10.25.05
FCC Tightens Security Grip On Colleges And Universities
 By John Stith
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) said last week in the Federal Register they are laying down the law on colleges and universities, online communications companies and cities to make it easier for the federal government to comb emails and other electronic communications.
The tightening comes from a 1994 law called the Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act requiring traditional phone services to set up their switching systems so that federal agents can obtain easy access for surveillance purposes. Now they want to extend that further.
They began the paperwork to roll this into Internet services last year and it was just published in the Federal Register last week. This law would essentially apply to anyone who offers electronic communications of one type or another. New cities looking into municipal Internet services would be required to integrate the technology, companies would have to do it, as would the most vocal of the bunch, colleges and universities.
It comes down to cost in the end. Most universities have extensive networks for the Internet and while they say they respect the government's authority, the law says various entities making changes must foot the bill themselves. These universities are estimating a minimum of about $7 billion for hardware alone and that doesn't include the installation and service.
The New York Times (NYT) talked to Larry Conrad, chief information office at Florida State and he said the university had more than 140 buildings equipped for Internet access.
"But the wild-eyed fear I have," Mr. Conrad said, "is that the government will rule that this all has to be automatic, anytime, which would mean I'd have to re-architect our entire campus network."
This undertaking will be major infrastructures change costing billions of dollars for most universities, which in most cases are publicly funded. This cost, without federal assistance, will be difficult, if not impossible for most universities to fund.
Telecommunications monitoring is important for many law enforcement operations, particularly on a federal level. The practical reality, as with many government-mandated programs, is does the benefit outweigh the cost involved and also how can the funds be raised.
The other side of the coin however is systems must eventually be updated and the government argues it has a legitimate interest in monitoring the various colleges and universities and all entities providing Internet communications. What type of cost could one place on the security needed to protect the country?
About the Author:
John is a recent PR grad with a big interest in international security |
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