IP Video sites that are not a member of the NCIH network community may connect and participate in conferences that are scheduled by NCIH operational sites. The OFF-NET site must meet H.323 video standards. The IP Video OFF-NET site may join a conference through one of the ITS/NCIH H323 Gateways.

ITS/NCIH will provide four gateway sites for use by OFF-NET IP Video sites to join a session with operational NCIH sites. The Gateway sites are listed in the NCIH interactive web scheduler as ITS/NCIH H323 Gateway 1, ITS/NCIH H323 Gateway 2, ITS/NCIH H323 Gateway 3, and ITS/NCIH H323 Gateway 4.  There is an additional fee for the use of these gateway sites. The rate for ITS NCIH H323 Gateway sites is $35.00 per scheduled hour. The one-time minimum scheduled usage and billable time for all gateway sites is one hour. To use the Gateways successfully, the IP Video site must be certified by Video Network Services and entered into the Video Network Services IP Video Web Scheduler.

Certification (testing) of the OFF-NET IP Video site and registration of the OFF-NET IP Video site with the ITS Gatekeeper are required prior to the NCIH videoconference. A one-time fee of $50.00 will be charged for certification and registration of each first time OFF-NET user. All forms listed in the steps below must be submitted to ITS Video Network Services BEFORE certification.

OFF-NET CONNECTION PROCEDURES

The following steps are required for an OFF-NET IP Video site to connect to an NCIH videoconference.

1. The appropriate NCIH Regional Coordinator should be contacted to discuss the proposed conference with an OFF-NET IP Video site.
2. The VNS Service Request Form and the signature page of the Service Level Agreement for Video Over IP must be completed and submitted to ITS Video Network Services prior to certification of an OFF-NET IP Video site and the videoconference. All additional fees for gateway usage including the certification of the OFF-NET site will be charged to the NCIH site that schedules the conference unless otherwise stated in the VNS Service Request Form.
3. The ITS H.323 Site Certification Form will be emailed to the OFF-NET site.
4. The OFF-NET site will complete the highlighted tabs on the ITS H.323 Site Certification Form.
5. OFF-NET site returns by email the Site Certification Form.
6. The OFF-NET site faxes the VNS Service Request Form and the signature page of the Service Level Agreement document.
   
7. The OFF-NET site will be given a person to contact to setup certification date and time after ITS Video Network Services receives all forms. The forms must be sent in a timely manner so that certification can be scheduled a minimum of two days prior to the videoconference date.
8. Once certification is successfully completed, the conference may be scheduled. If this is a one-time event, an NCIH Regional Coordinator will verify availability of a gateway and schedule the videoconference.
9. If recurring sessions are planned, the NCIH site that is scheduling the sessions will schedule the conferences using any available gateway through the NCIH Web Scheduler. The scheduled conferences should include the NCIH site participant(s) and ITS NCIH Gateway 1, 2, 3, or 4.
10. For the recurring sessions, the appropriate person will schedule a matching videoconference in the VNS IP Video Web Scheduler.  This conference will include the OFF-NET IP Video site and the Gateway scheduled in the NCIH Web Scheduler. The same Gateway must be identifed and scheduled in both the NCIH Web Scheduler and the VNS IP Video Web Scheduler for the conference to take place with all participants involved.
    
11. The Requester(s) of the conference may modify or cancel a scheduled conference involving an OFF-NET site through the NCIH Web Scheduler and the VNS IP Video Web Scheduler. Use normal procedures for modifying or canceling a conference under My Conferences in the NCIH Web Scheduler and Manage in the VNS Web Scheduler.
    
12. If you have not been given permission because it is a one-time event planned, you will need to contact an NCIH Regional Coordinator to modify or cancel the conference.
13. Remember to formally cancel any conferences that you plan not to have in both web schedulers.  All conferences scheduled through the web schedulers are billed unless cancelled prior to the event.
    

For more information on this service please contact a VNS staff member or visit http://www.ncih.net/h323/h323link.html.