Current and Emerging Technology Task 2
Technological Solutions
Ainsley Dunbar
Western Governors University
11-16-2015

Introduction
Northeastern Health Services (NHS) is a health services company in Maine. Its primary focus is to address the health and welfare needs of underserved patients in rural Maine in remote locations near the Canadian border. NHS’s goal is to provide state-of-the-art health services to its clients and offer complete medical imaging services with rapid turnaround of results and diagnosis. (Task 2 Scenario)
NHS Has asked for an evaluation of options for bringing Internet connectivity to remote locations of Northern Maine.

Task A-Annotated Bibliography
To begin the analysis of broadband options for NHS, we will start with ten references that will be used to evaluate each solution. We will talk about the potential technological solution, discuss its uses and then explore the application to the given scenario. Lastly, we will make our recommendations for NHS and the reasons behind the selection.
One
Northern Maine - Connected - Telecommunications. (n.d.). Retrieved December 11, 2015, from http://www.appme.org/connected/telecommunications.asp
This article talks about some of the broadband accomplishments that the state of Maine has achieved over the years. The first state to have statewide backbone running on ATM (asynchronous transfer mode) which is a fast “cell switching” technology. The potential technological solution the article talks about is the broadband solutions that are available in Northern Maine. T1, T3, OC12 and OC48 and dark fiber would all be excellent forms of communications for NHS. These broadband protocols will all be suitable to transfer large files of one hundred megabytes or more on just a few seconds. NHS’s uses of these protocols would be numerous indeed. PACs (picture achieving and communications systems), large file transfer, video conferencing, VoIP, along with office applications and EHR (electronic health records). The application in this scenario would be the ability to copy one hundred megabyte files over technologies like T1, T3, OC12 and OC48. The files would take seconds to copy over to the hospital in New York and could be returned quickly as well. Any of these forms of communication will be well suited for NHS.
Two
GWI Broadband & Phone Services Expand in Rural Northern & Southern ME. (2015). Retrieved November 30, 2015, from http://www.gwi.net/news/gwi-broadband-phone-services-expands-rural-northern-southern-maine/
The article talks about the company GWI announcing that it has completed it construction of network facilities in the northern Maine towns of Ashland and Madawaska and in the Goodwin Mills area of Lyman and Dayton in southern Maine. The potential technological solution is GWI’s business internet connectivity offerings of Ethernet over copper, Fast Ethernet or Gigabit Ethernet. Ethernet over copper offers the possibility of 3 Mbps to 45 Mbps while Fast Ethernet and Gigabit Ethernet offers speeds of 10 Mbps to 1000Mbps. The use of any of these offerings would allow NHS to download a 100MB file over 3 Mbps “Ethernet over Copper” in four minutes and thirty nine seconds ("Download Time." Download Time Calculator. Accessed December 4, 2015. http://www.download-time.com/ ) to eight seconds over the 100 Mbps offering. Other uses would include Radiological PACs (picture achieving and communications systems), VoIP, Electronic Health Records and email systems like Microsoft Exchange. The application in the given scenario would be the broadband speed available would more than satisfy the need for “rapid transmission of electronic imaging” (Task 2 Scenario) and provide a highway to transmit images from northern Maine to the New York offices quickly and efficiently.
Three
Geier, E. (2013, December 2). Meet WISP, the wireless future of Internet service. Retrieved November 30, 2015, from http://www.pcworld.com/article/2067283/meet-wisp-the-wireless-future-of-internet-service.html
This article talks about “WISP” (Wireless Internet Service Provider) and it’s proliferation into the broadband market. There are a total of four WISP providers in northern Maine; Pioneer Broadband (http://www.ainop.com/), Gene’s Electronics (http://www.geipc-inc.com/), Midcoast, or GWI (http://www.gwi.net/about-us/midcoast-internet-solutions/) , and Redzone Wireless (http://www.redzonewireless.com/) each offering 5, 10, or 25MB broadband service.

The potential technological solution of using a WISP, would be to use the WISP microwave links for broadband internet service without needing to run cables or fiber optic cables to the business. A WISP uses a hub and spoke topology from itself to its customers and mounts antennas on towers or on buildings to transmit signals to its clients. The WISP will install an antenna or a dish at the customer’s place of business to receive the broadband service.

