A Slow Network in a Fast-Moving World

If you go around and ask any student on campus, they will tell you that the Internet speeds on campus at Kennesaw State University are horrendous right now. I live on the Marietta campus, and each day I encounter download speeds around 5-6Mbps (when the traffic on the network is low), and many times downloads will show speeds of mere Kbps. For a technical school, this is infuriating. Whether it be for instructional files, videos, or personal use, this network connection cannot suffice. Videos buffer, streams stutter, files take an eternity to download... it's just awful. When running a network speed test, you'll notice ping is excellent, as well as upload speed, but it becomes blatantly obvious that download speeds are being excessively throttled. Nowadays, students most definitely have more than one device that utilizes WiFi, so this is a great hindrance. I've been told by many that the speeds on the Marietta campus used to be great, until recent years. If this university is going to improve and grow, the network has to grow with it. Hopefully this plead can be answered.

If the network speeds were improved, this would not only improve browsing speeds, but this could open up opportunities to video chat professors or peers about assignments/subjects, allow for study videos to be watched uninterrupted, and much more.

Net Neutrality:

"Net neutrality is the principle that all Internet traffic should be treated equally. It guarantees a level playing field for all Web sites and Internet technologies. With Net Neutrality, the network's only job is to move data—not to choose which data to privilege with higher quality service.

Adopted on February 26, 2015, the Federal Communication Commission's Open Internet rules are designed to protect free expression and innovation on the Internet and promote investment in the nation's broadband networks. The Open Internet rules are grounded in the strongest possible legal foundation by relying on multiple sources of authority, including: Title II of the Communications Act and Section 706 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996. The new rules apply to both fixed and mobile broadband service.

Bright Line Rules:

No Blocking: broadband providers may not block access to legal content, applications, services, or non-harmful devices.

No Throttling: broadband providers may not impair or degrade lawful Internet traffic on the basis of content, applications, services, or non-harmful devices.

No Paid Prioritization: broadband providers may not favor some lawful Internet traffic over other lawful traffic in exchange for consideration of any kind—in other words, no "fast lanes." This rule also bans ISPs from prioritizing content and services of their affiliates."

Thank you for listening.

Sincerely,

Evan Welch