The Federal Government is requiring all Internet service providers and institutions that provide Internet access to upgrade their technology to broadband that can be monitored for security reasons. AU would have to spend an estimated $3 million on the federally mandated upgrades since it provides Internet access to students, faculty and staff.
While we appreciate the boost in speed the upgrade will probably bring (T3 anyone?) it is disturbing that the government would put so much effort in monitoring its citizens use of the internet while failing to provide security in so many other areas, especially since effectively sorting through all the internet traffic to find anything of value seems like an impossible task.
If the Department of Homeland Security is not going to take the time to secure our ports, buses and subway systems, why bother monitoring Internet traffic? It would seem that the federal government is quicker to respond to the need to expand its own power to pry than to hundreds of thousands left helpless after a high-powered hurricane.
Furthermore, while the Internet has proven to be a priceless educational tool for students, there are still millions of children who do not have Internet access at all. Instead of violating our right to privacy, the thing to do is to help close the literacy gap and help more children reach college by making sure their schools can provide them with internet access.
