CCFIT > CCFIT Wireless Working Group

Wireless Working Group

In Spring 2006, CCFIT formed a Wireless Task Group composed of faculty, student, and staff representatives. The group was asked to examine the current state of wireless networking at UC Davis and to develop recommendations to guide the expansion of wireless.

The task group's report, presented at the June 2006 CCFIT meeting by Task Group Chair Professor Matt Bishop, outlined recommendations and prioritization guidelines for wireless networking at UC Davis. The group's recommendations were based on the principle that "wireless networking is an integral part of the campus infrastructure and supports the tasks of staff, students, and faculty of the University, just as the wired campus network does" (see CCFIT Wireless Task Group Report).

CHARGE TO THE GROUP:

Following the recommendation of the Task Group, the CCFIT Wireless Working Group was established in January 2007 to provide ongoing guidance to IET in the prioritization of wireless deployments. The working group makes recommendations to the Vice Provost-IET in two general areas:

• The physical deployment of wireless access points.
• Centralized management components necessary to provide wireless access to all classrooms, public spaces, and administrative buildings by the end of FY 2007/08.

Specifically, the workgroup expands on the work of the earlier CCFIT Wireless Task Force and formulates recommendations for the following:

• Campus expectations and needs for wireless networking. In assessing needs for wireless expansion, it is necessary to ensure that relevant input regarding directions in instruction, research and academic priorities are identified and considered. A careful assessment of anticipated impact on faculty, staff and student workload must also be conducted. To this end, the task group engages extensively with campus constituents, including faculty (e.g., through the Academic Senate and Academic Federation), students (e.g., through the ASUCD and Graduate Students Association), and the staff community (e.g., AdMAN, Staff Assembly, technical community).
• Prioritization of wireless deployments. Deploying a centrally-managed wireless solution over a number of years will require the campus to prioritize the buildings or functional spaces that will receive enhanced services first. IET-Communications Resources has developed several examples and recommendations to this effect and will cost suggested prioritization lists for this working group. Prioritization will be informed in part by guidelines developed by the CCFIT Task Force, by input from campus constituents (see Prioritization Guidelines), by public safety considerations, and by studying approaches taken by comparable institutions.
• Wireless planning and policy. The working group guides the development of a comprehensive UC Davis wireless deployment plan and proposes (and/or reviews) revisions to the existing campus wireless policy (PPM 310-17).
• Long-term funding model. A next generation wireless solution will require a significant funding commitment by the campus. The cost to "paint" the campus is estimated on the order of $8M. The working group proposes funding models to guide the deployment. This includes building out and supporting the infrastructure using solutions tested and developed by IET-Communications Resources over a number of years.
• Rates and cost recovery. Currently, IET recovers one-time costs (consulting fee, equipment costs) from departments requesting wireless services. Replacement costs for currently-deployed equipment and funding for operations and maintenance are covered by re-distribution of core funds and from wired network fees. An additional revenue source will need to be identified to cover expenses as these costs grow in relation to the demand for centrally-managed wireless services.

The CCFIT Wireless Working Group provides periodic progress updates to the CCFIT Steering Committee and to the Vice Provost-IET. A report that identifies short-term (three to nine months) and medium-term (9 to 18 months) deployment priorities necessary to accomplish the overarching goal of deploying ubiquitous wireless access by the end of FY 2007/08 is expected by the end of April, 2007.

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