Teleconferencing Project Correspondence

November 6, 1997

TO: County Superintendents, Chief Business Officials and
FCMAT County Contact Persons

FROM: Bill Luehe, Director
FCMAT Professional Development

SUBJECT: FCMAT Teleconferencing Project Update

There are now two crews visiting downlink sites to complete satellite dish installations and hook up testing. One crew is working in the northern and eastern Sierra counties and the other crew is working in the San Joaquin Valley. From these locations, the crews will work their way South.

I have been in communication with Barry Sullivan of COMSAT and he says that the installation crews are continuing to have problems with the sites. Six out of the first eight sites visited were not ready for the satellite installation. In our last update, we mentioned that part or all of the hardware that was delivered with the satellite dish was missing at some sites.

Some other problems that are being experienced include:

sites wanting to use an existing pole that is not the specification size (5.5") and not having an adapter made and ready for the crew to use

sites that have tried to reduce their nonstandard costs by cutting back on the length of cable needed etc., only to find out that they don't have enough materials for the crew to complete the installation and hook up

sites that have committed to do some of the installation and hook up work on their own and have not completed the work in time for the installation crew to do their job

As you can guess, the satellite installation crews are on a very tight schedule. When they arrive on a site and cannot proceed to do their work, it seriously impacts that schedule. We really need your help in making sure that your site is ready for the installation crew. Please take a few moments to review the readiness of your site. If you have any doubts about your site readiness, call Barry Sullivan to discuss the matter with him. You can reach Barry at (direct) 703-450-7291 or through his office 703-450-7030. Your assistance in this matter is extremely important!

Thanks for your help.

c. Bob Agee, CDE
Tom Henry, FCMAT CAO

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