The costs listed do not include line charges associated with any T1 or 56-K leased lines connecting the schools. Access A terminal server aggregates traffic between dial-up modems and a local area network. Sites normally overbook their modems on the assumption that people will use a modem line for a short period of time and then relinquish it for someone else to use. Sites use different allocation schemes which range from 10 users per modem to over 100 users per modem. Overbooking affects a user s ability to connect to a modem when needed as opposed to whenever one happens to become available.
Congestion caused by overbooking can create frustration among users.
Minimizing overbooking will require purchasing extra equipment and additional telephone lines and will require extra personnel to manage the resources. Local dialing patterns around the state are regulated. Within the Chicago region served by Ameritech, the regulatory pricing has been set so that telephone calls within a 7-9 mile limit are charged to residential customers at approximately a nickel per call. This has enabled Argonne National Laboratory with financial support from the Illinois State Board of Education to establish low cost dial-up solution within the Chicago area. It is recommended that a management option be purchased and supported for the modems.