Laserfiche WebLink
NSCC Executive Summary CBG Communications, Inc. <br /> III. Summary of Major Findings Related to the Institutional Network <br /> CBG worked with the NSCC, CTV staff and I-Net users to gain an understanding of the <br /> current state of the I-Net, how it is performing, what changes need to be made and the <br /> perceived value of the network. <br /> • Background Information <br /> The I-Net serving CTV and the member cities of the NSCC is comprised of two, <br /> primarily separate yet related, networks. Comcast provides a fiber optic based network <br /> that offers connectivity to approximately 26 locations, including the ten member cities' <br /> city halls and municipal buildings,Ramsey County libraries, school district buildings, <br /> and the T.I.E.S. building. CTV,NSCC and the institutions provide all of the end user <br /> equipment required to light up or activate the fiber optic portion of the institutional <br /> network. <br /> In addition to the fiber optic based network, Comcast also provides a HFC based network <br /> that utilizes fiber optic infrastructure to send and receive signals to/from nodes located at <br /> each of the city halls in the NSCC franchise area. At each of the nodes, forward <br /> (downstream) signals are transformed from light, on the fiber optic infrastructure,to <br /> Radio Frequencies (RF)for insertion onto the coaxial cable infrastructure for <br /> transmission and distribution to institutions served by the particular node. Forward <br /> (downstream) services include all analog video programming channels and data <br /> transmissions to institutions using the HFC system for data transport. In addition,the <br /> nodes receive return (upstream)RF signals from institutions via the coaxial infrastructure <br /> which feeds these signals into the node. The node converts these signals to light for <br /> transmission, via the fiber optic infrastructure,to the CTV Master Control. Some return <br /> signals include upstream data and video origination services. <br /> • Fiber Optic I-Net <br /> The fiber optic based I-Net is used at approximately 26 locations today. Based on our <br /> discussions with NSCC and CTV staff, and staff representing the libraries, schools and <br /> cities,the fiber I-Net that is in place today is serving a significant data transportation need <br /> xii <br />