All dorms to have cable, internet service within 45-days

Phase II of the cable installation will soon allow students to surf through more than just five local television channels but they will have to pay.
According to Marilyn Hill, director of Residential Housing, a contract was negotiated with Cox Communications and all dormitories will have cable and internet services within an estimated forty-five days
Students will possibly be charged an all-in-one fee of $27.78 per month for cable and internet services, compared to the $41.18 fee Cox Communications charges to off-campus and regular home and apartment residents.
“We’re trying to come up with a referendum to determine the cost for students. We have a lot of information to get out to the students (about the cable fee). We’ll try to do that as quickly as possible,” said Raymond Downs, vice-chancellor of Student Affairs.
The fee will also cover fiber optic cabling installation, wiring of buildings, maintenance of equipment, channel subscription fees, and salaries of personnel supporting the systems.
If students vote against the referendum, the cable and Internet services will be completely disconnected. However, the referendum is approved, the fee will not be implemented until summer 2002.
“Students will determine whether or not students keep cable and Internet in the rooms,” Huey Lawson, Office of Technology and Network Services.
Sixty-one channels will be included in the basic cable package, including the College Television Network, currently being aired in high traffic areas on campus.
“I’m happy that we’re finally getting cable. I get to watch all my NBA games– and BET. I’m glad we we’re working with Cox, they’re pretty fast and they take care of business,” Michael Mitchell, junior, Olllie B. Moore Hall resident.
Cable was installed in Bradford, Gradison, Shade and Totty Halls in spring 2001 but not in the remaining residential halls because of difficulty in wiring.
The installation is a joint venture between the Department of Residential Housing and the Office of Technology and Network Services.