Video Activities

VIDEOCONFERENCING

The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) has nine locations throughout the state that comprise a videoconferencing network. Their video conferencing equipment is connected to the state DivCom T1 network contracted with BellSouth. When they wish to use the system, they must schedule the desired time in advance on the BellSouth Multipoint Control Unit (MCU). If they wish to hold a videoconference with a site that is not on the state backbone, they must ask BellSouth for a guest port on the BellSouth MCU, and the site or sites must dial in via ISDN. IFAS also has satellite facilities at 29 locations around the state. These provide one way video downlinks and two way audio via telephone. Prices for uplinking programs via satellite have recently come down due to discounted prices for use of the state-owned transponder, and this may lead to increased use in the future. The fiber network through Campus Video Service provides a connection to the N&PA satellite uplink truck so the truck no longer has to be moved to McCarty for such events. 

Other units on campus use ISDN telephone lines for video conferencing. These lines incur monthly charges and long distance charges that are significantly more than standard phone lines. When more than two participants are involved, an MCU service must be called upon to provide that feature for a fee. The carriers that provide ISDN services do not cooperate with each other and do not have networks substantial enough to ensure reliable service. This results in frequent problems, difficult trouble resolution, and dependence on systems beyond our control.

IFAS is currently investigating the possibility of contracting an intranet to connect their various sites. This would provide a data network reaching those sites in the same way that Network Services provides the campus data network. Network based video conferencing using well-established standards, will then be available with fixed costs and high reliability. Once this is established, they will not only have a reliable system for network based video conferencing to the IFAS locations, but they will have the capability to conduct videoconferences with any location that has a good Internet connection. 

For units on campus that currently do not have video conferencing systems, they must schedule to use the facilities of other units. This is inconvenient and sometimes prohibitive. For individuals or groups of three or four to participate in informal video conferencing, the existing campus network can provide connectivity worldwide. Some functions that are best provided over the network, like a calling directory, gatekeepers to provide access contro,l and gateways that allow connection to standard telephone based systems will be necessary.

 

Recommendations Provide affordable MCU service, gateways, gatekeepers and a directory for network based videoconferencing. Establish a coordinated scheduling system for the videoconferencing facilities operated by several units on campus.