Division of Communications Lowers Rates!

Effective August 1st (July billing detail), the Division of Communications will be lowering the following rates:

800 Number Service From $.12 to $.09 per minute

Long Distance Service From $.10 to $.08 per minute

NVCN INTERNET ACCESS AVAILABLE

Effective August 1st in the Executive Building, first floor videoconference room, 521 So. 14th Street in Lincoln; internet access will be available on the Nebraska VideoConference Network.;; To reserve this room, please call Linda Wagner, the ETV scheduler at 402/471-4130.

LANGUAGE LINE RESOURCES AT THE DIVISION OF COMMUNICATIONS

The Division of Communications recently acquired a Language Line Training Video to loan out to agencies.; This video shows how to use over-the-phone interpreter services. The Division also has available language identification cards; quick reference cards that detail the steps to use the interpretation service; and point-talk cards for heatlh care, law enforcement, and emergency personnel.; If you have any questions about these resources or wish to take advantage of them, please contact Vicki at 402/471-2761.

As a reminder--if you receive invoices from vendors for telecommunication services that the Division of Communications regularly provides to your agency, please send them to our office for payment.; Please watch for the following vendors:; MCI, TELECOM*USA, Correctional Billing Services and Citizens Communications.; If you have any questions about an invoice, please contact Shelley at 402/471-3850 or Janet at 402/471-2762.

Wireless Public Safety Report on the Web

f your agency uses two-way radios, you may be interested in reviewing the draft plan for a pro-posed statewide radio system for public safety and other government radio users.; If the system is developed, your agency may eventually migrate to the system and gain the benefit of improved radio coverage, access to other users on the system, and other advanced capabilities.; The Draft Wireless Communications Plan is the result of last year’s Legislative Bill #466, Wireless Communications System Design Study.; This document has just been published and contains the initial design, operational recommendations, and cost estimates for the system.

The report, executive summary and cost model are available on the Division of Communications web site.; The final version of the report will be published in November later this year and the design study will be completed in June 2001.; The Division of Communications and the Wireless Communications Advisory Board have been working since January on the system design recommendations.; Your agency may already have a representative on the Advisory Board.

To download the report, executive summary, or cost model, go to the Division of Communications web site . Follow the links to the Draft Wireless Communications Plan.; You can download the 15MB pdf file (240 pages) or the 3MB zipped version.; It is recommended that you view it after downloading and saving the document, rather than from your web browser.; You will need Acrobat Reader to view the file.

If you have any questions about the report or your agency’s involvement, please contact Mike Jeffres, Radio Communications Manager, at mjeffres@doc.state.ne.us; or 402/471-3719.;

DIRECTORY LISTING CLOSING DATES:

The following commercial telephone directories close their listings in the near future.; If you have any offices listed in the local directories for these towns, please review your listings and contact LaDonna at 402-471-4701 if you have any changes.

North Platte......................... July 31 Ainsworth............................ Aug 21..... O’Neill/Valentine............................ Aug 21

Lincoln.................................. Sep 18