Pictured Above: USF St. Petersburg students were told by Campus Computing that a $15 monthly fee is required to access the ethernet connection.
Patrick Tobin | The Crow’s Nest
By Annalise Anderson
USF St. Petersburg students living on campus are adding another expense to their college bill.
Campus housing WiFi servers are lagging due to an influx of student online activity, a recurring problem each year. In the past, ethernet connectivity has also been available to students who wish to receive free, uninterrupted internet service.
However, students are now being asked by USF St. Petersburg Campus Computing to pay a $15 fee each month in order to access the ethernet connection.
According to the Campus Computing website, housing facility ethernet ports were deactivated July 1. It states that the ports can be activated but “may require” a monthly fee.
In a phone call to the Campus Computing Help Desk for further information, the Help Desk associate recited the information found on the department’s website and could not confirm if ethernet connectivity was previously free to students.
“It really seems like Computing is holding ethernet hostage,” said Kayla Reed, a junior environmental science and policy major. “I hope that students don’t have to end up paying extra for good internet. We pay almost $5,000 a semester to live here, reliable internet should be included in that price.”
Housing administration has told residents that it is negotiating this new fee with Campus Computing.
