RUNet 2000 progressing on schedule
Archived article from Nov 12, 1999
By Gayle K. Stein
As the semester progresses, so does RUNet 2000. The university's $100 million project to construct a comprehensive data, video and voice communications infrastructure is moving forward on schedule and on budget, according to Joe Sanders, project director.
"I am extremely pleased with the work of our project team and affiliates," he said. "The project is moving along on schedule because of the combined efforts of many departments within Rutgers, including computing services, facilities, housing, police, procurement and contracting, residence life, environmental health and safety, scheduling and space management, and university relations."
To date, surveys and design work have been completed in 57 buildings. Construction of telecommunications equipment rooms, which house data and video electronics, has been completed in 18 buildings. Interior wiring is in progress in 11 buildings and has been completed in 17. An additional 10 buildings are now connected to the Rutgers data network.
Plans for RU-TV, an internal television station to be available through the network, are also moving forward. Proposals are being reviewed for the commercial cable programming vendor, and facility renovation has begun. The Office of Television and Radio expects to begin accepting program proposals from faculty and staff next semester.
Planning is also under way to provide faculty and staff with information and training in using the new capabilities that will be available through the enhanced network. Both the Year of the Network Coordinating Council, chaired by Gary Gigliotti, director of the New Brunswick Teaching Excellence Center, and the newly formed High Speed Network Applications Committee, chaired by Louise Wilkinson, dean of the Graduate School of Education, are investigating ways to assist faculty, students and staff in using information technology to enhance their daily activities.
A special Rutgers Focus insert describing project activities for next year will appear in January. Until then, for more information about RUNet 2000, visit the project Web site at runet2000.rutgers.edu.
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