Search for replacement telephone and cable service continues

Tufts is currently exploring proposals from 14 telephone and cable television companies to replace the current provider, PaeTec, for next year. The University's contract with PaeTec expires in August and will not be renewed, due to problems with the service earlier in the year.

Possible providers under consideration include AT&T, Sprint, WorldCom, and Verizon, as well as several cable and cellular phone companies, according to Marj Minnigh, the manager of networks and special projects for Tufts Computer and Communications Services (TCCS).

Tufts may also decide to run all or part of the telephone or cable service itself. In such an instance, Tufts might control the physical on-campus network and billing and connect to an outside company capable of providing the cable channels and telephone service.

Quality and reliability are important considerations in selecting a new provider, Minnigh said, but price will be more important for the telephone service than for the cable service, since cable TV prices are currently regulated by the state.

In evaluating prospective cable providers, "we are primarily looking at reliability and expanded channels," Minnigh said. The new service may include different tiers, allowing students to pick the channels they would watch.

But telephone service is unlikely to change much, so pricing plans are likely to be the deciding factor, Minnigh said. The committee is also looking for companies that offer a tiered selection of rate plans

The University is also discussing with wireless phone companies the possibility of offering students mobile phones with special rate plans.

TCCS and the Tufts Community Union Senate are currently conducting an online survey about telephone service to incorporate student opinion into the selection process.

"Student input is very important to us, and we're always looking for ways to find out what students are looking for," Minnigh said.

Problems with PaeTec, the current phone and cable provider, arose initially at the beginning of the academic year when in-room telephone service _ even on-campus calling _ was cut off for those students who did not order service. Last year, on-campus calling was left enabled even for those students who did not order service.

PaeTec then agreed to an on-campus-only calling service with no voice mail for about $20 a month, but many students were still not satisfied.