DOCUMENT RESUME ED 383 230 IR 017 105 TITLE Satellite Interconnection and Distance Delivery in Alaska: Toward the 21st Century. Summary and Recommendations of the Satellite Interconnection Project under the Direction of the Telecommunications Information Council. INSTITUTION Alaska Public Broadcasting Commission, Juneau. PUB DATE 95 NOTE 185p. PUB TYPE Reports Research/Technical (143) EDRS PRICE MF01/PC08 Plus Postage. DESCRIPTORS *Communications Satellites; Computer Mediated Communication; Distance Education; *Information Networks; Information Technology; *Telecommunications IDENTIFIERS Alaska; Communications Infrastructure; *Information Infrastructure ABSTRACT The Satellite Interconnection Project was created for the purpose of investigating the interest and need for improved interconnection, faster and of greater capacity than the capability of present systems, especially among Alaska state-supported users of video and audio transmissions. The intent was to explore the cost-benefit and the potential improvement in the quality and range of services supported by the state. It was anticipated that through the use of advanced telecommunications, the state would realize significant savings, improved productivity, and more meaningful levels of service for Alaskans in K-12 education, University of Alaska courses, state agency training, public broadcasting, and other applications. The Satellite Interconnection Project would consolidate state-supported distance delivery and put in place the first phase of such an integrated system by the summer of 1995, bringing together private, public, state, and federal planning and investment. This collection of reports summarizes the research, studies, consulting, multitude of site visits and face-to-face meetings, and recommendations to and endorsement of the Telecommunications Information Council for further planning and implementation. A summary of the Satellite Interconnection Project to date is given. Proceedings are provided from the Telecommunications Forum II meeting in October 1994, including: assessing the state environment for infrastructure development; the planning process to date; Delphi study; other states' efforts; ongoing interconnection: current status of 5 projects; building on the present infrastructure; and next steps and later phases. Appendices include: "TIC Endorsement for Further Planning Work"; "Delphi Study Final Report, School of Business, University of Alaska"; "Other States' Comparisons: 'Satellite Interconnection Planning Project"; "The National Information Infrastructure: Agenda for Action"; "Selected 1993 State Telecommunications Legislation"; and "Telecommunications Forum I, 'Visions of Alaska's Future,' March, 1993." (MAS) U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Office of Educahonel Reaaar CO and Improvement EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) 0 This document his been reproduced as received from the paoson or otganstatfon ong.nahng it 0 Minor changes have been model() ,m00Ove ,ewoOuchon Orally Points of r.ev, or oprmons stated in this doct.- ment do not necessarily represent official OE RI poadan Or pokey Satellite Interconnection and Distance Delivery in Alaska: Toward the 21st Century Summary and Recommendations of the Satellite Interconnection Project under the direction of the Telecommunications Information Council Project Team: Douglas Samimi-Moore Executive Director Alaska PublicBroadcasting Commission Lois Stiegemeier "PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE THIS Instructional Television Specialist MATERIAL HAS BEEN GRANTED BY Department of Education Douglas SamimiMoore TO THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) " BEST COPY AVAILABLE Satellite Interconnection and Distance Delivery in Alaska: Toward the 21st Century Summary and Recommendations of the Satellite Interconnection Project under the direction of the Telecommunications Information Council Project Team: Douglas Samind-Moore Executive Director Alaska Public Broadcasting Commission Lois Stiegerieier Instructional Television Specialist Department of Education © 1995 Satellite Interconnection Project Douglas Samimi-Moore, Project Director Alaska Public Broadcasting Commission P.O. Box 110223 Juneau, AK 99811-0223 voice: 907-465-2846 fax: 907-465-2496 email: [email protected] ,4 Table of Contents Preface Acknowledgements 3 Introduction 5 Executive Summary: The Satellite Interconnection Project to Date 7 TIC Endorsement 8 Findings and the Future 9 Telecommunications Forum II, October 1993 11 Introduction 11 Assessing the State Environment for Infrastructure Development -- Nancy Bear Usera, Commissioner, Department of Administration 1 I The Planning Process to Date -- Douglas Samimi-Moore, Project Director 12 Overview 12 Needs and Potential Users 14 