Services and Support

MOREnet offers a dynamic set of services to all participating K-12 TNP school districts. Standard services Internet Access E-rate Support Training Security Technical Support and Network Consulting Videoconferencing Online Resources Discussion Lists E-mail Accounts   For fee services Additional Connectivity Internet Content Filtering kinetic (E-mail and Web Hosting) Remote Vulnerabilty Assessment (Security) E-mail Virus and Spam Filtering MOREnet e-Conferencing powered by Centra

K-12 TNP

Services

Internet Access

MOREnet provides each approved school district with a minimum of one T1 (1.536 Mbps) connection to MOREnet’s state backbone network. This connection provides school districts with access to the various resources and applications on the Internet.

Additional bandwidth necessary to carry out educational activities to each participating school district is available for no additional cost. Districts that fully utilize their current bandwidth may have their bandwidth increased in appropriate increments up to 45 Mbps. MOREnet will conduct a district network traffic analysis prior to approving additional bandwidth.

Proper planning is necessary when requesting additional bandwidth. The average installation timeframe for additional bandwidth averages 6-8 weeks but could be longer depending upon current network facilities. Please plan ahead and monitor your district’s bandwidth utilization, including district-provided services that will require additional bandwidth to function properly. For information on bandwidth utilization tools through MyMOREnet, go to
www.more.net/network/status.html.

The additional bandwidth will be available as long as MOREnet receives E-rate discounts. Should the E-rate program be discontinued, the district will have the option to continue to receive the additional bandwidth on a cost recovery basis.

To receive e-mail notices concerning network maintenance and upgrades, subscribe to MOSTATUS online at
lists.more.net/mailman/listinfo/mostatus.

E-rate Support

MOREnet provides E-rate program support to all Missouri school districts. Districts with E-rate questions about the completion of forms, eligible services, guidelines or any other aspect of the E-rate program may contact MOREnet for assistance at (800) 509-6673 or erate@more.net. MOREnet also maintains an E-rate website (www.more.net/services/e-rate/) and e-mail distribution list to provide Missouri schools with up-to-date information about the E-rate program.

Each year, MOREnet files an E-rate application on behalf of the state for the circuits connecting school districts to the MOREnet backbone. MOREnet and DESE closely monitor the E-rate program, assess the impact of projected savings and determine how these savings will be implemented back into the program.

In November, MOREnet will begin the process for filing its 2006-2007 E-rate application. Each participating school district will need to submit the E-rate form 479 (CIPA compliance certification) and an E-rate letter of agency to MOREnet. MOREnet will contact each district regarding information on the submission of these forms later this fall.

Training

MOREnet training is a valuable resource for MOREnet members. Training sessions cover many topics to meet a variety of needs. Workshops are conducted at MOREnet’s hands-on training facility in Columbia, regional training locations and online.

MOREnet introduced online training via e-Conferencing last year. To learn more about MOREnet’s e-Conferencing service, take the MOREnet e-Conferencing Service’s Participant Guided Tour at
www.more.net/services/e-conferencing/tours/participant.html.

In-service training sessions are available to TNP customers. MOREnet trainers bring training topics to your location for your audience. In-service training sessions are available at no charge; however, DESE TNP program customers are responsible for travel-related expenses such as lodging, meals and mileage.

Several higher education institutions are now offering graduate-level credit to any MOREnet customer who attends a one day or longer MOREnet-led class. Graduate-level credit applications and requirement documents may be obtained online and from your MOREnet trainer during class.

For additional MOREnet training information, visit www.more.net/training.

Security

MOREnet provides security services and event response to and on behalf of its customers. The MOREnet Security Team is Missouri’s only recognized Computer Emergency Response Team dedicated to handling security event response for participating Missouri K-12 schools, colleges and universities, libraries, state government and teaching hospitals and clinics. MOREnet Security also provides security consulting, training and alerts to its customers.

Learn more about MOREnet’s security services and check the daily “Breaking Security News” at
www.more.net/security.

Technical Support and Network Consulting

MOREnet provides participating school districts with expert technical support. The collective knowledge of MOREnet’s Technical Support staff provides schools with assistance and information for resolution of technical problems.
www.more.net/technical

MOREnet’s Network Consulting Group provides participating school districts with direct access to experienced network engineers for technical consulting and troubleshooting services. Network Consulting supports the major network operating systems such as Novell and Microsoft operating systems on TCP/IP related issues.
www.more.net/technical/netserv

MOREnet Contacts may contact Technical Support by phone at (800) 509-6673 or by e-mail at techsupp@more.net.

Videoconferencing Services

MOREnet’s Video Group provides support and assistance on videoconferencing services and issues. Find detailed information about MOREnet’s videoconferencing services, Service Level Agreements, scheduling, testing and much more on the video website.
www.more.net/services/video

MOREnet has a Multipoint Control Unit (MCU) available for participants in K-12 TNP. The MCU allows multiple sites (at least three) to connect to one another for interactive H.323 videoconferencing. The MCU can be used for distance learning courses, virtual field trips, meetings and collaboration opportunites. This service will be available during FY06 for no charge.

Online Resources

New databases have been added to EBSCOhost. In addition to the products available in FY05, Business Source Premier, Regional Business News, Newspaper Source, Military & Government Collection and MAS Ultra: School Edition are now available for ALL MOREnet customers.

MOREnet customers receive an increased number of full-text, online newspapers available through NewsBank for 2005-2006. MOREnet customers now have access to a number of full-text cover to cover newspapers including the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Kansas City Star, Springfield News-Leader, Christian Science Monitor and Washington Post.

