WebJunction

1.)  The Connecticut Education Network (CEN) will provide Internet access to each principal public library that will be minimally equivalent in capacity to a business DSL line (preferred) or business T1. It will be each municipality’s responsibility to address connectivity from that point to additional libraries in the town.  Towns may also elect to talk to CEN about additional connections directly to CEN that would be provided by CEN on a cost-recovery basis.

2.)  It is the Commission’s policy to encourage local networking among schools, libraries and municipal government as a local opportunity and responsibility.  Where libraries are presently connected to the CEN by traversing a municipal network to the CEN optical demarcation point in a school district, the library should use that existing pathway to get to the CEN. There will not be any reimbursement of costs for municipal connectivity that may already be in place and might displace costs that the state would incur if the CEN provided a connection directly to a library. 

3.)  It is a statutory responsibility for the Commission to apply for ERATE and to maximize federal contributions towards the operation of CEN. Libraries that wish to be connected to CEN must sign a multiyear letter of agency agreeing to be listed in the CEN’s consortium application prior to being considered for connection.   The CEN will apply only for telecommunications services for libraries. Under current federal regulations, CIPA filtering is not required on CEN connections to libraries.  Libraries that do not participate in the E-rate application (by not signing letters of agency) may not participate in CEN.

4.)  The CEN will not provide grants or reimbursements of any type to libraries in lieu of connectivity, equipment or other expenses related to the CEN. Only those costs incurred by CEN will be paid by CEN.

5.) CEN Technology Services to Libraries

a. The CEN will make a limited block of public IP Addresses available for each library’s use from blocks of public addresses assigned to the State.  The CEN will also make additional private addresses available at each library for internal use.

b. The CEN will provide a filtering system with a web-based administration capability to any library that requests it.  Libraries will be able to configure filtering based on ranges of IP addresses so that they may apply filtering to all, none, or a set of their computer stations.

c. Beyond the basic Ethernet connection to the library, it is the responsibility of the library to have adequate technical support for its own internal network and computer systems.  These services will not be provided by CEN.

d.  The CEN will provide basic packet-filtering firewall services for known vulnerabilities, however it is the responsibility of the libraries to maintain their systems in a secure manner, including regular patching of computer operating systems and implementation of local firewalls where appropriate.  Through broader Commission and State policy, the CEN retains the right to disconnect any site or host who becomes a threat to the network.  Reasonable attempts will be made to contact the site and notify the site that they need to take corrective actions concurrently with any network protection activities.

e.  Assuming a CEN operating budget is approved by July 1, 2005, the State will fund the monthly service charges to activate a T1 Frame Relay or Private DSL service for principal public libraries that do not currently have a CEN connection.  The State will provide equipment for each location that will provide a single Ethernet connection to the library. If the library already has an existing DSL or T1 modem that they own and do not otherwise plan to reuse, the State will assume maintenance responsibility for the existing router upon activation of the CEN connection.  Libraries are responsible for any network distribution switches, firewalls, and other internal networking equipment to connect to the single CEN Ethernet connection.

f.  At the discretion of the CEN and where it is technically or financially advantageous to do so, the CEN may choose to provide an optical interconnection to a library instead of a T1 or DSL line.

g.  The CEN will provide a 24x7x365 help desk telephone number and will monitor and maintain the circuits on a 24x7x365 basis.  Equipment failures requiring on-site replacement will be done Monday through Friday between the hours of 9 and 5 PM.  Library participants should make contact and hours information available to the CEN technical staff so they can be reached if a problem is detected out of hours.

h.  Libraries may choose to host web sites, mail services, and other technology needs at their own site or with a library network.  CEN will provide connectivity to the library networks for this purpose, but CEN will not be providing or funding the actual services available through the connection.

6.  All libraries participating in the CEN must agree to complete periodic surveys that provide information needed for their connections or future improvements.