Low-Cost Rural Internet Access Using a New Digital Radio Technology

电话：95-54215 该计划将展示使用新的低成本和灵活的超视距（OTH）微波无线电技术为农村地区提供高速互联网接入。佛蒙特州最偏远的地区，被称为东北王国（NEK），已被选为这次演示。 NEK学校非常积极地合作，共同努力实施佛蒙特州的国家教育计划。然而，除了少数例外，它们都没有有效的计算机通信手段，并且由于令人望而却步的长途拨号费用而共享一个共同的隔离。该方案的目标是：（1）证明该技术在互连局域网和提供远程访问互联网方面具有成本效益;（2）证明农村地区这种具有成本效益的连接可以促进学校之间的合作持续增长，并可以通过访问国家信息基础设施（NII）激励学生学习通过高质量的网络和互联网连接。该计划包括一年的规划和培训阶段，一年的业务评估阶段，以及六个月的持续业务和评估/评估阶段。 该技术基于Signatron公司在低成本OTH无线电链路方面的最新进展，并以过去开发的军用和商用无线电调制解调器为基础。一些新的进展是在NSF和美国农业部（USDA）的SBIR合同中取得的。拟议的无线电网络将补充主要计算机公司提供的当地基础设施赠款，并将提供当前VISMT研究和规划计划所需的一些基础设施。学校局域网与互联网服务提供商的连接计划使用部分TI（每所学校256 kb/s），以TI（1 544 kb/s）接入互联网。这些速率足以满足数百名用户的需求，甚至可以提供图像和视频会议，并且可以随着需求的增加而扩展。 与8所学校的租赁线路的成本比较表明，无线电网络投资仅需20个月即可支付，并且比基于租赁线路的类似网络的维护成本低775~o。批量生产可以进一步降低无线电网络成本。 数学和科学教育计划将由VISMT计划和执行。结果将由WM/CRS和佛蒙特州教育部根据SSI目标进行评估。UVM/CRS在美国志愿者的帮助下，还将探索将网络扩展到图书馆、市政办公室和当地企业。完成后，WM/CRS将对当地的可持续性进行评估，这项技术在全国范围内的应用将由教育网络方面的公认专家进行独立评估。

Parl 95-54215 This program will demonstrate high speed Internet access for rural areas using a new low-cost and flexible Over-the-Horizon (OTH) microwave radio technology. The most remote area of Vermont, known as the North East Kingdom (NEK), has been chosen for this demonstration. NEK schools are highly motivated to cooperate on a joint effort to implement Vermont's state education programs. However, with a few exceptions, they have ineffective means of computer communications and share a common isolation due to prohibitive long distance dialing costs. The goals of this program are: (1) to demonstrate that the technology is cost effective for interconnecting LANs and for providing remote access to the Internet and (2) to show that such cost effective connectivity in a rural area can promote a sustainable increase in collaboration between the schools and can stimulate student learning through access to the National Information Infrastructure (NII) via high quality network and Internet connections. The program consists of a one year planning and training phase, a one year operational evaluation phase, and a six month continued operational and evaluation/assessment phase. The technology proposed builds on recent advances in low-cost OTH radio links made by Signatron and is based on the military and commercial radio modems developed in the past. Some of the new advances were made in SBIR contracts from the NSF and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The proposed radio network will complement local infrastructure grants from major computer corporations and will provide some of the infrastructure called for by current VISMT research and planning programs. Connections from school LANs to an Internet service provider are planned using fractional Tl (256 kb/s per school) with Internet access at Tl (1,544 kb/s). These rates are high enough for hundreds of users, can even provide images and video conferencing, and can be expanded with increased demand. A cost comparison with leased line s for the 8 schools shows that the radio network investment is paid in only 20 months and that it will be 775~o less expensive to sustain than a similar network based on leased lines. Volume manufacturing can further reduce radio network costs. The math and science education program will be planned and executed by VISMT. The results will be evaluated by WM/CRS and the Vermont Department of Education against SSI goals. UVM/CRS, aided by Americorps volunteers, will also explore extending the network to libraries, municipal offices, and local business. Upon completion, local sustainability will be assessed by WM/CRS and the nation wide applications of this technology will be independently assessed by a recognized expert in education networking.