BAIHS Area Wide Connectivity
Alan Fogarty Chief Information Officer Bemidji Area IHS
Overview
• • • • • • • USAC Process Current USAC Submittals Design Considerations Area WAN Design Equipment Costs Timeline for implementation Recommendations
USAC Process
• What is USAC? (WWW.USAC.ORG)
– Universal Services Administrative Company
• Administers the Universal Services Fund (USF) • The fund is maintained through contributions made by telecommunications providers across the country and is disbursed based on four primary support programs.
– USAC/USF Programs
• • • • High Cost Rural Health Care Low Income Schools and Libraries
USAC Process
• Rural Health Care
– Rural Health Care support provides reduced rates to rural health care providers for telecom and Internet services so they pay no more than their urban counterparts for the same or similar services.
USAC Process
• Health Care Providers
The Rural Health Care Program of the Universal Service Fund makes discounts available to eligible rural health care providers for telecommunication services and monthly Internet service charges. The program is intended to ensure that rural health care providers pay no more for telecommunications in the provision of health care services than their urban counterparts. • Service Providers
The Rural Health Care Program reimburses telecommunications and Internet service providers for services provided to rural health care providers. While health care providers apply for these discounts, USAC works in conjunction with service providers to make sure these discounts are passed on to program participants.
USAC Process
• Requirements
– Rural ???? – Health Care Provide (HCP) number – Maximum Allowable Distance (MAD): The distance from the health care provider (HCP), in whole miles, to the far side of the largest city in the HCP's state. The MAD is the maximum distance for which USAC will support a telecommunications service. The MAD is listed on the Form 465 posted on the USAC website. – Equipment is not funded
USAC Process
Required Forms
• Form 465: Description of Services Requested & Certification Form. Form completed by the health care provider to request services and establish eligibility. After the form is processed by USAC, it is posted on the USAC website for bidders to review. • Form 466: Funding Request and Certification Form. Form completed by the health care provider identifying the service and telecommunications carrier. The applicant must send this form and billing documentation to USAC after they have selected a service provider. The applicant must submit one Form 466 for each service for which support is sought.
USAC Process
Required Forms
• Form 466-A: Internet Service Funding Request and Certification Form. Form used by health care provider (HCP) and their authorized representatives to request support for reduced Internet service rates. The applicant must submit one Form 466-A for each Internet service provider. • Form 467: Connection Certification Form. Form completed by health care provider after the service starts. It allows the applicant to identify and/or modify the actual service start and actual end of service dates for the supported service. Form 467 must be completed prior to receiving support. • Funding Commitment Letter: Letter sent to health care provider (HCP) (copy to service provider) after USAC approves a packet (Form 466 and/or 466-A and applicable attachments). The letter notifies the HCP the service will be supported contingent upon the completion of Form 467.
Current USAC Submittals
• Form 465’s have been submitted for all sites with an HCP • Currently working on Area connectivity design and 466’s for all sites • Will not initiate circuits until Funding Commitment Letters are received
Design Considerations
• T1 circuits with DS3 backbone • Cost effective (less than $125/month for T1) • Urban Rate
– Can use urban rate posted on USAC website – OR provide documentation of lower urban rate
• Maximum Allowable Distance (MAD)
– Each circuit must be within the MAD for each HCP to optimize USAC reimbursement – Need to utilize co-locations in MI and WI to stay with in MAD
Proposed Bemidji Area WAN
Cass Lake
Red Lake
DS3
DS3
T1 T1 T1 T1 T1 T1 T1 T1 T1
DS3
DS3
DS3
T1
White Earth
BAO
T1 T1
WI Co-Location
VBNS DS3
MI Co-Location
IHS WAN
WAN Design
• By using co-locations in MI and WI maximum allowable distance is not exceeded. • Urban Rates Using FTS 2001
– MN – WI – MI $62.34 $77.40 $66.66
WAN Design
• Circuit cost for all sites should be around $100/month after USAC reimbursement • Cleaning up quotes for final USAC submittal • Tribes will need to sign contract with Wholesale Carriers (3 year term) and pay bills directly • Bemidji Area MIS will submit all USAC paperwork and ensure that USAC reimbursements are received in a timely manner.
Equipment Costs
• Tribal sites
– Router set up and configuration will be provided by Area and OIT – 24-7 monitoring of router and connectivity monitored by Network Operations Security Center – Cisco 2800 series router (edge router)
• • • • Encryption Bundle IDS module Approx. $5,500 for equipment $500/year for Cisco Smartnet
– Software upgrades – Hardware replacement
Equipment Costs
• Area Office
– 7200 Series Cisco Router
• • • • • • Encryption bundle IDS module DS3 modules T1 termination $48,000 router $2,500 /year
– RPMS-EHR Server Cluster
• $45,000
– VBNS DS3
• $1,600 / month
Recommendations
• • • • • Service Unit USAC approvals have been issued Area telecom staff know the process Need to finalize design Consult with Tribes on final design Will have meetings in each state or 2 meetings per state to review contracts with Wholesale Carriers, discuss equipment purchases, and Smarnet • Once USAC Letter of Commitment is received we will start implementation process • Timeline dependent on USAC response
Discussion
Questions???