Metro may provide home internet
Students set to vote this week on a new proposal that could allow them to have access to internet from their home
by Amanda Jo Frazier
The Metropolitan
Metro students will be able to vote this week on a proposed mandatory
student fee that would provide nationwide, unlimited Internet access for
$6 or less a month.
After a processing fee, the Internet service would cost no more than
$42 a semester and would be included in the fall and spring student fees
for all three schools on campus. Service would continue through the Christmas,
spring and summer breaks.
Other Internet providers, such as NetZero and Juno, cost $9 to $10 a
month for regular dial-up service. After six months, that adds up to $54
to $60.
These providers allow only 10 hours of surfing a month, said Stephen
Hay the original submitter of the proposal.
"Students spend over (10 hours) for online classes, so that's not
feasible," Hay said.
Financial aid or loans could be used to pay for Internet service if the
fee is passed, which would not be possible with other providers.
"This isn't something students would have to pay for out of their
pocket," Hay said.
When the fee was initially and secondly proposed it was meant to be voluntary.
Students would have had to opt-in (let the college know they wanted to
use the Internet service) before tuition billing.
If enough students didn't take advantage of the service, the price would
possibly go up from the proposed $6.
The administration then decided to make the proposed fee mandatory.
"I understand that some students have Internet they're satisfied
with and don't think it's fair to have to pay for a student fee,"
said Candace Gill, current Metro vice president for student fees and presidential
candidate.
Whether the fee passes or fails, Hay and Gill, along with other members
of the Student Fees Review Panel, plan to ask the administration to review
the fee next year so that it may be offered on a voluntary basis.
Metro student Kurt Gyalog said he gets his Internet service on a discount
and wouldn't want to change, but otherwise "$6 wouldn't be too bad."
If passed, the proposal will go out for local Internet providers to make
a bid. One possible provider is E-Street Communications.
E-Street President Nick Voth said the speed of his dial-up service is
equivalent to that of other providers.
The voting, which started yesterday, will conclude this Saturday at 3
p.m. Students can vote at the designated building of their school.
|