Gale Business and Company Resource Center is no longer available.

Additional information including a complete list of available databases and remote access restrictions is available at www.more.net/online.

Online resources are made available by the Secretary of State’s Office and Missouri State Library with funding by the Missouri General Assembly.

Discussion Lists

MOREnet hosts discussion lists for K-12 TNP participants. Coor-connect and technic are designed for MOREnet Contacts. Other discussion lists are for specific curriculum/support areas. Missouri educators may subscribe to these free discussion lists for A+ Schools, Business Education, Family and Consumer Science, Gifted, Literature, Mathematics, School Nurses, Social Studies and Science.

MOREnet also hosts discussion lists for Missouri educators at no charge. Educators who participate in an educationally oriented group and want to create a discussion list should submit a discussion list request form to MOREnet.

Find information about MOREnet discussion lists and access archives at www.more.net/technical/lists/.

E-mail Accounts for Program Participants

K-12 TNP provides a limited number of e-mail accounts for program participants. Based on total school district's FTE, each district is eligible to receive e-mail accounts according to the table below.

E-mail Account Policy

• These accounts are provided at no additional charge.
• E-mail will be deleted after 28 days.
• Accounts should be distributed to staff members throughout the district.
• User IDs and passwords are not to be shared. Only the individual issued the account may use it.
• The individual to whom the account is issued must register the account prior to use.
• The individual who received the account must read and follow the MOREnet Service Policies.
• MOREnet Contacts serve as the administrators for all MOREnet accounts in their districts.
• Additional e-mail only accounts, to promote electronic correspondence with DESE, are available for district administrators by request.
• Students are not permitted to use TNP-provided e-mail accounts.
  

Additional Fee-based Services

Additional Connectivity

The K-12 TNP provides only one point of Internet access per district. MOREnet may be contracted by the school district to provide additional connectivity to other district buildings. The district is responsible for 100 percent of the costs for any additional circuits - including installation charges, monthly line charges, equipment, port fees (if applicable) and applicable MOREnet charges. Additional connectivity is eligible for E-rate discounts in accordance with E-rate policy and filing deadlines.

Additional bandwidth at the expense of the school district is available from MOREnet in two forms:

1. Bandwidth beyond the program cap of 45 Mbps.
2. Bandwidth at an additional location.

Please contact MOREnet if your district is interested in additional non-program funded bandwidth.

E-rate discounts will be applied to non-program funded bandwidth at the consortium rate (approx 67 percent). To be eligible for the E-rate discount on non-funded bandwidth, the district must submit the request to MOREnet by December 1, 2005.
www.more.net/services/connectivity/

Contact MOREnet to review your connectivity options.

Internet Content Filtering

MOREnet offers Secure Computing’s Bess Internet Content Filtering service to all interested customers. Bess provides global filtering by IP address and IP address range, allowing for the customization of filter solutions at the district level.

MOREnet offers two hosting options for customers:

MOREnet-hosted: MOREnet manages the hardware and software. Your Web-based traffic is routed to the MOREnet server to be filtered. Your organization has access to a Web-based interface that gives you complete control over your organization’s filtering configuration.

Customer-hosted: The filtering hardware and software are located on the customer network and on customer-provided equipment. This configuration allows the organization to have complete control over the service and receive access to the full reporting and configuration capabilities that Bess has to offer. The customer is responsible for providing and maintaining the hardware and software. MOREnet is available to provide support on the installation and maintenance of the Windows interface.
www.more.net/services/filter

If you have any questions, please contact Jeanne Sullivan at jeanne@more.net or (800) 509-6673.

kinetic (E-mail and Web Hosting Services)

MOREnet’s kinetic service provides Web hosting, e-mail hosting and webmail. It allows MOREnet customers to maintain their own Web space and/or e-mail on MOREnet-managed servers. This service allows an organization to manage these services inexpensively while removing the trouble and expense of maintenance and security on district hardware and software.
www.more.net/services/managed/kinetic/

Remote Vulnerability Assessment

MOREnet’s Remote Vulnerability Assessment service provides a study of an organization's publicly visible Internet presence. Performed over the Internet, the assessment looks for vulnerabilities that could pose a risk to your network. Basically, this service provides a "hacker's" view of your public network, allowing you to exercise due diligence in planning and securing the district’s network against current threats.
http://www.more.net/services/rva/

E-mail Virus and Spam Filtering

MOREnet’s E-mail Virus and Spam Filtering service is a low-cost layer of protection for your e-mail system. E-mail viruses and spam are two of the biggest hassles system administrators have to deal with on today’s Internet. The E-mail Virus and Spam Filtering service requires no end user participation; no server, equipment or software reconfiguration; no time to administer; and no hardware investment on your part. Everything happens on MOREnet’s backbone. Best of all, the service removes all known e-mail-borne viruses and eliminates most spam.
www.more.net/services/evsf

MOREnet e-Conferencing powered by Centra

Centra is an Internet-based, e-Conferencing tool suite that allows people to create virtual learning and meeting environments over the Internet with a connection speed as low as a 28.8 Kbps modem. Audio conferencing, live one-way video, collaborative conferencing and Web conferencing are all components. Meeting or class participants can share applications, documents, websites or presentations with participants. Archival capabilities also allow meetings and class sessions to be saved for later viewing.
http://www.more.net/services/e-conferencing/