The use of a WISP would enable the NHS to reach speeds from 5 Mbps to 50 Mbps which would allow 100MB file to be transmitted in two minutes forty seven seconds for 5 Mbps to sixteen seconds for 100 Mbps broadband speed. The service for a WISP usually requires a one- or two-year contract and an additional installation or activation fee. The use for connectivity that a WISP can provide include large file transfer, medical imaging transfer for X-Rays and Dexa scans, PACs (picture achieving and communications systems), as well as other business and medical applications. The application in the given scenario would be to allow NHS to quickly and easily setup service without running cables into a suite, establish a fast and reliable broadband connection and pass 100 MB image files between the NHS office and the hospital in New York.
Four
Dahlman, Erik, and Stefan Parkvall. 4G LTE/LTE-advanced for Mobile Broadband. 2nd ed. Oxford: Academic Press, 2014.
This book talks about mobile 4G LTE mobile broadband and provides a complete description of mobile broadband and its various components. The potential technological solution is to use 4G LTE mobile broadband for NHS as a broadband communication resource for transmitting imaging files.
Cellular networks are common throughout northern Maine and provide reliable voice and data communications on several cellular radio frequency bands. The protocols that carriers currently use are GSM, 3G, and 4G-LTE. Northern Maine has several wireless companies available; Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile and Sprint along with several private rural cellular providers. Cellular data may find its way into a backup role for T1 or T3 communications in some instances, but sometimes it may be chosen as a primary role when T communications are not possible. Mobile devices have used cellular data communications for years and in most cases they have performed within acceptable specifications. The potential technological solution would be to supply a modest amount of bandwidth, about 7 Mbps for 3G to 80 Mbps for 4G LTE to copy files to the hospital in New York. The time needed to copy a 100MB file would range from two minutes to ten seconds. The uses obtained from such a bandwidth stream would vary from large file transfers, VoIP and video conferencing and business communications. The costs could be prohibitive to run an entire business on 4G/LTE for a long period of time. Costs between carriers will vary and will be based on the amount of data used. The application to the given scenario would be to use the 4G connection to copy image files from the remote office to the hospital in New York over a reliable data connection running on 4G/LTE.
Five
Hall, J. (2012, July 26). Maine's Internet superhighway is ready early - The Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram. Retrieved December 1, 2015, from http://www.pressherald.com/2012/07/26/internet-superhighway-ready-early_2012-07-27/
This article talks about a large fiber optic broadband project in Maine called the “three ring binder” project. It is a project that loops through over 100 communities including northern Maine close to the Canadian border. The network currently can supply up to a 10 gigabit connection.
The potential technological solution is the use of the “lighted fiber” (use of the ISP’s equipment) and “dark fiber” (use of your own equipment) broadband data highway available for northern Maine to transfer image files for NHS. The fiber optic connection would deliver one to ten gigabits of internet access which would provide more than enough bandwidth to move image files in fractions of a second.

The possibilities for use of this fiber optic connection are literally endless. NHS could use the bandwidth to transfer files, build several applications that could view images in real time, as well as run “Tele health” (remote doctor to patient conference session including remote diagnosis) doctor to doctor video conferencing in conjunction with viewing images during consultations can become a reality with connections as fast as this fiber optic connection.

The “three ring binder” project would be able to supply NHS reliable, fault-tolerant and redundant connectivity between its offices and the hospital in New York.
The application for this given scenario would be the rapid transmission of imaging files via a secure encrypted internet connection would be more that feasible with this type of available bandwidth. These images would be transmitted in the fraction of a second making it possible to send several images in a package at the same time to the imaging unit at the hospital. Beyond just sending the images, receiving images back that have a radiologists reading attached to them for patients charts will also be accomplished quickly.
Six
Rural Wireless Internet in Maine. (n.d.). Retrieved November 30, 2015, from http://www.broadbandblue.com/rural-wireless-internet/Maine This article talks about high speed, broadband internet options with Broadband Blue. The potential technological solution that Broadband Blue offers is Wi-Fi internet service (including 4G wireless in certain cities and towns) at download speeds averaging between 2-6mb per second. Broadband Blue's also offers a satellite internet services at speeds up to 15mb per second.
The uses for Broadband Blue would include the large file transfer with download transfer times from 7 minutes to 55 seconds. 2mb would be the lower end of the scale and use would be limited based on performance. At the upper end of the scale at 7mb per second, the uses would include image file transfer, VoIP, and business applications.
Broadband Blue’s application to the given scenario would be the 100Mb image file transfer over the 2mb to 7mb per second bandwidth available to move image files to the hospital in New York.
Seven
Hashizume, M. (2015, July 2). Debunking a few myths about wireless Internet service providers | Stephouse Networks. Retrieved November 30, 2015, from http://www.stephouse.net/2015/07/wireless-internet-myths/

