Faster Web options

Editor's note: This is part two of a two-part series on the history of student computing at Indiana University.\nOff-campus students who use IU's modem pool to access University resources now have a faster option for computer access, thanks to new options being explored by the University. \nIn December, University Information Technology Services announced its partnership with Smithville Telephone Company to offer Digital Subscriber Line service to students, faculty and staff. \nWith connection speeds up to 50 times faster than a standard modem, a song from Napster would take mere seconds to download versus 15 minutes on a traditional modem. DSL service runs through existing phone lines and allows for a constant connection to the Internet without tying up the line. \nThe deal for IU students would waive installation costs through May 4, a savings of about $100. The high-speed modem will cost about $150, and service costs $50 a month.\nAccording to a University press release, "This partnership demonstrates the University's continuing commitment to providing students, faculty and staff with increased access to computing, data storage and information and network services from their off-campus residences."\nBut Brian Voss, associate vice president for telecommunications, said offering high-speed access isn't a quick fix to dial-in pool delays, but rather a way to keep up with technological advances. \n"Within five years, everyone is going to want high-speed access at home. And it's going to become as integral a part in our homes as telephone service or cable TV is today," he said. \nAt that time, IU will stop providing its own service and partner with outside companies to offer students, faculty and staff the best deals. Its concentration will be on building high-speed links to their partners' networks.\nSeveral traditional service providers also have local access numbers for Bloomington residents. Bluemarble, Kiva and HoosierNet provide service from within the area, and national service providers such as AOL and NetZero are available as well. \nWhile IU maintains its connection to the Internet, other universities have solved their problems by just unplugging the phones. \nAccording to a recent issue of The Chronicle of Higher Education, officials at the University of Pennsylvania decided to scrap their modem pool completely. Instead, they're asking people to connect from a service such as AOL and pay for it. They are negotiating discounts and special deals for their users, but students there still pay up to $18 a month if they want access from home. \nGeorge Washington and Brown Universities have followed suit. The solution for these schools is a free provider, such as NetZero, and so far that seems to be working, he said.\nThe 2000 UITS annual User Survey showed an 87 percent satisfaction rating for modem use, up from 75 percent in 1999. \nVoss said some of the discontent is from people who completed the survey while thinking about how the service used to be. \n"It might take a year or two for that to work its way out," he said. "Just goes to show you how long bad service can haunt you"