The Middlebury Campus

Issue date: 2/14/07 Section: News

Media Credit: Ilhan Kim Teach For America Recruitment Director Audrey Geisler uses the JuiceBar's limited wireless internet to remind seniors about a Feb. 18 Teach For America application deadline. All-campus wireless internet could be available as early as next year. [Click to enlarge]

Middlebury could boast a full-fledged, campus-wide wireless network as early as next year, according to College officials. Network administrators familiar with the plan said that contract negotiations with product vendors are already underway. Installation of wireless routers across campus grounds could begin immediately upon their successful conclusion.

"We could possibly begin work on the project as early as [this] summer," said Thomas Cutter, area director for Systems and Infrastructure, "with an eye towards completing the entire roll-out within the next 12 months."

The College is in the midst of discussing the project with three competing businesses, one of which will provide the routers necessary for the wireless network. Cutter declined to give the names of the companies due to the sensitivity of the business talks.

Wireless Internet access is currently limited to only a few facilities. The New Library, the Grille, dining halls and McCardell Bicentennial Hall are all popular sites for Wi-Fi access.

By next year, however, according to Cutter, the convenience of Wi-Fi could become available within "all major interior spaces in College buildings - including dorms." With the introduction of campus-wide wireless, students housed in even the oldest residence halls would be able to check e-mail, do research and stay in touch with friends from the comfort of their beds or sofas.

The delay in expanding wireless Internet service was justified by allowing the technology to develop, according to Howie McCausland, director of Network Design and Operations.

"Until recently, we had been holding off on installing wireless Internet because the technology was still evolving," said McCausland. "There just wasn't a groundswell of need at the time, because we had wired service."

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