GOVnet System Evaluation and Network Study Number 199601

Report
to the

State of Vermont
Legislative Joint Fiscal Office

January 22, 1997

Prepared by:

McDowell & Company
and
Competitive Computing

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• 1. Acknowledgments

• 2. Executive Summary

• 3. Introduction
  • 3.1. Scope
  • 3.2. ACT NO. 185
  • 3.3. Methods
    • 3.3.1. Interviews
      • 3.3.1.1. Public sector
      • 3.3.1.2. Private sector
    • 3.3.2. Literature Review

• 4. Information Technology

• 5. GOVnet
  • 5.1. Definition
  • 5.2. StateGovNet
  • 5.3. Network Administration

• 6. ACT NO. 185 (A) Itemize finances
  • 6.1. Operating Expenses
    • 6.1.1. Fiscal Years 1993 - 1995 Detail
    • 6.1.2. Fiscal Years 1996 - 1997 Detail
  • 6.2. Capital Costs
  • 6.3. Distance Education Grants
  • 6.4. Summary of Findings

• 7. ACT NO. 185 (B) Examine private sector alternatives
  • 7.1. Overview
  • 7.2. Educational Perspective
  • 7.3. Issues
  • 7.4. Internet Service Providers
  • 7.5. Cost Analysis of Distance Learning
  • 7.6. Costs
  • 7.7. Network Administration
  • 7.8. Summary of Findings

• 8. ACT NO. 185 (C) Study the wide-area network needs
  • 8.1. Overview
  • 8.2. Government
  • 8.3. VTMEDNET and GOVnet
  • 8.4. Funding Issues
  • 8.5. Program and technical issues
  • 8.6. Summary of Findings

• 9. ACT NO. 185 (D) Recommend a model
  • 9.1. Other Models
    • 9.1.1. Oversight of Information Technology Acquisitions
    • 9.1.2. Evaluation Criteria of Purchases
    • 9.1.3. Organizational and funding comparisons
  • 9.2. Recommendation
  • 9.3. Technical and Operational Model
    • 9.3.1. Organization Proposal
    • 9.3.2. Process Proposal

• 10. Study Recommendations
  • 10.1. Issues
  • 10.2. Recommendations

• 11. Appendix A: ACT NO. 185 (H.804)

• 12. Appendix B: Selected References

• 13. Appendix C: Selected Research

• 14. Appendix D: Chronology of GOVnet

• 15. Appendix E: Government Applications Using the State Network

• 16. Appendix F: Network Diagrams

• 17. Appendix G: Related Legislation and Documents

• 18. Appendix H: Glossary of Acronyms