MAKING SENSE OF WIRELESS DEVICES & SERVICES

If you were to take a multiple choice quiz on today’s wireless gadgets and services, how many terms would you recognize? Try these for example: Digital, analog, PCS, CDMA, TDMA, GSM, CDPD, dual-mode, multi-mode, two-way, one-way, PDA, wireless web, WAP, broad band. How do you figure out what the best products and services are for your agency? In determining what equipment and services are offered to state employees, it usually comes down to where the service is available and if it is reliable and cost effective.

The Division of Communications evaluates many of these products and services to determine whether they help state employees in performing their job duties more effectively. In evaluating a communications product or service, we ask the following questions before making it available to state agencies:

• Is the service or coverage area available when and where it is needed?
• Is it cost-effective compared to similar services?
• If it is a new product or service, whom will it benefit? Is it a niche market or will it benefit a larger group of users?
• If it fits a niche market, is the cost justified for the benefit provided?

By applying some basic questions before selecting a communications product or service it can save the State of Nebraska thousands of dollars every month. Providing economical, reliable communications in an efficient manner to agencies is the Division of Communications’ primary mission. A competitive market offers many opportunities for us to do that.

If you are interested in a particular wireless service, please give us a call. We will provide information on the service and assist you with a recommendation. You may contact Norma at 402/471-6391 or Mike at 402/471-3719.

Hearing Rooms on Cable Television

For several years the Division of Communications, in conjunction with the Nebraska Educational Telecommunications Commission, has provided closed circuit television to customers in a select number of state buildings. This service has provided access to the Legislative Hearing rooms, the Governor’s Hearing room, and in the near future the Department of Education’s Board Room. NET and the Division of Communications have approached Time Warner with a proposal to have Time Warner carry these hearing rooms over cable television as a service that could be subscribed to by State agencies outside of the buildings currently served, as well as the general public and other cable franchises. Unfortunately, this proposal was not accepted by Time Warner due to a perceived lack of customers and demand for service. If you have any questions, please contact Brenda at 402-471-3717.

"Transfer of Funds” scam alert!!

Since 1989, an advance fee scheme leading to the fraudulent transfer of funds by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (N.N.P.C.) has been reported throughout the United States. The scheme aims at obtaining money from unsuspecting companies or individuals who have been led to believe that they would earn a substantial commission, expressed in a percentage, for facilitating a transfer of money, usually stated in millions of U.S. dollars.

The Nigerian addresses and phone numbers found in these letters are usually “mail drops” and many of the names, titles and addresses of private and or government officials used in these letters are being obtained by Nigerians from trade publications, telephone and/or business directories derived by either theft or other fraudulent means. This is not to exclude listings obtained from the Internet as 800 White Pages and Yellow Pages directories are now accessible via the Internet.

The U. S. Secret Service has initiated a program in which a data base has been established to track names, addresses, phone numbers, company names and any other pertinent information contained in letters from the N.N. P.C. or other similar documents.

If you receive any similar types of correspondence, please forward them to Crime Analyst Sheri L. King, Nebraska State Patrol Intelligence/Crime Analysis Division, P. O. Box 94907, Lincoln, Nebraska, 68509-4907. Ms. King will then forward them to the U. S. Secret Service.

VIDEO HAPPENINGS

The State’s video network has had a few changes over the past couple of weeks with additional changes to continue to happen. The Omaha Video room has changed locations within the Omaha State Office Building. The first floor room has now moved to the second floor. Additionally, the Nebraska City room has been closed and a new room has opened in Wayne at Wayne State College. The Hastings Room in the Hastings Public Library is slated to be closed at the end of October. The Division is looking at new sites for this video equipment. We will be installing computer equipment in the Lincoln location this month for easier access by our clients to make PowerPoint and Internet based presentations. If this proves successful, computer equipment will be installed at additional NVCN locations. And last but not least, the video network has installed new control units. Although not the most visible piece of the network, the new control units will ease the scheduling process for our technicians. However customers will see an improvement in the connectivity of numerous systems outside of the traditional 20 NVCN sites. We are really excited about the changes and welcome any suggestions and comments from our customers.

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.

Alma/Kearney.................... Nov 15 Nebraska City..................... Nov 17..... Alliance/Chadron.......................... Dec 15