About

History

Legislative Bill 1208

Legislative Bill 1208 (2006) was the impetus for the statewide network called Network Nebraska-Education, although many regional K-12, state, and University of Nebraska networking was in place before the bill. LB 1208 was co-introduced on January 18, 2006, by Senators Raikes, Pederson, Baker, and Stuhr. This bill embodied many of the recommendations contained in the final report of the Distance Education Enhancement Task Force, which met from July to December 2005. (listed under Education Committee reports; 20MB, 103 pgs).  LB689_2005 (pdf)

LB 1208 and 1208A

On 4/13/06, LB 1208 and LB 1208A were passed by the Legislature and were signed into law by the Governor (Search 'Final 1208' under the 99th Session; 72 pgs). Search Bills

Distance Education Plan

The distance education improvement plan crafted by the legislature education committee was centered on three general principles. First, the plan recognized the responsibility of school districts, ESUs, and public postsecondary education institutions to make decisions related to participation in distance education. Second, the plan encouraged and incentivized the exchange of distance education courses using a statewide network, known as Network Nebraska. Third, the plan provided for statewide coordination through a new entity, the Distance Education Council (renamed ESU Coordinating Council, 7/1/08).

Prior to Network Nebraska

Prior to Network Nebraska (1992-2006), video distance education was provided by 12 separate consortia of school districts and ESUs that were isolated technologically from each other, with no interconnecting network.

Governance

CAP

The Collaborative Aggregation Partnership (CAP) was formed in 2002 at the request of then-Lt. Governor Heineman, chair of the NITC. The charge to CAP was to find ways for the State of Nebraska and the University of Nebraska to cooperate and work toward more affordable and efficient telecommunications. Since 2006, CAP has been the primary group for operational and administrative management of Network Nebraska-Education. The CAP is comprised of staff from the three state agencies empowered to purchase and provide telecommunications services: the State Office of the CIO, the University of Nebraska Computing Services Network, and the Nebraska Educational Telecommunications Commission. Policy and constituent guidance are provided by staff from the Nebraska Department of Education, Public Service Commission, and the Nebraska Information Technology Commission. CAP is chaired by the State CIO.

NNAG

The Network Nebraska Advisory Group (NNAG) was chartered by the NITC Education Council in July 2009 to provide input to the State of Nebraska Chief Information Officer on issues related to Network Nebraska-Education. The purpose of the NNAG was to assist in crafting the vision and strategic direction for Network Nebraska-Education based on the NITC Education Council marketing survey and the needs and requests of the participating entities. It reviews membership criteria and fees, backbone and Internet demands and budgets, and proposals for future services. The NNAG is composed of eight members from K-12, eight members from higher education, and liaisons from the CAP entities responsible for the network. The NNAG elects its co-chairs, one from K-12 and one from higher education.

Education Council

The Education Council is the advisory group chartered by the Nebraska Information Technology Commission (NITC) to advise the Commission on educational technology issues, including the State Technology Plan. The Education Council is composed of eight members from K-12, eight members from higher education, and four liaisons from the Coordinating Commission for Postsecondary Education, the Department of Administrative Services, the Nebraska Department of Education, and the Nebraska Educational Telecommunications Commission. The Education Council is responsible for developing, monitoring, and assessing the Strategic Initiatives and Action Items of the State Technology Plan, and reviewing and prioritizing State IT budget requests as part of the biennial budget process. The Education Council elects its co-chairs, one from K-12 and one from higher education.

Executive Sponsors

Executive Sponsors:

Dr. Matthew McCarville
Chief Information Officer, State of Nebraska

Bret Blackman
Vice President for Information Technology & Chief Information Officer, University of Nebraska

CAP Members:

Dr. Matthew McCarville
Chief Information Officer, State of Nebraska

Bret Blackman

Vice President for Information Technology & Chief Information Officer, University of Nebraska

Callie Richards

Office of the CIO

Andrew Buker

University of Nebraska

Neil Brown

University of Nebraska

Greg Gray

University of Nebraska

Walter Aude

University of Nebraska

Mike Wentworth

University of Nebraska

Brian Tehan

University of Nebraska

Cullen Robbins

Nebraska Public Service Commission

Chris Struebing

Nebraska Department of Education

Ron Cone

ESU 16 (NNAG Co-Chair for K-12)

Tom Peters

Central Community College (NNAG Co-Chair for Higher Education)

Organizational Memberships

Network Nebraska is a member or affiliate of several regional and national organizations.

Great Plains Network (GPN)

The Great Plains Network is a consortium of research and education professionals and statewide networks using advanced technologies to enhance the missions of their institutions in a 6-state region (i.e. Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Dakota). The University of Nebraska is the University Sponsor and Nebraska’s representative to the Great Plains Network connector that permits Internet2 U.S. UCAN routing and commercial peering services to be shared with the K-20 participants of Network Nebraska. The Great Plains Network Gigapop is headquartered in Kansas City. For more info: http://www.greatplains.net/

The Internet2 Community Anchor Program (CAP)

The Internet2 Community Anchor Program (CAP) works with regional and local  research and education networks  across the country to connect the full range of community anchor institutions to advanced broadband capabilities. Community anchor institutions include K-12 schools, public libraries, colleges and universities, health care institutions, museums, and other cultural and performing arts organizations.

For more info: https://www.internet2.edu/vision-initiatives/initiatives/internet2-community-anchor-program/

The Quilt

The Quilt is a consortium of 36 regional and statewide networks and 11 Affiliates that is dedicated to the delivery of networking services at lower costs, higher performance, and with greater reliability and security. The Quilt maintains an emphasis on networking for research and education and aims to influence the national agenda on information technology infrastructure. Network Nebraska, as a University of Nebraska-managed initiative, became a Quilt Affiliate in 2016. For more info: http://www.thequilt.net/

SHLB Coalition

The Schools, Health & Libraries Broadband (SHLB) Coalition promotes government policies and programs that enable schools, libraries, health care providers, other anchor institutions, and their communities to obtain open, affordable, high-speed broadband connections to the Internet. SHLB membership includes libraries, K-12 organizations, health networks, commercial broadband companies, non-profit advanced research networks, and state broadband offices. Network Nebraska was approved as a Full Member of SHLB in December 2016. For more info: http://www.shlb.org/