The State of Wisconsin provides two options for videoconferencing.  Customers choose which to use depending on business need budget, etc.  One option is dentified as Compressed Video Conferencing in which the State Telecommunications System (STS) supports two-way, interactive, compressed video conferencing over the public switched digital network at up to 384 kilobits per second.

Customers typically use ISDN Basic Rate Interface (BRI) service provided by the local telephone company, or Primary Rate Interface (PRI) T1 service with BRI emulation provided by AT&T.

Common uses of videoconferencing are administrative meetings, judicial hearings, distance education classes, inmate visitation, and medical exams.

For compressed video customers with more  than one site wanting to participate, Multi-point video conferencing (three or more locations) is a service available from UW Extension Instructional Communications Systems (ICS) at the Pyle Center.

IP video over the BadgerNet converged network (BCN), which is the state's wide area network (WAN), is also a service available to state customers, which includes distance education customers, library systems and K-12 and technical colleges as well as other governmental entities such as Tribal governments, municipal governments, etc.  This is the service primarily used by the state's librarary systems and K-12 distance education customers, and state agency interest in using video over the BCN for meetings and training has increased markedly given the current budget challenges.  Video service on the BCN includes multi conferencing as a component of the service.  If you would like more information specifically regarding the BCN IP video, please send an email to to WIbadgernet@wisconsin.gov.     

The DOA has entered into a new contract for services past 2005.  Click here to get information on these services.

UW Extension Instructional Communications Systems (ICS):  ICS provides many services, including video conferencing solutions for the following situations:

Entities interested in using video communications but do not have the required equipment.

Non-BCN Entities requiring multi-point video conferencing (three or more locations).

Gateway services

Codec Management

Instructional Design Training