Connecting Illinois Education

The Third

A Gathering of State Networks

Conference

H. Neil Matkin

DirectorApril 30, 2001

Introductions

• Lynn Murphy, Deputy Director, Development and Public Relations (BIRTHDAY GIRL)

• Lori Sorenson, Deputy Director, Client Services

• Neil Matkin, Director

What Is the ICN?

• A robust, statewide educational network• A network to connect all Illinois

K-12 schools, higher education institutions, libraries, museums, research institutions, State agencies, local governments, and other not-for-profit entities that provide services to Illinois citizens

• Designed to enhance the sharing of educational resources

History of the ICN

• Initiative of Governor Ryan, created through Public Act 91-21 with funding appropriated to:– Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE)– Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE)

• Network is based upon the ISBE LincOn network that brought the Internet to K-12 schools

• Network includes the Illinois Video Education Network.

Who Is Eligible To Connect?

• K-12 Schools• Colleges & Universities• Libraries• Museums• Research Institutions• State Agencies• Units of Local Government• Other Local Entities

RTC IX

RTC VIII

RTC VII

RTC VI

RTC V

RTC IV

RTC III

OC12OC3DS3T1

MSA Location City01 CMS, Thompson Ctr. Chicago02 CMS, Zeke Giorgi Bldg Rockford03 WIU Regional Ctr. Moline04 Northern Illinois U. DeKalb05 Illinois State U. Normal06 QST Peoria07 University of Illinois Chmpgn/Urb.08 McLeodUSA Charleston09 CMS, Computer Facility Springfield10 District Admin. Bldg Jacksonville10 Business Center Quincy11 Courthouse Olney12 Southern Illinois U. Carbondale14 Sheriff's Office Paris15 CMS, Regional Office Collinsville17 Western Illinois U Macomb

Network OverviewRTC I

RTC II

OC3AT&TInternet

30mb Savis.net

OC3Qwest

OC3 SprintLink

OC12 NAP 75 MB Nap.net

DS3Intermedia

DS3WorldCom

ICN: Looking to the Future

• Regional User Groups

• Advanced Engineering Taskforce

• Illinois Online Leadership Council

• Unique Geographic Advantages

• Partnerships

RTC I

RTC IX

RTC VIII

RTC VII

RTC VI

RTC V

RTC II

Provide connectivity consultation

Assist with completing applications

Order circuits and hardware

Provide ongoing monitoring and support of connection

RTC III

RTC IX

RTC IV

RegionalTechnology Centers

User Group Responsibilities

• Communicate technology successes on a local level – identify best practices

• Identify and communicate educational and training opportunities that exist within the region

• Offer recommendations to the ICN• Collaborate among constituent groups

Advanced Engineering Taskforce

• Charged with future planning for the network• Members from IMSA, Argonne Labs, WIU, Maine

Township Schools, CMS, CPS, NIU, NWU, Township High School District 214, UIUC, Iroquois-Kankakee ROE, Aurora University, College of DuPage

• Paying particular attention to the integration of video with ICN, future issues that affect bandwidth demands, and capacity of the backbone given current trends.

Illinois Online Leadership Council

• Coordinate statewide content efforts• Create an elearning portal to bring the

growing community of providers together

Current Issues

• Staff is working to bring connectivity to Internet 2 for ALL education entities that desire it in Illinois.

• The ICN is rescuing 353 K-12 schools abandoned by an Internet service provider going out of business (primarily in the West Suburbs, Chicago area).

• ICN is growing by almost 10% in less than 8 weeks!– 317 applications were received as of April 20.

Current Issues

• All state agencies were connected to the network on Saturday, March 31.

• Staff continues to track down K-12 schools with no connectivity to the Internet to get them connected. As of April 20, 2001, we know of only 14 schools with no Internet service of any kind.

• The ICN Chicago office located at the James R. Thompson Center is due to be completed mid-May.

Current Issues

• The ICN has taken leadership and formed the Illinois Online Leadership Council and is producing an elearning portal (elearning.Illinois.net).

• OC12 and OC3 circuits continue to be installed and today, all OC12 circuits have been delivered and are up and running.

• ICN staff is beginning a statewide analysis of all connections to the network with an eye toward ensuring scalability and long-term sustainability of the network.

Current Issues

• ICN is in negotiations with McCormick Place (Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority) to provide services for conventions and conferences on a cost recovery basis.

• The Advanced Engineering Taskforce continues to work toward completion of their annual engineering report to further map out a successful future for the ICN.

• Quality of Service/Service Level Agreement Issues• Pushing costs out to institutions

Current Issues

• ICN staff is in discussions with the Department of Central Management Services and the Illinois Department of Transportation to utilize state fiber buried from Collinsville to Urbana-Champaign to Chicago. – Move from an OC12 link from Collinsville to Chicago to an

OC 48 or faster - while reducing costs by at least $1 million dollars per year.

– Partner with NCSA and the I-Wire project

 

For More Information

•www.Illinois.net

•877.844.2724