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

Parl 95-54215该项目将使用一种新的低成本和灵活的超视距(OTH)微波无线电技术演示农村地区的高速互联网接入。佛蒙特州最偏远的地区被称为东北王国(NEK)，被选为这次演示的地点。NEK学校非常有动力合作，共同努力实施佛蒙特州的州立教育计划。然而，除了少数例外，它们没有有效的计算机通信手段，并且由于高昂的长途拨号费用而共享共同的隔离。该计划的目标是：(1)证明该技术在互连局域网和提供远程互联网接入方面具有成本效益，以及(2)证明农村地区的这种具有成本效益的连接可以促进学校之间合作的可持续增加，并可以通过高质量的网络和互联网连接访问国家信息基础设施(NII)来刺激学生学习。该方案包括一年的规划和培训阶段、一年的业务评估阶段和六个月的持续业务和评价/评估阶段。这项拟议的技术建立在Signatron公司制造的低成本OTH无线电链路的最新进展基础上，并基于过去开发的军用和商业无线电调制解调器。其中一些新的进展是在国家科学基金会和美国农业部(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地方基础设施赠款，并将提供目前VISMT研究和规划方案所需的一些基础设施。从学校局域网到互联网服务提供商的连接计划使用分数TL(每所学校256 kb/S)，互联网接入速率为TL(1,544 kb/S)。这些费率对于数百名用户来说已经足够高了，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。8所学校与S租用线路的成本比较表明，无线网络投资仅需20个月就能到位，而且比基于租用线路的类似网络的维护成本低7.75%。量产可以进一步降低无线网络成本。数学和科学教育项目将由VISMT计划和执行。结果将由WM/CRS和佛蒙特州教育部对照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将评估当地的可持续性，这项技术在全国范围内的应用将由公认的教育网络专家进行独立评估。

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.