Project Update 11-20-09
Cathey George, Texas E-Rate Coordinator, reported today that the Wireless Internet Consortium was funded by E-rate for Year 12, 2009-2010. The Wave 29 E-Rate Funding Commitment Letter should be sent to Region 10 within the next week. This will reduce the cost of the telecommunication services to member districts by an average of 65%.
Conterra is upgrading the network this weekend and it will cause a disruption in Internet service throughout Saturday & Sunday. I know many of you have already be contacted concerning this service outage. The work will start Saturday, November 21, at 7 AM and continue until Sunday November 22, 7 PM. Service will again be up and ready Monday, November 23rd for all Phase 1 and Phase 2 districts. This is the least disruptive time to complete this upgrade since many districts are closed for the Thanksgiving Holiday.
The fine tuning and quality check of microwave equipment of Phase III districts will continue through November 28th. Phase 3 districts are Avalon, Canton, Ferris, Italy, Kaufman, Kemp, Mabank, Milford, Palmer, Terrell, and Wills Point. Wireless broadband Internet service will become available the week of November 30 as routers are installed.
All 27 Phase I and Phase II district sites are installed and using the wireless broadband Internet service. These districts are Bells, Bland, Blue Ridge, Boles, Caddo Mills, Collinsville, Campbell, Celeste, Ector, Farmersville, Greenville, Gunter, Howe, Leonard, Melissa, Phoenix Charter, Pottsboro, Princeton, Quinlan, S&S Consolidated, Tioga, Tom Bean, Trenton, Van Alstyne, Whitesboro, Whitewright, and Wolfe City.
The upload and download Internet bandwidth will not be a full 20 Mbps until the network is completed in early December. District should expect between 9-11 Mbps. If you do have an issue with wireless Internet service call the Help Desk at 972 348-1154. All other questions should be directed to Gary Bowers, gary.bowers@region10.org.
The 20 Mbps Internet service to each member district will be available when the entire network is completed the middle of December. During the Fall 2009 semester, districts' existing Internet service will continue to be provided by EdNet10 Network Consortium until the wireless Internet service is operational.
Wireless Internet Consortium
The Wireless Internet Consortium represents 38 member school districts for wireless broadband Internet service. Education Service Center Region 10 will lead the consortium, file for E-rate discounts and act as fiscal agent.
August 2008 Conterra Ultra Broadband was awarded the project to provide 20 Mbps of Internet service to each member school district of the Wireless Internet Consortium. This service will meet districts’ short-term and long-term needs for Internet bandwidth beginning fall 2009.
This telecommunication service qualifies for E-rate discounts and will provide significantly more Internet bandwidth than any solution currently available in Region 10’s service area. The consortium's Form 471 has been certified by the Schools and Library Division.
The carrier class network will provide 20 Mbps of dedicated Internet bandwidth to each member school district and is designed to provide additional bandwidth in the future.
Timeline
12/09 Region 10 installs Layer 3 routers
12/09 File form 471 for Year 13 2010-2011
1/10 File Form 486 to confirm service is being provided
1/10 Consortium member districts invoiced for Internet service
1/10 File Form 472 for discount reimbursement
District members of the consortium benefit from an annual cost reduced by E-rate discount for 20 Mbps broadband Internet service. The cost for Data services and Videoconference services are not eligible for E-rate discount and will be invoiced separately. A district may choose both services, or either the Data service or Videoconference service. For answers to questions you may have refer to the FAQ link on the navigation bar at the upper left or contact Gary Bowers.
Gary Bowers
Region 10 Education Service Center
400 E. Spring Valley Rd.
Richardson, TX 75081-5101
gary.bowers@region10.org
972 348-1336