Expected Benefits 14 Barriers to Implementation 14 Recommendations for Next Steps 15 Delphi Study -- George Geistauts, Ph.D., UAA School of Business 15 Other States' Efforts -- Richard Hezel, Hezel Associates 16 Ongoing Interconnection: Current Status -- Panel Presentation 16 The Distance Delivery Consortium, Bethel and the Y-K Delta 16 Alaska's Public Television Stations 17 Matanuska-Susitna School District's Two-Way Video System 17 University of Alaska President's Task Force on Alternative Instruction Methods 17 Star Schools 17 Building on the Present Infrastructure -- Panel Presentation 18 Next Steps and Later Phases -- Moderated by Richard Hezel, Ph.D., Hezel Associates 18 Federal Funding Initiatives 18 General Planning Process 20 Foium Close 21 Telecommunications Forum II, List of Participants 23 TIC Endorsement of Further Planning Work Appendix One Delphi Study Final Report, School of Business, University of Alaska Appendix Two Other States' Comparisons: "Satellite Interconnection Planning Project," Hezel Associates Appendix Three The National Information Infrastructure: Agenda for Action Appendix Four Selected 1993 State Telecommunications Legislation Appendix Five Telecommunications Forum I, "Visions of Alaska's Future," March, 1993 Appendix Six t) Satellite interconnection and Distance Delivery in Alaska: Toward the 21st Century 1 Preface The Satellite Interconnection Project was created for the purposeof investigating the inizrest and need for improved interconnection -- faster andof greater capacity than the capability of present systems -- especially amongstate-supported users of video and audio transmissions. The intent was to explore thecost-benefit and the potential improvement in the quality and range of services supportedby the state. The project team anticipated that through the use of advancedtelecommunications, the state would realize significant savings, improved productivity,and more meaningful levels of service for Alaskans in K-12 education, Universityof Alaska courses, state agency training, publicbroadcasting, and other applications. The Video Broadcasting Task Group, a working committeeof the Governor's Telecommunications InformationCouncil,oversaw theproject,which was conducted by Douglas Samimi-Moore, Executive Directorof the Alaska Public Broadcasting Commission, and Lois Stiegemeier, Instructional TelevisionSpecialist with the Department of Education. The project was funded by a grantof $100,000 from the Legislature to the Alaska Public Broadcasting Commission.Work took place over the summer and autumn months of 1993. This collection of reports summarizes the research, the studies, theconsulting, the multitude of site visits and fac,2-to-face meetings, and therecommendations to and the endorsement of the Telecommunications InformationCouncil for further planning and implementation. Satellite Interconnection and Distance Delivery in Alaska: Toward the 21st Century 1 Aciix Knyled rgiIenits The undertaking demonstrated an incredible amount of interestin improving interconnection among Alaskans in its many far-flung cities, towns, and villages.It also brought forward the multitude of talent and capacity in the scoresof deeply committed educators, health professionals, broadcasters, librarians,engineers, and others who stand ready to work together to improve the level anddepth of services to Alaskans. The project staff wish to note thecontributions of several individual whose time and energy went into the work. Our thanks to Bill Legereand Jack McKain of KTOO-TV & FM, Juneau; Tom McGrane and Greg Ruffof KUAC-TV & FM, University of Alaska-Fairbanks; Bob Medinger andJim Schaefer of the Distance Delivery Consortium, Bethel; Ron Pritchard of the Mat-Su SchoolDistrict. And thanks to all who participated in the many phases of the project. Douglas Samimi -Moore Project Director Satellite Interconnection and Distance Delivery in Alaska: Toward the 21st Century Introduction Alaska stands at a crossroads of opportunity, Other states across the country have realized the cost benefit and the human value of investing heavily in their information infrastructure. They have seen that the development of that infrastructure is as vital as universal telephone service, public education, or the inter- state highway system.As in the absence of those systems, without a long-term investment in information infrastructure,social and economic development is unlikely, if not impossible. From North Dakota to Texas, from Florida to Hawaii, state governments and private industry have developed coordinated plans for distance delivery through video, audio, and data services.And, while such states have consistently realized the educational, social, and economic benefits of the comprehensive and systematic use of such technology, Alaska has yet to seize