Special Feature - Modem Pool Changes

Why can't modem access stay as it is?

Providing a modem pool is an activity that requires a continual investment to keep the service up-to-date.

There are 112 phone lines that cost UNL $28/month to operate the modem pool. UNL must also maintain the modems and associated equipment. As these devices age, more of them fail and need service or replacement. Right now this "free" service costs the university close to $40,000 per year to provide.

As demand for modem access keeps growing, the modem pool phone lines eventually become saturated, as they are now. When this happens UNL must make a considerable capital investment to upgrade the modem pool. If we need to expand the modem pool we need to expand the number of phone lines we pay for as well as purchase new modems and terminal server equipment.

It is estimated that as much as $150,000 would need to be invested every 12 months or so to keep relatively current with the technology and the demand. The ongoing cost for phone lines would also increase because we would be providing an increased number of modems. There is currently no income flow to support this investment, so it is hard to generate these new funds. The result is that improvements are not made on a timely basis and there are periods when service degrades considerably. The rate of growth is simply too great for our current system to keep pace.

Not only are more people trying to access the modem pool, but the services they require are changing. Because of budgetary and personnel limitations, UNL currently provides only text-based access to the network. However, more and more people want to use graphical Internet browsers such as Netscape. UNL cannot provide state-of-the-art Internet service through the current modem pool.

Why is UNL considering outsourcing the pool at this time?

UNL is recognizing the real costs involved in providing modem pool service and implementing a mechanism so that a high quality service can be provided on an ongoing basis without periodic degradations due to budget constraints. Some kind of charge, either user-based (involving user fees) or broad-based (involving a universal fee for everyone whether they use the service or not) is probably needed to fund the service required. A user-based approach is considered to be more equitable.

Why is UNL looking to an outside vendor to provide modem access?

An outside vendor would provide better service than could be provided internally. Technology eventually surpasses the equipment that is in place. More importantly, the use people make, or at least desire to make, of tools like the modem pool eventually surpasses the capabilities of the installed hardware. The switch to an outside vendor is a way to continue services at a reasonable cost and ensure that they stay up to date.

When would the changeover to the new modem pool take effect?

The timetable at present is to make a decision sometime in April or May with implementation starting in July. The transition period would be determined in part by the vendor that is chosen to provide the service and in part by the extent of the service. The vendor would need ample time to advertise and enroll people who would be using the new service as well as to get the physical facilities in place to bring the service into the campus network.

Would the services on the new modem pool be the same as those currently offered?

No, the services would be improved. The new modem pool service would differ significantly. First, the modems that would be used are twice as fast. If you have a fast modem at home, the speed and ease of connections would be greatly enhanced. More importantly, you would have a full Internet connection via modem. Right now the modem pool consists of 112 modems supporting connections up to 14.4 bps. When you attach to one of these you use a dumb terminal dial-in program. Once you dial in, you can initiate a connection to one of the computers located on campus. This connection is the equivalent of a telnet connection. Whichever vendor is chosen would provide you with a set of software tools for their specific computer (and there would not be any restrictions on the type of computer you use) that would allow you to connect using either Slip (Serial Line IP) or PPP (Point to Point Protocol). Either of these protocols would allow you to use tools like telnet, ftp or graphical World Wide Web browsers from your home computer. Effectively, your home computer would have a connection that works like a connection to a local area network on campus. Also, your connections would not be restricted to campus through this service.

An on-going benefit of this service plan is that the vendors would add new services as they become available. Such services could range from new software products that are in use on the Internet to faster modems as they become available.

Would I need to buy a new faster modem to use this service?

No, you would not need to buy a faster modem. All of the services envisioned for the new modem pool would work with 9.6 and above modems. So, if you have one that operates at either 9.6 or 14.4 you would not need to invest in a faster modem.

Would I need to buy new software or hardware to take advantage of this service?

No, new software would not be needed. All of the vendors being considered would supply you with software to use the service that they offer. Hardware is a slightly harder question. It would not matter if you have an Apple or PC clone product, as either of those would work just fine. It is possible that some older computers might not have enough memory or sufficient processor power to take full advantage of the new service. Be assured, however, that anything you can currently do you can continue to do with the new modem pool.

Would I receive a busy signal, or simply be ignored by the modem pool, as often as I am now?

No. There are requirements in the bid request that the service be available with a minimum number of busy signals. The selected vendor would be required to report to us the number and frequency of busy signals issued, and if this number exceeds our requirements the vendor would be required to install additional equipment.

Would the service available be tiered to accommodate different levels of use by different people?

All levels of access would be supported. However, at this point it is impossible to say whether different levels of service would be available for purchase from the chosen vendor. We are attempting to accommodate everyone, from the occasional or sporadic user to the nearly full-time user. It is in a vendor's best interests to try to accommodate as wide a range of customers as possible to avoid driving people toward a competing service, but obviously, the economic viability of the service is a prime consideration.

Is it possible for departments to subsidize users or for UNL to subsidize groups by purchasing blocks of accounts and distributing them?

Nothing precludes this possibility. Individuals would always need to have specific accounts that only they use. This is required to account for hours of connect time. So, even if a department decided to purchase ten accounts for staff to use, they would have to be individually assigned.

Would there be limitations on usage?

Every bid we receive will include a per month usage limit available under a basic plan. The actual amount will vary from bid to bid. It is also the case that some include different prices for different amounts of usage. Generally the basic plan usage limits were high enough that there would not actually be a limitation on activity. In all cases there was also a per minute charge for usage over the monthly allotment under the basic plan.

What would the users be charged for the services?

What happens if I am away from UNL and want to dial up to the campus network?

If you are outside the local dialing area for UNL there are several options that were presented. Some vendors provide for 800 level service with an associated per minute charge. Others provide local access at a number of nationwide sites and then use the Internet to access UNL. In some cases local access can be provided in much of Nebraska with 800 service from other states.

Can I do Web browsing from home with this new service?

Yes. That and all other Internet services would be available through the new modem pool. This is one of the primary reasons for switching to a private vendor. It would be cost and personnel prohibitive for UNL to provide this type of service through its own modem pool.

How would this affect on-campus users of dial-up services?

If you are located on campus and your only means of accessing the campus network is via the modem pool, you would not be required to purchase an account to continue that connection. Either a small modem pool available only to on-campus dialing would be left in place or some other accommodation would be made.

If I already have an account with an Internet service provider, would I need to buy one from the modem pool vendor?

No, you would not have to purchase a new account. Any service provider that you use should be able to provide Internet access to the campus. The vendor selected for the modem pool would guarantee consistent and direct high speed access from the modem pool to the campus network. With some other vendors you may traverse a considerable portion of the Internet to get to UNL. This would vary depending on which provider you choose and how they connect to the Internet. It is also possible that there may be a few services available directly to modem pool users that are only indirectly available if you use a different vendor. There are some packages in use on campus that are only licensed to on campus users. If you are employed by UNL and use a third party vendor and you wish to access one of these packages, you would need to access one of your campus accounts before you can use that software package.

For questions regarding these Scarlet pages, contact:
dtaurins@unlinfo.unl.edu
(402) 472-8518, Fax: (402) 472-7825