New Network Rate Structure

After much analysis and discussion, including a survey of network financing at other universities and a close examination of the expenses involved in installing and operating Yale's campus network, the Advisory Committee concluded that Yale should adopt a network charging structure that recovers the full cost of the network once the campus is completely wired and most potential users are connected. This new rate structure, which is explained more fully below, differs from the previous structure in three important ways. First, the monthly charge for connecting to the network is reduced from $25 to $18.50. Second, the $200 one-time installation charge is reduced to $40 once a building has been prepared for Ethernet; this fee is eliminated entirely for connections that are activated as part of the project to prepare the building for Ethernet. And finally, while most faculty and staff will be served by a complete package of network-based services, those departments that provide and operate their own large local networks, including their own hardware, software, and end-user support, will be charged a lower rate for connecting to the campus network.

Completing the campus network

All of our campus buildings must be interconnected with fiber optic cables, and then we must provide Ethernet capability at a wall jack in every office, classroom, residence, and other appropriate location. As recommended by the Advisory Committee, we plan to install these connections over the next two years through a planned, building-by-building project rather than the more costly room-by-room "connection-on-demand" basis used in the past. We have set December 1997 as the target for completing this project and providing Ethernet capability to every room in every building on the central/science campus. At present, approximately 75 of these buildings and most of the buildings at the Medical School are already connected to the fiber optic network, though few have Ethernet jacks in every room. The exact timing of when each building will be completed depends on an ongoing engineering survey of the buildings and will take into account planned physical renovations to the buildings. The staffs of Data Network Operations and the Telecommunications Department will work with the Business Managers of every department on the central campus to plan and schedule the installation of network connections.