In 1995, the Mountain-Plains Consortium in the Rocky Mountain area initiated TEL8. TEL8 is a satellite-based telecommunications system serving 10 sites in FHWA’s Region 8. Each site consists of in-room audio and video equipment that receives and transmits live sound and picture, coding/decoding compression equipment, and a satellite transmission system. Each site is capable of sending and receiving signals from other sites in several modes of conferencing ranging from broadcast to multipoint two-way conferencing. The goals of TEL8, its development, and lessons learned are presented along with cost data for this cutting-edge technology. The many applications, including formal graduate course work, informally scheduled learning opportunities, and open communication forums, are also discussed. The system provides a network for interaction among the six departments of transportation and four regional universities. A user assessment of this form of distance learning is compared with more traditional forms using results of several client-based surveys.
