University of Texas allows wireless Internet

By: Eddie Beeby

Posted: 9/22/04

Wireless Internet access in residence halls has been a contentious issue this year, both here at Syracuse University and across the nation.

The University of Texas at Dallas reversed its decision to ban private wireless access points in one of its housing facilities Sept. 10, according to UTD Executive Director of Information Resources Bill Hargrove. The reversal stemmed from a public notice from the Federal Communications Commission claiming it had exclusive authority in matters of radio frequency interference and that citizens have the right to install wireless networks.

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The FCC's public notice was issued in response to queries about whether third parties, such as landlords and universities, could prohibit customer use of devices that use radio signals, especially in the context of multi-tenant environments, such as apartment buildings and dorm rooms.

Computing and Media Services has a policy similar to that of UTD that bans students' installation of a personal wireless connections in their dorm rooms, but CMS currently has no plans to repeal the bans.

CMS's ban on personal wireless networks was put into effect because use of wireless technology would interfere with the Internet connections of those in the vicinity of the wireless access point, said Deborah Nosky, manager of IT communications and professional development.

"If you are putting this access point up," Nosky said, "we know you are hurting others."

But another FCC ruling allows SU to keep its personal wireless network ban, Nosky said. The ruling came when the FCC told the Association of College and University Telecommunications Administrators (ACUTA) that schools can prevent students living in campus housing from building their own wireless networks.

If the school leases residential property where students live, which was the case with UTD, they can't restrict the use of wireless networks.

A flurry of personal wireless networks were put up at the start of the semester, Nosky said. Upon discovery of a personal wireless network, CMS shuts down the ResNET connection the wireless access point is using, and the offender is notified. There have not been any repeat offenders this year, Nosky said.

Even though CMS is not currently allowing personal wireless access in the residence halls, Nosky says that it is something CMS is pursuing.

"It will be extremely high on our list to extend our wireless network to our residence halls," Nosky said.

AirOrange has yet to be installed in the residence halls mainly due to cost issues, Nosky said, but several students are hopeful that CMS will eventually allow them to set up wireless Internet in the residence halls.

"I guess if CMS isn't providing a wireless network [in the residence halls] then students should be allowed to install their own wireless connection," said Premal Mehta, an engineering management graduate student. "But CMS should be allowed to monitor the wireless connections."