Teleconferencing Project Corresponsdence

March 31, 1997

TO: County Superintendents and Chief Business Officials

FROM: Thomas E. Henry, FCMAT Chief Administrative Officer

SUBJECT: FCMAT Teleconferencing Project Update

FCMAT continues to be encouraged about the progress of the Teleconferencing Project. This memorandum is part of FCMAT's continued effort to keep the participants in the project informed and updated.

The FCMAT Teleconferencing Project appropriation of $750,000 recently was approved by general services and has been transferred to the California Department of Education (CDE). FCMAT will carry the project and be reimbursed by the CDE after a purchase order is issued. The following bullets present additional information regarding the Teleconferencing Project. Please call me at (805) 636-4611 if you have any questions or comments regarding this project.

* Due to the intricacies of the equipment and complexities of working with multiple vendors and 58 county offices of education (COEs), the telecast-ready date has been moved to fall 1997. Prior to that time, FCMAT hopes to beta test the equipment at each COE and CDE.

* May 1997 still is targeted as the date to begin the downlink equipment installations at COEs and the CDE.

* Because of the compression in our schedule, it is very important that COEs and the CDE be completely ready to receive the downlink equipment and installation and to proceed with the necessary hook-up.

* Enclosed is the current COE contact person reference guide. If there is a change in your Teleconferencing Project contact person, please pass this information on to that individual immediately and call our office or e-mail us with the new contact person's name, phone number, and e-mail address.

* In December, we sent out a questionnaire and plot plan for you to complete and return to FCMAT. If you have not returned these documents, please do so right away.

* Enclosed to each county chief business official is the "Teleconferencing Project Equipment Use Agreement." Please provide the appropriate signature, date, and return the document to our office no later than April 15, 1997. Once the agreement has been processed and a contract number assigned, we will return a copy to you. If you have any questions regarding the agreement, please call our office.

* FCMAT will have priority in the use of the equipment; however, the vast majority of available "use" time will be accessible to the receiving agency.

* Each agency will receive a steerable satellite dish with a digital/analog receiver, a 27" monitor and a VCR.

* The size of the satellite dish is 12' in diameter. This size is necessitated in order to secure strong signal receptivity. There may be local building codes, use permits, coastal regulations, etc., that you will need to address relative to the size and location of the dish.

* Each agency will receive an equipment/system orientation video to help train personnel in the use of the downlink equipment.

Thank you for your support and patience. As this project moves forward, we will continue to provide you with timely updates.

 

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