By Taimi Arvidson
Students beware: the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) could soon be able to watch college students’ Google searches and Facebook pokes.
Modifications to the Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act (CALEA) of 1994 would force schools to change their Internet networks so the government could better monitor online communications.
“[The FCC] is looking to take that umbrella of CALEA and stretch it over the Internet,” said Glenn Hill, information technology security manager.
According to the American Council of Education (ACE), it will cost colleges and universities approximately seven billion dollars to upgrade network systems. Terry W. Hartle, from the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, has estimated it will cost $450 per student in tuition, according to the New York Times.
According to Hill, many schools are in upheaval because they feel the new regulations would mean replacing already effective equipment with new equipment in order to be CALEA compliant. This would bring extra costs for universities already facing criticism for high tuition costs.
“The costs will be variable, but they’ll be there – it won’t be free,” Hill said.
Since the FCC has not articulated what schools will need to do in order to make networks compliant with the law it is difficult to estimate the effect this will have on tuition at Northeastern, Hill said.
In accordance with the CALEA regulations of 1994, Northeastern’s telephone networks are already available to the government. Under the current CALEA regulations, the government could gain access to Northeastern’s Internet servers several different ways, Hill said, including a search warrant.
The FCC wants to update the CALEA law because of national security concerns. However, many schools feel they have already built networks that support the cause and do not believe the government should implement a new law without offering schools assistance, Hill said. He suggested the FCC work more closely with schools.
“[There is an issue] with any kind of unfunded mandate-if they’re not putting the funds behind it, it’s problematic,” said Hill of the proposed amendments.
ACE , upset with the FCC’s movement toward updating the CALEA law, filed a suit on Oct. 24.
“In filing suit, we hope to convince the FCC that colleges and universities can provide the same access through alternative approaches without the need to incur the $7 billion expense of revamping our computer network systems. This alternative approach also would make it more efficient for law enforcement. When you evaluate efficiency versus the incredible cost of compliance, we just don’t think it makes a lot of sense,” said Sheldon E. Steinbach, ACE vice president and general counsel, on a news bulletin on their Web site.
Since education costs are already an issue, some think the law could create problems for educational institutions.
“I basically think that if the government is going to require universities to instill this program they should, if not fully fund, aid in the process. Forcing universities to raise tuition for this reason will place unnecessary economic stress on college students and their families,” said Anita Joseph, a freshman speech language pathology and audiology major.
Others, including Robert Negrotti, a freshman communications major, said the odds of college students being a threat to national security is slim.
“How many college kids participate in racketeering, terrorism and international drug smuggling through e-mail?” Negrotti said. “Seriously, the education budget is tight enough without stuff like this. The FCC should go back to babysitting prime time television and harassing Howard Stern.”
The new CALEA regulations would not be restricted to schools, said Hill. Changes to the law would also affect libraries, the wireless services in airports and commercial Internet access providers.
