceburg. Chair Couch welcomed members and guests to the meeting. Chair Couch introduced Charlotte Wright, District Technology Coordinator for Anderson County Schools and thanked Charlotte for hosting the CAC meeting.
Chair Couch presented a brief overview of Anderson County’s technical program and commended the school system for having the staff in place to ensure that the system’s technology is used effectively. Chair Couch asked members to review the meeting agenda and suggest any additions to the meeting agenda. Being no additions, Chair Couch asked members to review the KIRM/CAC joint meeting minutes of December 9, 1997. The minutes were approved as distributed.
Chair Couch introduced Colonel John Heltzel of Military Affairs who is the appointee to CAC; currently Galen Kiser has been the designee from Military Affairs for Colonel Heltzel. Mr. Kiser recently retired from state government. Chair Couch announced that Captain Richard Yetter has accepted a position as Commander of the Harlan State Police Post and John Witt may become the designee from State Police.
Chair Couch called for CAC Workgroup reports:
David Ballard reported that the Wireless Workgroup has not met since the last CAC meeting. He added that the 800 MHz project did not receive funding in the recent Governor’s Executive budget. However; the Kentucky State Police did receive twenty million for a radio system and the Department of Disaster and Emergency Services did receive one million for radio replacement parts.
Dave Ballard reported that ATM would be added to the Kentucky Information Highway on February 21.
He stated that the Commonwealth has been visiting Virginia and other states to see how they handle DS1, DS3 and ATM. Dave added that in the area of Distance Learning that Kentucky is ahead of most. Dave said that recently several private schools have expressed an interest in KIH access and rates. Dave asked the members if they had any questions. Ron Moore asked about rollouts. Dave added that as soon as equipment needs can be determined; rollouts will be implemented in Frankfort, University of Kentucky and University of Louisville in four to six weeks. The KIH contract has a DS3 rate with a DS1 rate to be added soon.
Next Dave asked the members to review the handout referencing the Model Courthouse Project in their meeting materials. Dave stated that the team has completed the county site visits and explained the consideration in selecting a county for a pilot. He next highlighted the project’s goals, time period, and expectations, state responsibilities and post project responsibilities. Dave announced that the three pilot counties would be Montgomery, Warren and Marshall. The timeline for the Model Courthouse pilots will be six months. Dave asked for questions or comments.
Next Mike Clark from Kentucky Educational Television reported on Kentucky Telelinking Network (KTLN) activities. Mike said that a review is being conducted of the price contract and invitation to bid which includes working with partners, longer partnership with new vendor, use of on-line services for customer service and support, migration to standards for communications and protection of legacy systems. Mike added that the preliminary cut has been sent to Purchasing. Mike informed members that the strategic direction of KTLN needs to be determined. Mike asked for questions or comments.
Chair Couch turned the meeting over to Charlotte Wright and Melissa Conway, KTLN Coordinator for Campbell County schools who demonstrated the power of telecommunications in the classroom and the potential uses of KTLN. Chair Couch thanked Charlotte and Melissa for their presentation and efforts in implementing technology. Chair Couch asked the members for questions or comments.
Doyle Friskney directed members to review the handout on the Telecommunications Reform Act.
Next Doyle summarized the status of the deregulation of the telephone industry. In summary, most rural Kentucky locations will not experience any benefits from deregulation for the next 24-36 months.
After much discussion, Chair Couch asked for questions or comments.
Chair Couch presented an update on the Universal Service Fund. In closing, David stressed the need for the WAN’S and LAN’S to be faster.
Chair Couch asked Doug Robinson to give an EMPOWER Kentucky and IT Enterprise Architecture and Standards update. Doug updated members on the EMPOWER projects which will funded out of the Governor’s surplus funds. Doug announced that a vendor has been selected for the MARS initiative.
Doug asked members to review a handout updating access for Internet in public libraries.
Doug reported that recently a formal committee for It Enterprise Architecture and Standards was established. Ms. Aldona Valicenti, Chief Information Officer for the Commonwealth will be the Chair. Doug added that technical workgroups in the areas of hardware, software, networking, remote computing and telecommuting will be established. Doug asked for volunteers from the members. Doug stated that the committee has been busy defining data. Doug added that updates and revisions are available on the KIRM website.
Chair Couch informed members that the next CAC meeting will be dedicated to a formal discussion on telecommuting and the development of a white paper. Chair Couch asked members to review the materials
in the meeting packets on telecommuting before the April CAC meeting. Chair Couch stressed that with the telecommuting issue, many areas need to be addressed before developing policy. Doug added that a pilot in telecommuting with the Cabinet for Families and Children in the area of social workers using laptops, pagers and phones is being implemented in Magoffin County.
Next Chair Couch turned the meeting over to Charlotte Wright, the District Technology Coordinator for Anderson County school system. Charlotte presented a program on KETS implementation and applications. Chair Couch thanked Charlotte for the presentation and invited members to tour the adjacent elementary school to view the use of technology within the school and interact with the teachers and students. Members were invited to lunch with the students.
The next Communications Advisory Council meeting will be held on Friday, April 10, 1998 with the new William T. Young Library at the University of Kentucky selected as a tentative location. Being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 12:30 p.m.