To plan effectively and conduct a meaningful review of your current technology level, first start with outcomes, that is, what you would like to be able to DO with any connectivity you will have. You do not need to get into a detailed discussion about applications at this point, just connectivity questions that potential applications might suggest.
This section will help you complete the telecommunications/technology portion of the Needs Assessment and the Technology Resources Plan. The process of going through these questions also will focus your thinking on potential applications and the implic ations for different approaches for both the implementation timeline and the budget.
This section is fairly comprehensive; many communities, especially smaller ones, won't need to look far to know your options. You also won't need to be concerned about having all of the servers listed, for example. This is especially true for getting started (though you might want to phase in expansion that includes the ability to do the kind of work and provide the services additional bandwidth and server capacity provide.
Connectivity Issues and Assessment
What do you want to do?
Remote public access? Telecommuting for home businesses? Dedicated connectivity for large institutions? Home-based dial-up access? Community Learning Centers? Dedicated nonprofit or business connections? Internet connectivity? Community-wide database hosting? Community Mapping? Distance Learning? Self-directed learning?
- How do you want to do it?
- Dedicated point-to-point circuits (56Kbps, T-1, etc.)
- POTS lines (Plain old telephone service)
- Load balanced connectivity?
- Wireless transceivers?
- Satellite (Internet connectivity)
- Combinations
- DSL?
- ISDN?
- What do you have available today in your community?
Internet Access Providers
- local dialup
- long-distance dialup
- cable-based access
- satellite or wireless access
- Dedicated circuits in place now
- hospital
- government
- major businesses
- utility companies
- Internet service providers
- Other
- Telephone Company resources
- local dialup
- ISDN
- DSL
- Dedicated circuits (56Kbps, T-1, etc.)
- What do you need to add what you have to get to A?
As you answer this question, think about who, from question C, you might partner with to share connectivity. Or, you might share some connectivity space or equipment in return for providing that partner some access to the additional bandwidth you would bring to the connectivity.
Notes For Connectivity Assessment:
For most communities, a dedicated T-1 circuit or its equivalent (1.54 MB/s) would be the most common bandwidth and also the minimum for large institutional connections.
Comparisons of long-distance-to-Internet versus wireless or satellite connectivity should take into account all connectivity costs at both ends of the connection, as well as the reliability history of the technology.
Load-balancing is a method of "bonding" multiple lines together – almost any number, really – so their total connecting speed is the sum of their individual connection speeds. For example, two POTS lines could be bonded to provide 112Kbps (56 k modem x 2), and so on. Bonding can be especially useful where phone services choices are few and POTS or other individual service (such as ISDN) is relatively inexpensive.
Hardware/Equipment/Space Needs Assessment
For Varying Levels Of Connectivity
This section outlines the essential Internet and office equipment and space you will need to consider for your network. Not all of the equipment is needed for all circumstances and applications. These are things to "consider" in assess ing what you need, what you have and what you want to do. In many cases, it might be possible to share equipment and space with partners, leveraging their existing space and equipment as partial match for additional bandwidth and equipment you may be able to bring into the partnership.
- Internet-level connectivity equipment
- Internet router (often a Cisco 2610-level)
- T-1 CSU/DSU
- Wireless transceivers (for wireless connections)
- Satellite dish (for satellite connections)
- Antenna (for wireless connections)
- Terminal Servers (analog)
- Terminal Servers (digital)
- Racks for mounting, organizing equipment
- Content Servers
- login machine
- web server
- firewall
- news server
- transactional server
- chat server
- GIS server
- Mail server
- Database server
- Office equipment
- PCs/Macs
- Scanner
- Laser printer
- Color printer
- Copying machine
- Telephones and telephone service
- Fax machine
- Digital photo camera
- Digital video camera
- Camcorder
- Switching hub
- LAN (wires, connectors, NICs)
- Miscellaneous (paper cutter, etc.)
- Laptop
- Video projector
- Software
- Remote equipment
- Office routers for dedicated and higher-speed connections
- Wireless transceivers (at wireless sites)
- Antennas (at wireless sites)
- Midpoint transceiver boosters (if needed for longer distances)
- On-site LANs (wires, cables, NICs)
- PCs
- Software
- Modems for analong connectivity
- Repair toolkit for spot repairs in the field
- Lockable storage space for equipment, software
- Office Space Needs
- How many people will be working on the network full time?
- Can you share space with one or more partners?
- Do you need additional space for the main equipment (a communications "closet")?
- Do you need a special space for a training lab or learning center?
- Do you plan to provide a way for people to repair or upgrade their computers or the remote network computers?
- Will you be providing any business incubation services at your main site?
- Is there good telecommunications access to the site?
- Is there room to grow over time?
- Is there adequate air conditioning to keep equipment cool?
- Is there adequate electrical power at the site?
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