 approved with enthusiasm by all concerned. Everyone is giddy with excitement. Expectations are high from promises of improved operational capabil- ities, lower operating cost, and that long list of benefits included in all the sales pitches. Now it's time for someone to sign on the dotted line. Real money is about to be spent. Are you signing or is someone else? Is your job and reputation on the line, or is someone else's? How sure is everyone that all, or at least the most important and valuable benefits or promises and claims of benefits, will actually be realized? The verbs in the title of this chapter were placed in alphabetical order because that's the grammatically correct way to write. Unfortunately, many Internet and Telecom professionals don't conduct their busi- ness in the same fashion. Some get lucky and get by without a major disaster; however, most aren't favored by lady luck and wind up with less of a success than would have been possible had caution not been thrown to the wind. Practical IP and Telecom for Broadcast Engineering and Operations Copyright © 2004 by Fred Huffman. All rights of reproduction in any form reserved. PRACTICAL IP AND TELECOM FOR BROADCAST ENGINEERING AND OPERATIONS In the overall scheme of things, communications networks can make or break an organization. In the overall scheme of communications networks, a piece of equipment, software, facility, or service can make, break, or severely handicap an organization. This chapter is about what to do and how to do it to minimize risk and maximize return on investment. Although evaluating equipment and services should be done before acquiring them, it can be done at any time. For purposes of this chapter, it is assumed that evaluation precedes acquisition. Money hasn't been budgeted or allocated, and no com- mitments have been made. This chapter is about spending money and getting value in return. It comes in three simple pieces: 1) evaluating potential suppliers; 2) evaluating goods and services against established business re- qu