This was a surprisingly wonderful resource to have discovered.  I say surprisingly because books on state-of-the-art technology, from ISTE or other sources, tend to have a very short "shelf life."  That is, their content is relevant and accurate for a short period of time.  Undoubtedly, new and better technologies and techniques will emerge in interactive videoconference (IVC)  systems, that may make this book  slowly become obsolete.  But for now, 2004, this is a timely and relevant reference work.
I read the chapters with Irv Roth and the University of Montana in mind to learn how I might maximize that videoconference experience.
From the outset, I learned some historical background about early Interactive videoconferencing over the ARPAnet, the academic/government/(military?) network created in the late 1960's.  The ARPAnet is the predecessor (and model) of today's public internet.  The book provided valuable documented data on the rising popularity of the internet in the classroom in general and of interactive videoconferencing in particular.  I am learning that much research has been done of interactive electronic collaborations between classrooms as well as telementoring. Many internet based organizations exist to facilitate classroom to classroom exchanges, on any level, on any subject - video and otherwise. 

I learned about eRate and discovered the important role it plays in school planning and technology funding. The eRate program has helped change a school's access to resources.  "A school's geographical location, the number of books in its library, and the educational software it had managed to acquire were no longer limits to learning for students or teachers." (2004, Cole, Ray, Zanetis)

The opening chapter led me to investigate various IVC systems from VTEL, VSee, Windows Live Meeting, in addition to CuSeeMe, which I was already familiar with.  I learned about some statewide educational closed networks that incorporate interactive video. Perhaps most important is the Internet 2  network developed for educational and other controlled access LANs.  I am a proponant of this alternative secure network (alternative to the internet).   Perhaps Long Island University should consider becoming actively involved in defining the Internet 2 standards to assure that the bandwidth needs, for all areas of LIU (and all universities) and the Long Island public school systems (all public school systems) are addressed.  

ILAST, a grant funded staff-development program created at the California State University - San Marcos, uses IVC to deliver some of its staff development program, including those modules dealing with IVC.  "Videoconference technology is an integral part of (the ILAST) program which includes sessions that deal with the integration of videoconferencing technologyh and instructional strategies.  ILAST also utilizes videoconferencing technology as a delivery tool allowing the program to reach its many constituents while reducing time."  (2004,Cole, Ray, Zanetis)  In other words, it uses the technology to teach the technology.

. . . to be continued, I'm still reading this book!

abbreviations used: 

IVC
PBL .....
CtCP ...

interactive videoconference
project-based-learning
Classroom-to-Classroom Portal