Edupage, October 15, 2004

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Date: Tue, 19 Oct 2004 08:47:40 -0400
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TOP STORIES FOR FRIDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2004
   NCES Considers Changes to IPEDS Reporting Structure
   Rhapsody on Free Trial at Adelphi University
   West Virginia Plans Largest Public Computing Grid
   British ISPs Forced to Reveal User Identities
   FCC Approves Broadband over Power Lines


NCES CONSIDERS CHANGES TO IPEDS REPORTING STRUCTURE
The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) is considering
fundamental changes to the way data are reported in the Integrated
Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS). IPEDS is the government's
primary means of collecting data from the nation's providers of
postsecondary education. NCES is conducting an IPEDS Student Unit
Record Feasibility Study to address the agency's goal of using
record-level student data for IPEDS rather than the aggregate data
currently supplied by colleges and universities. Such a change would
reportedly eliminate certain inefficiencies of the system, both for
NCES and for higher education institutions, and would allow for more
accurate calculation of statistics such as graduation rate. At least
one association, the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and
Admissions Officers (www.aacrao.org), has suggested the proposal
carries a number of risks, including privacy concerns of submitting
individual student data to the agency as well as a range of technical
concerns. The agency will hold three technical review panels to address
the provisions of the suggested change.
National Center for Education Statistics, 12 October 2004
http://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/trpurs.asp

RHAPSODY ON FREE TRIAL AT ADELPHI UNIVERSITY
Adelphi University in New York will begin a pilot program of
RealNetworks's Rhapsody online music service. From now until May,
on-campus students at Adelphi will have free access to the service.
Beginning in May, students will pay a discounted rate of $2 per month
for the service, which otherwise costs $9.95 a month; off-campus
students will also be able to sign up for $2 a month. Jack Chen, CIO at
Adelphi, said the university recognizes that although the
institution's top priority is providing high-quality education, "easy
and low-cost access to online music is important to our students."
Rhapsody, whose library of music comprises nearly 800,000 songs, is
trying to compete with the iTunes service from Apple Computer, which
currently leads the online music market. RealNetworks recently unveiled
"Harmony" technology, which allows Rhapsody tracks to be played on
Apple's iPod device.
CNET, 14 October 2004
http://news.com.com/2100-1027_3-5409569.html

WEST VIRGINIA PLANS LARGEST PUBLIC COMPUTING GRID
Officials in West Virginia this fall plan to unveil the Global Grid
Exchange, a statewide open infrastructure that organizers say will be
the largest public computing grid in the world. The grid, which is
being developed under the West Virginia High Technology Consortium
Foundation and funded by the Economic Development Authority, will use
unused computing resources around the state and will initially be
available for government, industry, and academic interests within West
Virginia. Later, the grid is expected to be opened to anyone around the
world. West Virginia Governor Bob Wise said the response has been
"incredible, resulting in an amazing commitment of donated computing
resources."
Federal Computer Week, 14 October 2004
http://www.fcw.com/geb/articles/2004/1011/web-grid-10-14-04.asp

BRITISH ISPS FORCED TO REVEAL USER IDENTITIES
British courts have approved a court order requested by record
companies to require Internet service providers (ISPs) to disclose the
identities of 28 individuals suspected of illegally sharing music
files. The British Phonographic Industry (BPI) contends that 15 percent
of file sharers are responsible for 75 percent of copyright violations
and has targeted the 28 individuals in question for prosecution. Those
charged will have the opportunity to settle out of court. The judge in
the case said, "On the face of it this appears to be a powerful case of
copyright infringement." The BPI's Geoff Taylor said that his
organization is encouraged by the judge's comments and "will not
hesitate to take action against those who infringe our members'
rights."
BBC, 14 October 2004
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/3743596.stm

FCC APPROVES BROADBAND OVER POWER LINES
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) this week approved
regulations that would allow delivery of Internet access on the same
wiring that provides electricity. Broadband over power lines (BPL)
technology will potentially allow public service companies to offer
Internet access to millions of customers, given that the nation's
power grid extends to virtually all consumers. In addition, the
prospect of delivering phone services over the Internet means power
companies could be in a position to compete with phone companies.
Critics of the decision cited concerns over potentially restricting
competition in the market for such services, as well as whether power
companies would be required to contribute to the Universal Service
Fund--which all phone companies pay into--if they offer phone services.
The FCC also ruled that regional Bells will not be required to give
rivals low-cost access to residential fiber-optic networks. Companies
such as AT&T objected to the ruling, calling it a move toward monopoly,
while the regional Bells responded by promising to develop more
residential fiber-optic networks.
New York Times, 15 October 2004 (registration req'd)
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/10/15/technology/15power.html

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Edupage, October 15, 2004

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