This article talks about wireless internet service providers or “WISP” service and some of the myths about WISP’s. The article also discusses Stephouse’e broadband plans for business and residential. Stephouse Networks uses “line of sight” for its microwave links to the customer site and the frequency they use is not susceptible to weather interference.
The potential technological solution would be Stephouse’s high-speed internet business plan you can get 25, 100, and 250 Mbps service with no data caps. The throughput would allow NHS to transfer files in seconds.
The uses for Stephouse would include all business services such as email and SharePoint, large file transfers, VoIP, video conferencing and Tele Health networking.
The application for the given scenario would be the use of Stephouse’s fast broadband to allow NHS to transfer image files quickly and reliably to its hospital in New York for a reasonable expense.
Eight
Discover True Speed With Exede Internet in Maine. (n.d.). Retrieved December 11, 2015, from http://www.vsod.net/exede/Maine This article talks about satellite internet access in Maine. Exede is a nationwide company that provide satellite internet access at a good price and with realistic data caps for business. Bandwidth provided is good and their service department gets high marks as well.
The potential technological solution would be the “Freedom” plan offering that provides 150GB of data transfers per month as well as 12Mbps download and 3Mpbs upload speed.
The uses for this bandwidth would include the image file transfers that would take one to three minutes to copy files over to New York. Business applications, email and web browsing would all be suitable for the available bandwidth. One issue worthy of note on satellite data plans is the “Rain fade” phenomenon where rain in the atmosphere can consume radio frequencies and deteriorate signal quality. During times of heavy rain, snow, and fog, this can affect the quality of the service of satellite communications and may lead to signal loss.
The application to the given scenario would be the transfer of files from the remote office to the imaging department in the New York hospital. Transfer time would be about one to three minutes.
Nine
Get XFINITY Internet. (n.d.). Retrieved December 11, 2015, from http://www.cabletv.com/xfinity/internet

This article talks about Comcast cable offering internet broadband access for Maine. They offer several speeds, any of which will be suitable for NHS’s needs and the service is available throughout most of northern Maine.
The potential technological solution would be the “preferred double play” that offers 50Mbps download speeds and upload speeds of 5Mbps. This speed, if constant would be more than adequate for NHS’s needs. The problem with cable internet providers is that the access is slowed by the number of customers you have in one group in one area of town. Throughput can be greatly reduced by several customers watching movies at the same time in the same area.
The uses of Comcast would run the entire spectrum from large image file transfers to VoIP, and business applications. Video conferencing may not work well with such a slow upload speed. Several tests would need to be run to find out if video and Tele Health conferencing would work.
The application to the given scenario would be to transfer the large image files from the remote location to the imaging department of the New York hospital.

Ten
Business Communications Services Backed by Professionals. (n.d.). Retrieved December 11, 2015, from http://www.ottcommunications.com/business-communications-services/
This article talks about several broadband internet offerings from a company in northern Maine. The company has several different protocols that all will provide more than enough bandwidth for NHS.
The potential technological solution for Ott Communications would be to provide a broadband internet connection based on SDSL (symmetric digital subscriber line) or Ethernet at a speed of 50Mbps. That connection would provide plenty of bandwidth to copy images to the New York hospital.
The uses of a line from Ott Communications would range from large file transfers to hosted PBX, hosted Fax, and business applications such as Microsoft Exchange and SharePoint services. Task B-Recommendations

1.) I recommend the second source in my list of ten, the offering from GWI of “Ethernet over Copper” at 100Mbps. The reasons for the selection are the speed, the affordability, the easy installation, and the reliability. The speed for the price has no rival in the industry. The price is half of what a fiber optic connection would be and the installation uses category 6 twisted pair cable that is cheap and probably already exists from the minimum point of entry (MPOE) to the connection at the street. The reliability is the same as you would find in the “T” connection category since Ethernet of Copper uses the same technology. The download speeds for NHS’s image files will be in the seconds with turnaround time to the imaging department New York would be almost instantaneous. 2.) NHS would fall in the “early majority” portion of the technological acceptance curve. Ethernet over Copper (EoC) has been gaining wide acceptance and market share but has not forced out the majority of T1 or T3 broadband connections. EoC is attractive to customers for many reasons, but the main reason it has gained so much favor has been on the affordability of the service for the bandwidth you receive. a.) I think that NHS would accept my EoC solution for the broadband speed available alone. The other deciding factors of cost and reliability would be additional reasons to choose EoC for their broadband connection.
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