Mime-Version: 3.0 Date: Thu, 12 Dec 1997 13:25:52 -0600
To: All Monitor Readers
From: "Mark M. Lutgen" internet@mtn.org
Subject: To all users
     Well, our internal upgrades have been going good but are never quite on the timeline I expect them to be. At the moment, we are changing our Terminal servers from some clunky old Xyplex 1620 MAXservers to a product by Computone called the PowerRack. It is an impressive piece of hardware and is almost ready to bring on-line. What this means is that our modem users will have a much higher throughput in their dial-up connections as well increased stability This is just the second phase of what we have been doing around here to improve and expand Is our services. The first phase was to change over our dial-up lines from US West analog lines to some fast and digital connections (via 3 T1s) which we have purchased from a local company. Because of this, our users now have a different phone number to access the internet through us -- 252-4060. We have been really busy with all of this and nothing ever quite goes as well as it could have, at least in the computer world, but we have survived so far and there is just a little bit more to be done for phase 2.

     Phase 3, which should begin the week of Sept. 14, will be our migration to all digital modems that support the 56Klex and ITU V.90 technology. All of the hardware is being shipped to us as I type so we are getting real I can not think of anyone who can beat our prices for dial-up access on the Internet and now we will be supporting the cutting-edge dial-up access technology.

     In addition to all of this, John Akre has been doing some great work publishing web sites for MTN video programs on a new Linux server I assembled just a little bit ago. You can check this out at http://producers.mtn.org. More and more of our producers are starting to take advantage of the resources we have at MTN and you can check them out on-line at this server. I must say, this is the most exciting thing right now, despite all of the hardware we are installing. I am really looking forward to working on this area much more. I must admit, I know very little about the technology behind the video side of MTN but working with some of the producers on their web publishing has taught me a great deal. I look forward to learning more here as more producers take advantage of this opportunity, And I have no doublthat I will.
MTN
Mark M. Lutgen
Systems Administrator Minneapolis Telecommunications Network
phone: 612-331-8575 ext. 303
e-mail: mark@mtn.org
Minneapolis Neighborhood News by Karen Haselmann

     On a August 1, of this year, I left familiar territory behind MTN's checkout counter and started my new job creating programming for the Neighborhood Revitalization Program (NRP). As part of an arrangement between MTN and the NRP, I began producing the Minneapolis Neighborhood News. This half-hour program documents the efforts of neighborhood groups, governmental organizations and others who are working to improve their community. The current show includes segments on the renovation of the old Sears site, an update on the construction of the Midtown Greenway, and a piece about community gardeners in North Minneapolis. The Minneapolis Neighborhood News is cablecast on Friday at 6:30 p.m. on channel 33 and on Sunday at 5:00 p.m. on channel 32. I encourage everyone to watch the show and learn a little bit about the 81 different neighborhoods which make up the city of Minneapolis.
In this Issue:
MTN Page One: Playback
Page Two: Playback - Cont'd. by John Akre
Page Three: MTN Profile
Page Four: Programming Notes
Page Five: E-mail from Mark
Page Six: Netscape: MTN Features / Benton Update
Page Seven: MTN Appeciation Night