County Delivers Real-Time Video Solutions

Arlington County recently launched I-NET one of the fastest fiber optic network in the world. The network has the ability to transmit data at 1,000 megabits per second. With that in mind, the County's Department of Technology Services (DTS) launched real-time Video Services. I-NET users now have easy and efficient remote access to information and resources as they serve on the front-line of providing community services. This new technology offers news and training information on topics ranging from emergency preparedness to community policing. See press release for further details.

For Immediate Release

Contact: Vivek Kundra (703) 228-3220 (voice), (571) 238-1386

Lou Michael (703) 225-3527 (voice)

County Benefits from Arlington's Advanced Technology Video Solutions

(January 22, 2003) Arlington County - Arlington County's Department of Technology Services (DTS) has launched Video Services, a web application delivering high-quality video programming to computer desktops. Now the County's network (I-NET) users can access real-time video news, on-demand archived training sessions and remote access video conferencing capability from their workstations.

DTS worked with Cisco Systems® to integrate the state-of-the art 3423 MPEG1 broadcast servers into the existing network infrastructure. Director of DTS' infrastructure technologies division Vivek Kundra said that, "prior to installing Video Services our DTS staff configured a network system, I-NET that could support convergence of voice, video and data. The key is planning and having foresight to design web architecture with convergence in mind."

The Video Services installation allows content to be delivered through a single stream multi-cast using network bandwidth to reach all 40 government I-NET buildings including Arlington County users at libraries, public schools, community centers, and fire and police stations.

DTS used the fire and emergency training academy as their pilot program for Video Services. In the past fire fighter personnel had to visit an off-site fire and training center. Today, Video Services features the online training resource, Fire and Emergency Training Network (FETN). Fire fighters receive streaming video tutorials and training sessions directly onto their desktops without leaving the department. The content is changed monthly to reflect new or existing practices. "The advantage of FETN is that the broadcasts run concurrently which allows firefighters to review concepts of basic fire and EMS procedures at any time throughout the day," said Captain Charles Gibbs with the Arlington County Fire Training Academy.

"The deployment of Video Services helps redefine the business process," said Kundra. Video Services allows for intelligent tagging and distribution of the video on-demand through the use of an archive server. The broadcast server capture analog signals and code the content, distributing the code into digitally translated IP packets, and then streams news broadcasts real-time over the network at 256-300BPS," Kundra said. DTS video analyst Chuck Hillard teamed with video conferencing leaders VCON® and Tandberg® to integrate user-friendly hardware. DTS incorporated CISCO's technology to achieve multi-point conferencing which enables employees to conduct meetings from satellite and remote vendor and federal locations which save time, resources and travel expenses.

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