Telephone Project Background

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Since 2001, Information Technology administrators have been working to solve the problems of an antiquated non-integrated telephone system at the University of Nevada, Reno. Here is a short version of what has transpired:

2001

  • The Information Technology (IT) Division completed a Voice Communications Feasibility Study
  • Western Telecommunication Consulting, Inc. (WTC) recommends that a modern, integrated PBX (private branch exchange) switch be installed for the campus

2004

  • IT issued an RFI (Request for Information) to telecommunications vendors
  • 5 vendors responded and were evaluated

2005

  • IT prepared a Telephone Business Plan (pdf PDF), dated July 15, 2005
  • IT organized financing for the project
  • With the assistance of our consultant (WTC), two "finalist" vendors were selected:
  • Negotiations and discussions began with both vendors

Spring and Summer 2006

  • February-May - a telephone inventory was completed for each area of campus
  • February-May - Telephone Design Coordinators (TDC) were appointed for departments and colleges. Coordinators attended orientation sessions and facilitated the inventory process. Coordinators selected the new telephone sets for their departments.
  • June-October - IT coordinated ongoing site preparation work such as new fiber cable, new in-building wiring, "tagging and toning" to identify every telephone jack on campus
  • July-August - Negotiations with vendors were completed and NEC was selected as the University's telephone system provider

Fall 2006

  • September-October - Telephone Design Coordinators attended NEC training sessions to learn how to gather needed information from their departments
  • NEC teams conducted interviews with coordinators to review department designs and system configurations
  • IT placed orders for new telephone equipment

Winter Break 2006-2007

  • Due to circumstances beyond the University’s control, we were unable to cut over to the new telephone system, as planned, during partial winter closure
  • Two outstanding issues forced the cancellation: 911 access for the new lines was not ready and the new exchange prefix (682) acquired by the University had not been tested throughout the national telephone grid
  • These two issues were resolved with AT&T and NEC, and the cutover was rescheduled for the 3-day Martin Luther King holiday weekend (Jan. 12-16, 2007)

January 2007

  • New telephone numbers were distributed via email on Jan. 10
  • AT&T cut off old phone numbers, beginning at 5 p.m. on Jan. 12
  • NEC and IT teams installed and activated new telephone equipment in every University office on the main campus over Martin Luther King weekend (Jan. 12-15)
  • Use of the new telephone system began throughout the campus