1990.09.26 WiscNet Board of Directors Meeting Minutes

The meeting was called to order at 10:15 am in the Student Union of the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay by Tad Pinkerton, Chair. The attendees of the meeting are listed in an attachment to the minutes.

(I) Welcome
The Board was welcomed by Associate Chancellor Don Harden.

(II) Approval of Minutes of September 5, 1990 Meeting

M/S/P to approve minutes of September 5, 1990 WiscNet Board of Directors meeting.

(III) Discussion Concerning Recent Events
Tad Pinkerton reported on what had occurred since the last meeting. Negotiations continue with DOA on the Memorandum of Understanding. UW System President Shaw met with WAICU members, including presidents of the private member institutions of WiscNet. During the meeting, the issue of the selection of the network circuit vendor was discussed. NorLight submitted a second-level protest to DOA over the choice of CDN as the network provider; DOA has not yet responded.

(IV) Network Topology
The network topology was described. The tail circuits to the campuses were defined to have 56KB bandwidth; the backbone circuits were defined to have 256KB bandwidth. The tail circuits to the non-hub campuses are either terminated at a CDN hub and the traffic is backhauled to a hub campus, or the tail circuits are terminated directly at a hub campus. The links between the four hub campuses and the local AT&T offices are T1 circuits; traffic over the T1 circuits includes local traffic and traffic for other campuses that is backhauled from the CDN node. The goal of backhauling, or combining the traffic of some of the campuses on the T1 circuits with the normal hub traffic, was to reduce the number of physical circuits between the hub campuses and the CDN nodes. It was noted that the CDN solution includes only the number of 56K increments on each backbone circuit required to comply with the bid design, whereas the NorLight design included full T1 circuits that included room for growth.

The issue of network growth and traffic growth was raised. Several alternative solutions to handling increased traffic were suggested. No one has any idea of how quickly the bandwidth will be used up and how much additional bandwidth will be required, but it was pointed out that additional bandwidth can be made available without adding a lot of equipment. Questions were raised regarding the amount of UW System administrative traffic; it was suggested that the administrative sites would get on the network rather slowly. The Madison-Milwaukee link would be affected first because of leased lines already established with UW-Milwaukee and UW-Parkside.

(V) Memorandum of Understanding with CDN
Tad Pinkerton answered questions regarding the latest draft of the Memorandum of Understanding between WiscNet and CentersNet and DOA (9/13/90). It was determined that the memorandum was the best format; DOA has a contract with AT&T for network services and then deals individually with the other agency-users of the network. Tom Alt of DOA suggested a paragraph be added to the "Single Point of Contact" section regarding the AT&T relationship to DOA/WiscNet/CentersNet.

M/S/P that the proposed paragraph was unnecessary as it is covered elsewhere within the document.

The creation of a strategic planning committee to address the operation and growth of CDN was suggested to the Chair. It was suggested that a clause be added that addresses the addition of new members and the types of members that are permitted by WiscNet.

(VI) Review of Costs of CDN Solution
The most recent cost memo (9/26/90) was distributed at the meeting. The bottom line is still 5-10% away from an exact figure while the topology is being finalized. The memo also breaks out the cost between WiscNet and CentersNet.

(VII) Revised Budget
A revised budget memo (9/25/90) was distributed at the meeting. A change to the revenues in the Operation and Total columns was identified at the meeting to reflect a 7 month operating period instead of a 6 month period. This will increase the operation total from $290,500 to $302,500 and the total from $648,000 to $660,000. The WiscNet budget continues to assume full NSF funding, even thought the federal budget has not yet been determined. There will be a Finance Committee meeting on November 8.

A question was raised as to how to handle authorization for spending beyond the amounts specifically budgeted.

M/S/P to permit the Finance Committee to authorize expenditures from the contingency fund of $5,000 beyond budgeted amounts annually. Expenditures beyond that amount require Board authorization.

M/S/P to approve the budget, with the total expenditure changed to match the total revenues by placing the surplus in the contingency lines. The contingency amounts are changed from $15,000, $15,000, and $30,000 to $40,000, $50,100, and $90,100.

(VIII) Authorization to Proceed with the Router Order

M/S/P to proceed to order the full complement of routers chosen by the Technical Committee. The vote was 20 for, 1 opposed, 2 abstentions, and 1 absent.

(IX) Authorization to Proceed with the CDN Implementation

M/S/P to authorize DOA to proceed to order circuits to implement Shared Net 1 on CDN subject to (1) reaching an agreement on an approved Memorandum of Understanding and (2) obtaining a line item list of the costs for the CDN portion of the network. The vote was 20 for, 0 opposed, 3 abstentions, and 1 absent.

M/ / to amend the above motion to express an understanding that the WiscNet Board of Directors is responsible for making decisions regarding the network. (Died for lack of second prior to the vote on the above motion.)

The final version of the Memorandum of Understanding will be approved by the Executive Committee.

(X) Report on Regional Technical Meetings
All campuses are proceeding well in preparation for the initiation of WiscNet.

(XI) MACC Report
A report from MACC (9/20/90) was distributed at the meeting. Financial reports for June, July, and August were included. The June report replaces an earlier distributed June report.

(XII) Other Business
By consensus, the Board asked the Chair to arrange the next meeting so that UW System President Shaw or an appropriate representative would be able to attend and discuss governance issues.

Discussion of the need for a Publicity Committee, a User Services Committee, and a Network Information Services Committee took place. It was suggested that the Executive Committee address the issue of new committees.

Membership policy issues and costs were directed to the Finance Committee for discussion at its next meeting.

The meeting was adjourned at 2:55 pm.

Respectfully Submitted,

John L. Beck

Secretary

Attendees - WiscNet Board of Directors Meeting - September 26, 1990                            

Directors

Charles R. Williams, Beloit College
Gerald Isaacs, Carroll College
Chris J. Hackbart, Edgewood College
James S. Evans, Lawrence University
C. Edward Mathay, Marquette University
Carla Garnham, Medical College of Wisconsin
Robert Taylor, Ripon College
John Sutton, St. Norbert College
Thomas H. Schneider, UW Centers
Anne Iwata, UW System Administration
Roi Prueher, UW-Eau Claire
William Meyer, UW-Extension
Roger Hodek, UW-Green Bay
John L. Beck, UW-La Crosse
Michael Dorl, UW-Madison
Tad Pinkerton, UW-Madison
Richard C. Holtzman, UW-Oshkosh
Philip G. Charest, UW-Parkside
James Johnson, UW-Platteville
John Nierengarten, UW-River Falls
Bruce Staal, UW-Stevens Point
Gordon Jones, UW-Stout
Thomas Gustafson, UW-Superior
Norman Stoner, UW-Whitewater

Staff

Manly Draper, UW-Madison

Visitors and Guests

Lee Goldesberry, UW-Parkside
Dan Goulet, UW-Stevens Point
Gary Smith, UW-River Falls