Meetinghouse Internet FAQ's

Discussions about Internet service providers (ISPs), the Meetinghouse Firewall, wired and wireless networking, usage, management, and support of Meetinghouse Internet
SheffieldTR
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Meetinghouse Internet FAQ's

#1

Post by SheffieldTR »

  1. How do I ask a question and these FAQ’s or make a comment about them?
    • Open a new thread and post your comment or question.
  2. What is the Meetinghouse Internet program?
    • The Meetinghouse Internet program gives Stake Presidents authorization to install broadband into their buildings for ecclesiastical purpose
  3. How is the Meetinghouse Internet program different from the February 11, 2008 notice authorizing clerk computers to connect to existing Church Communication Network (CCN) connections?
    • The February 11, 2008 notice from the Office of the Presiding Bishopric went global notifying stakes that they can connect and share an existing CCN connection.
    • Meetinghouse Internet began a staged release on February 29, 2008 which began in the North America Southwest Area. This program authorizes stakes to install a broadband where the stake president feels it is needed.
  4. Who is currently authorized to use the Meetinghouse Internet program?
    • The program is currently in a controlled release. Stake presidents will receive an authorization notice from the presiding bishopric. Most areas should receive authorization by the end of.
  5. When can we install a broadband connection in our meetinghouse?
    • Once the stake president receives the authorizing notice from the presiding bishopric.
  6. Why would we want a broadband Internet connection in a meetinghouse?
    • You may not need or want a broadband connection. However some units are requesting authorization for some of the following reasons:
      • Faster MLS transmission
      • Ecclesiastical on-line training
      • The entire LDS web experience
      • Stake & Ward website management
      • Uploading barcode temple recommends
  7. What is provided by Church headquarters for this program?
    • A Church-managed firewall is provided for each broadband Internet connection
    • Firewall and Filtering support
  8. What is a Church-managed firewall?
    • A hardware device provided by Church headquarters for security and filtering services. However, these protections alone do not completely eliminate the risks associated with the Internet. Stake and District Presidents are ultimately responsible for Internet use in buildings within their boundaries.
    • All internet traffic in meetinghouses should go through this device.
    • Stake presidents and the Stake Technology Specialist (STS) have the responsibility to ensure that the firewall is used
  9. What Responsibility does the Stake President Have?
    • Stake presidents have ultimate responsibility for Internet use in buildings within their boundaries.
    • Ensure that a Church-managed firewall is used for all internet traffic.
  10. Are there different filtering levels?
    • Yes, there are currently two filtering policies to choose from, they are:
      • LDS Restricted
        1. Allows access only to LDS Church created web sites and few others like www.USPS.com, Google Maps, Yellow pages and other similar sites as well as allowing email, both web mail and corporate email
      • LDS Extended
        1. Allows everything LDS Restricted as well as most sites needed for family history searches and work
  11. What does the Facility Manager (FM) need to do with this program?
    • As with any impact to a building the FM has the responsibility to make sure that the building continues to look appropriate, like no wires hanging from the ceiling.
    • If they have contacts that could help with pulling network cable they could refer the STS to them.
  12. Who pays for the costs of getting wires pulled and the installation?
    • All costs associated with Meetinghouse Internet are the responsibility of the Stake and will come out of the stake budget. The FM does not pay any of those costs.
jasonhyer
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Can you clarify the cost of the firewall?

#2

Post by jasonhyer »

Can you clarify what the cost of the firewall will be for the stake? The distribution site lists the firewall with a cost of $500 but also says "Your unit will not be charged for this item"

Who will be responsible for the cost of the firewall? We are trying to budget the total cost of setting this up in our stake but need to understand the cost of the firewall component.
danpass
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cost of firewall kit

#3

Post by danpass »

This is funded by church headquarters. Even though you see a dollar amount for it, when you place the order, your stake will not be charged for it.
JamesAnderson
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#4

Post by JamesAnderson »

So I gather then that the Headquarters pays for the firewall, and the stake pays for the setup of and monthly charges for, the actual Internet service itself. Am I correct?
danpass
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#5

Post by danpass »

JamesAnderson wrote:So I gather then that the Headquarters pays for the firewall, and the stake pays for the setup of and monthly charges for, the actual Internet service itself. Am I correct?
Yes, that is correct.
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aebrown
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#6

Post by aebrown »

JamesAnderson wrote:So I gather then that the Headquarters pays for the firewall, and the stake pays for the setup of and monthly charges for, the actual Internet service itself. Am I correct?

Also, the stake pays for any internal wiring and additional hardware such as wireless access points.
pmblood-p40
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Wireless Security Setting (SSID, WPA pw)

#7

Post by pmblood-p40 »

When setting up new internet access to meetinghouses that includes wireless behind the firewall, are the wireless security settings such as SSID and WPA password defined locally or do we get them from GSC. I've been through all the instructions and forum threads and cannot find an answer to this question.
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aebrown
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#8

Post by aebrown »

pmblood wrote:When setting up new internet access to meetinghouses that includes wireless behind the firewall, are the wireless security settings such as SSID and WPA password defined locally or do we get them from GSC. I've been through all the instructions and forum threads and cannot find an answer to this question.

The Church pays for and manages the firewall and nothing else for the Meetinghouse Internet program for new Internet connections. That's why you couldn't find any documentation about wireless on this program -- it doesn't apply.

Other than the firewall, everything else is managed and paid for locally. So the Stake Technology Specialist (with authorization from the Stake President, of course) would be responsible for purchasing any wireless hardware such as access points or wireless routers, and configuring them. Many stakes may choose not to have wireless, and that's certainly one option the Stake President may choose.

But if your Stake President does choose to have wireless, here is a post that may be helpful. It was in a thread talking about adding wireless to an existing CCN which does not already have wireless -- not exactly your situation, but the statement about wireless security certainly applies.
rmarchant wrote:So you want to deploy a 802.11n network ... if the following is true you may get your wish ... :)
  • You are a Stake Technology Specialist, or asked to help someone who is.
  • Your Stake President has authorized clerk pc's to connect to the Internet and has requested that the STS decide the best way to connect the pc's.
  • You decide that 802.11n wireless is the way to go and the Facility Manager appproves the installation of the wireless equipment.
  • Your have a way to locally fund the purchase, and installation of the equipment.
  • The policy requires security (WPA or WPA2) but not specific hardware or wireless specifications.
terrellthomas
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Powerline Network Adapter

#9

Post by terrellthomas »

Can a Stake choose to use Powerline Network adapters in their buildings? Powerline Network adapters use the power wiring in the buildings. You plug adapters into the 110 outlet and it run frequency between 4 - 22 megh.
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aebrown
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#10

Post by aebrown »

terrellthomas wrote:Can a Stake choose to use Powerline Network adapters in their buildings? Powerline Network adapters use the power wiring in the buildings. You plug adapters into the 110 outlet and it run frequency between 4 - 22 megh.


That's a question for your local FM group. The policy states that you have to get your broadband implementation approved by your FM group. You can see this post for some general guidelines, but really there are only a couple of specifics about what your network looks like. The only requirements I can find are:
  1. The Church Managed Firewall must be positioned between the Internet and any computers; what goes between the Firewall and the computers is not specified.
  2. If a wireless network is used, it must use WPA or WPA2 security.
Any other options that the stake technology specialist can get approved by his stake president and the FM group would probably be acceptable.
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