1. Why is NISN making this change to VoTS usage billing?

Answer:
The Office of Space Communications was asked to provide a suggestion as to potential funding contribution to the NASA Administrator's reserve. Space Communications suggested that the VoTS usage charges be billed to the centers beginning in FYNN, and the budget currently allocated to Space Communications for this service would be provided for the Administrator's Reserve. This proposal was accepted.

2. When will VoTS usage charges be billed to the centers?

Answer:
NISN will fund VoTs usage for FY NN.

3. When will NISN provide voice over IP (VoIP) services?

Answer:
NISN is exploring the VoIP technology and will be ready to support the technology once the Agency decides to implement it across the NASA Centers.

4. Describe the process and expected timeline for intra-NASA transfers of funding from the Centers to gain NISN services. Differentiate between project and institutional funding.

Answer:
The budget analyst completes a NASA form 506 in order to send intra-NASA transfers. This process can take up to 30 days since it has to travel through NASA Headquarters. Once the 506 is received at MSFC, Denise Smithers is notified that funds are available for use. Project funding is direct funding earmarked for specific projects such as Shuttle, Station, NACC, EOS etc Institutional funds are funds that support the infrastructure of NASA such as Service pools, Center G&A and Corporate G&A. This funds transfer process only applies to Project funding.

5. What services does NISN offer and who exactly provides them?

Answer:
The NISN Services are described in the NISN Services Document. Each Service has both a Civil Service and UNITeS Contractor Service Owner identified (link to Service Owners Page). If you have questions or problems with a specific Service that your Customer Service Representative cannot answer or resolve please feel free to contact the appropriate Service Owner.

6. How are services paid for and, if I need to send money, who does it go to and how do I send it?

Answer:
Services are paid for in 2 ways: either Core or Customer funded. The Core funding is money that comes directly from Headquarters to Doralee Searcy in order to fund the core NISN services. Customer funding is funding that customers send in order to have services rendered. This funding is sent to Denise Smithers. It is sent via NASA form 506.

7. What is the difference between NISN and ODIN, and what is their working relationship?

Answer:
Primarily, NISN provides data, voice, and video networking services between NASA locations. ODIN provides networking services within a NASA center.