The Operations Work Group is composed of eight K-12 and eight higher education representatives who are involved in the performance, coordination or scheduling of distance learning for their consortium or institution. The Operations Work Group's duties include the development of technical documentation for use of the statewide distance learning network, resolution of scheduling problems, procurement guidelines, and holding technical workshops. Operations is joined by four non-voting liaisons from NET, DAS, and CCPE.

The responsibilities of the Operations Working Group will include:

Technical support--The members of the Operations Working Group are among the State of Nebraska's most valuable technologists. They should be invited and encouraged to act as resources to others by having their professional information listed with the volunteer pool of the NITC Technical Panel. They should also be encouraged to join other informal networks of assistance around the State.

Technical workshops --NEB*SAT had traditionally conducted at least one technical workshop each year that provided updated hardware, software, and systems information to users of satellite resources. This practice should continue but be enlarged to include broad communities of interest involved in satellite and terrestrial voice, video, and data transmission. The Operations Working Group should join the Training Advisory Working Group in the planning and execution of this Technical Workshop.

Revision of the operations manual --The NEB*SAT Network 2 and 3 Operations Manual is in need of updating. The usage policies and scheduling priorities section must be revised to include K-12 and Higher Education interests for satellite and terrestrial transmission of distance education. These recommended priorities, reviewed by the Policies/Procedures/Planning Subcommittee of the Education Council, would function as an interim operational step until a statewide voice/video/data backbone is constructed.

Network improvements --The Operations Working Group should be responsible for forwarding immediate and long-term hardware and software recommendations to the Education Council. Working in cooperation with the engineering section of NET, upgrades and expansions will be justified programmatically and substantiated with data by the Operations Working Group before being submitted.

Day-to-day scheduling --The Operations Working Group should be responsible for bringing network scheduling concerns to the attention of the NET Scheduling Coordinator and discussing scheduling issues at its monthly meetings.

System usage data --The Operations Working Group should be responsible for accumulating and compiling system usage data from K-12 and Higher Education institutions that may include a) numbers of students, b) hours of classes, and c) numbers of courses offered as high school credit, college credit, dual credit, community education, and specialized training. Some compiled data resides with the Nebraska Department of Education, Division of Communications, Coordinating Commission for Postsecondary Education, and Nebraska Educational Telecommunications.

Monthly reports to the Education Council --It is customary for the Education Council to hear monthly reports from each of its subcommittees and working groups. The Co-Chair of the Operations Working Group or his/her designee or an NITC staff member may make the report.

Other responsibilities as determined by the Group or Council --The Operations Working Group may assume additional responsibilities or tasks as needed to fulfill its duties. The Operations Working Group can also be delegated additional responsibilities or tasks by the Education Council.