GETN Web Brief Power Point Presentation

GETN Evolution from a initiative to a program

The Government Education and Training Network (GETN) is a network of Federal Government agencies using a common satellite carrier for interactive television (1-way video, 2way audio). This interoperable network allows the various user agencies to share distance/distributed learning programs and use common facilities. This ITV service is provided by AT&T in partnership Technicolor, and is offered through a GSA FTS contract. Audio interaction is achieved using one of two systems: a push-to-talk system provided by A.T. Products (used by all DOD and a few other agencies), or a student response unit provided by One Touch Systems (used mostly by civilian agencies).

GETN was conceived in 1992 at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, by the Air Force Institute of Technology’s Center for Distance Education and with the pioneering efforts in digital technology of the National Technological University of Ft Collins, Colorado. Development began with initial funding by the Air Force’s Acquisition Professional Development Program and in partnership with the Army Logistics Management College at Ft Lee Virginia. GETN has grown from 2 uplinks in 1993 to 12 digital-Ku-band satellite uplink broadcast centers reaching over 2,300 fixed-dish downlink sites located throughout the CONUS, Alaska, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico. GETN broadcasts approximately 10,000 hours per year. Department of Defense agencies include US Air Force, with 2 uplinks (10 channel capacity) and 353 downlinks; US Army, with 1 uplink (3 channel capacity) and 42 downlinks; Air National Guard, with 2 uplinks (5 channel capacity) and 551 downlinks; Air Force Reserves, with a shared uplink (USAF), and 90 downlinks; Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute, with 1 uplink (1channel capacity) and 2 downlinks; Defense Logistics Agency, with 2 shared uplinks (USAF & USA) and 29 downlinks; and US Navy, with 8 downlinks.

Other Federal Executive Agencies include Federal Aviation Administration, with 1 uplink (4 channel capacity) and 253 downlinks; US Courts, with 1 shared uplink (DOJ) and 325 downlinks; Department of Justice, with 1 uplink (2channel capacity) and 250 downlinks; Federal Bureau of Investigation with 1 uplink (2 channel capacity); Fish & Wildlife Service, with 1 uplink (2 channel capacity) and 21 downlinks; and National Park Service, with 1 shared uplink (F&WS) and 237 downlinks.

With the PowerVu platform from Scientific Atlanta, GETN also has the capacity to stream and store-and-forward digital video programs as well as datacast Internet Protocol courseware to servers across the world. GETN, therefore, not only offers its traditional ITV courses, but can be an effective bypass technology to the public Internet to offer distance learning anytime, anywhere, anyway.

As an outgrowth of using GETN, an organization was formed to encourage collaboration among the various Federal Government agencies in the use of video technologies. This organization is called the Government Alliance for Training & Education by Satellite (GATES) (http://gate.govdl.org). More information on GATES and GETN can be obtained from Dr. Philip Westfall, Director, Air Technology Network (ATN), Air Force Institute for Advanced Distributed Learning, (937) 904-5480 or DSN 674-5480, e-mail: philip.westfall@atn.wpafb.af.mil.

Courses: Contracting & Acquisition Management, Environmental, Hazardous Waste Mgt., Air Pollution, Warehouse Mgt., Safeguards & Security, Aircraft Maintenance and Repair, Professional Military Education, Professional Continuing Education, communication courses, Air Traffic Control and related courses, diversity courses, Equal Opportunity Training (EOT), legal, medical, and chaplain courses, management and leadership courses, and so forth.

Location: CONUS, Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and Virgin Islands. The Air Force’s ATN can also broadcast any GETN program to a total of 8 sites in Germany, England, and Italy; 6 sites at AF installations in Guam, Korea, and Japan, and 8 sites in Iraq, Kuwait, and United Arab Emirates .