In budget year 2003/2004, the buildings that currently have partial coverage should be expanded to have full coverage, efforts should be made to provide wireless network coverage to additional buildings that house large classrooms, and a proof of concept should be initiated for providing wireless network coverage to outside areas. It is also recommended that wireless network access be made available in the Guest House and Founders Dining Hall

Expanding the coverage for partially covered buildings:

• Olscamp Hall has minimal wireless coverage and also houses large classrooms/meeting rooms. Investing in broad wireless access for the building benefits faculty, students, and guests utilizing the facilities. 
• The Education building has a fair amount of wireless coverage. To expand the building to full coverage would be fairly inexpensive while providing the University with another classroom building that has full wireless coverage.
• The Technology building has pockets of wireless coverage but the college has expressed the need for more coverage due to their academic focus. The building should be expanded to full coverage.
• Firelands-Foundation Hall

Wireless coverage for buildings with large classrooms:

• The Business Administration building has a number of large classrooms that could benefit from wireless coverage. Additionally, the departments that occupy the building could utilize the wireless network in their academic presentation. It is anticipated that the wireless coverage in this building will be utilized.

Coverage for outdoor areas:

• ITS has not yet attempted to provide wireless network access outside of a building. It is anticipated that as the appearance of wireless devices continues to grow, the demand for wireless access in outdoor areas will also grow. As a proof of concept, ITS recommends establishing an outdoor wireless access zone that covers the area from the Student Union to Eppler and Hayes to Moseley. During 2003/2004, ITS will use this proof of conept to gain experience and establish costs for covering outdoor zones.

Miscellaneous wireless coverage:

• Due to the the of clientele that utilize the University Guest House coupled with the relatively low cost associated with providing access, ITS recommends setting up full coverage for this building. This would allow visitors of the Guest House to freely move around the house while using their wireless devices.
• Founders Dining Hall should be fitted for wireless as a prototype residential zone. This would allow ITS to monitor the usage to determine the benefits associated with providing wireless access to such residential areas.
• Kohl and Offenhauer East will attain wireless coverage due to renovation projects.

Policies, Procedures, and Standards:

• As the wireless network coverage expands and its use grows, authentication becomes an essential component for enforcing policies. Without a required authentication procedure at the beginning of each established wireless connection, there is no means of tracking and controlling usage. During this budget year ITS must implement an authentication process that will be required to connect to the wireless network.
• Wireless network encryption is important so that private information can be protected as it passes through the air. If the BGSU community is to safely use any ecommerce or business related web applications from wireless devices, an encryption path must be provided. During this budget year, ITS must develop a wireless encryption solution that is financially feasible for the University.

Marketing the Wireless Network:

• The utilization of the wireless network could be increased through the initiation of a Laptop program. Groups within the University that would benefit from this technology/program should be targeted and enticed to adopt the program. If the program is successful and positively marketed, other groups will want to join. The larger the program grows the more the wireless network will be utilized and in turn the greater the return on the wireless network investment.
• Handheld devices could dramatically increase wireless network utilization. However, the University community must be provided incentive to use handheld systems. Currently, the University has provided minimal applications targeted to the handheld platform. If applications were implemented so that class schedules, email, event calendars, etc. were accessible through handheld devices, the community may be more compelled to buy and utilize these devices. If ITS builds it and markets it, they will come.

Work Completed in 2003/2004:

• Coverage in Olscamp Hall was expanded to full coverage.
• Coverage in the Technology building was expanded to full coverage.
• Coverage in the College Park building was expanded to full coverage.
• Coverage in the Mileti Center was expanded to full coverage.
• Partial coverage was added to the Life Science building.
• Firelands-Cedar Point building has full coverage.
• Coverage in the Business Administration building was expanded.
• Full coverage was added to the University Guest House.
• Partial coverage was added to McDonald Hall.
• Partial coverage was added to Harshman and Kreischer.
• Partial coverage was added to Conklin East and West.
• Full coverage was added to Kohl and Offenhauer East.
• Full coverage was added to all the Greek houses.
• Authentication was added to the wireless connection process.

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