IP: INTERNET RATIONING HITS HIGHER ED

[Dave Farber <farber () central cis upenn edu>]

INTERNET RATIONING HITS HIGHER ED
Some universities are finding they need to set limits on students' use of
public workstations or campus phone lines to make their availability more
equitable.  The University of Pennsylvania has established a number of
"express" phone lines, which limit users to 15-minute online sessions.  All
other lines have a one-hour limit for people with 28.8-kbps modems and two
hours for those with slower models.  "It's unpopular, but so is any form of
rationing," says Penn's vice-provost for information systems.  Meanwhile,
MIT is considering installing "Quickstations" designated for short tasks,
such as checking e-mail, and Brown University students must use a password
to gain access to computers in some public labs, a precaution against
suspected use by students from nearby schools.  (Chronicle of Higher
Education 4 Oct 96 A23)