Universities across the US have been at war with P2P for a while now, but this is more than a little bit ridiculous. In an attempt to manage their network, Ohio University has banned access to Netflix. A copy of the university’s email was originally posted to Reddit
“OHIO Students,
Due to extremely high demand, the university’s Internet connection currently does not have enough capacity to meet service expectations and results in noticeably slow connections at times. Traffic analyses have shown streaming media usage accounts for nearly two-thirds of our current demand, with Netflix being the largest single consumer of our Internet capacity. In an effort to free up the bandwidth faculty and students need to complete academic online tasks during finals week, the university will be instituting a temporary limit on the total bandwidth available for Netflix traffic. The restriction will go into effect this evening, Monday, March 14 at 6:00 pm. OIT appreciates your patience as this temporary corrective action is taken. We welcome and encourage your thoughts on a more permanent solution as we engage the university in planning on this critical issue.
Best regards, J. Brice Bible Chief Information Officer”
I’m not sure whether or not this will boost grades at the school, but it does say a lot about how popular Netflix is becoming. While this may be a temporary fix for the school, it isn’t a very good long term bandaid. The internet is more important than it’s ever been and students need access to a robust network to participate in that. If the school can’t keep up with demand, their customers (the students) will leave for places where they have unlimited bandwidth. Even if the school doesn’t upset their students, it’s not going to stop digital video consumption. A ban on Netflix will only drive their students underground where illegitimate sources of content can fulfill their entertainment needs.
#1 by BAH! on March 15, 2011 - 3:07 pm
Netflix was never banned. The attempt was to reduce the bandwidth available for use by netflix. That plan was changed into instituting bandwidth caps on residence halls until a more suitable option can be found.
This was a perfectly appropriate response as Netflix traffic has been impeding the ability to access academic resources.
#2 by A Student on March 15, 2011 - 8:49 pm
Thats patently ridiculous. As an actual student the network rarely experienced problems until a few weeks ago when service became temperamental. Yes streaming video was a little slow, but critical academic services
#3 by An Actual Student on March 15, 2011 - 9:12 pm
The above poster’s statement is patently ridiculous and an obvious damage control post by the university. As an actual student the network rarely experienced problems until a few weeks ago when service became temperamental. Yes streaming video was a little slow, but critical academic services were never disrupted. Blocking access completely to a specific site without telling students is downright insulting as well as morally shady. I’m glad that the University’s draconian attempt to impose arbitrary restrictions behind the student bodies back backfired and they deserve all the negative attention they will get from this. Net Neutrality is a hot-button issue and actions like this only prove the point that the internet should not and cannot be restrained.
Thats enough soapboxing for now. What really is disheartening is the clear runaround I was given while personally dealing with the Tech Dept during this “crisis”. Trying to contact the help desk for information was met with repeated stone walling until FINALLY I get an email simply saying that ” We recently implemented changes to prioritization of our current Internet bandwidth for critical academic services located in the Ohio University data center.” Really? The network is finally over capacity? I remember last quarter the internet was just fine AND you got an increase in bandwidth as well but now “AUGH NETFLIX IS DESTROYING US! SHUT DOWN EVERYTHING.” I call shenanigans. With all the money we blow on our crappy football team we can buy two or three more server racks? But hey, nothing I can really do but sit back and be screwed because OhioU IT is being anything but transparent. Thanks alot.
#4 by Morally Shady? on March 16, 2011 - 7:39 am
Internet connectivity is a privilege, not a right.
#5 by Davis Freeberg on March 16, 2011 - 7:55 am
@Morally Shady – You and I will have to disagree on this point. I’ve witnessed first hand how people can use the internet to pull themselves out of poverty, to educate themselves and yes sometimes to entertain themselves too. I think it’s a travesty that we have programs that allow the poor to get dial up phones for very cheap, but don’t require the same access for broadband. The extra speed may not seem important, but it’s a huge advantage that the haves use over the have nots. If a “modern” university doesn’t provide unrestricted bandwidth, then those students are being cheated out of their future. How can you expect to get to the cutting edge, if you’re using rudimentary tools?
#6 by Paul on March 21, 2011 - 6:14 pm
Guys, try using my new app flixswap.net/facebook. It shows you which of your friends want to see the same movies as you want and thereby reduce the load of your internet connection !
#7 by Student @ OU on March 29, 2011 - 10:00 am
@ Morally Shady…not when I’m paying for it… Thats like having your power cut after you pay the electric bill and having the company tell you its a service not a right.
This is the biggest load of garbage that I have ever heard. Over the break my connection hit speeds that AOL dialup would have been embarrassed by 5 Kb/sec, speedguide.net. I called IT and the said the server was at capacity from 10 am – 3 am… and that they didn’t have the money to upgrade the bandwith….well then what is my $500 per quarter tech fee paying for??? and what is the additional fee they imposed on me starting last year for a TECHNOLOGY NETWORK UPGRADE GOING TOWARDS?!?! I am paying a specific fee to upgrade this garbage… wheres that money? probably in McDavis a$$, or the football team.
Furthermore, the net was “working” two weeks ago before they “recently implemented changes prioritizing on server services”…then after these changes everything crashed….and don’t blame Netflix, I seriously doubt that Netflix has miraculously added 1/2 the student population at OU the week before finals week.
I blame OUIT, FIX UR SH!T AND STOP SCREWING US!
P.S. Blackboard Blows….everyone knows it now get rid of it.