Internet connectivity is fast becoming the norm for all computers, both home and office.

• Recent demographic studies show that 50% of U.S. homes now own a personal computer.
• Other surveys show that about 86 million people in North America connect to the Internet on a regular basis.

Both figures are increasing at a very rapid rate.

Furthermore, high speed alternatives will soon replace modems as the preferred communication tools. Two competing technologies are:

1. Cable modems (e.g. Road Runner) offering ethernet speeds on a shared line
2. DSL (e.g. InfoSpeed) offering 640 Kilobaud speed on a private line.

Both cost about $40 per month, but provide communication services at least ten times faster than the best analog modems while experiencing far fewer communication errors than modems. As these technologies mature, it is very likely that they will become more cost/effective either by reducing the connection costs or bundling additional services.

At present, cable modems are the preferred technology. Experts indicate that DSL represents superior technology, but the telephone companies have been much slower to market the service and are currently burdening the service with very expensive installation costs along with widespread consumer complaints of shoddy service.

Some impacts of universal connectivity

• New workstyles as connectivity no longer require employer and employee to be at the same location.
• Everyone is becoming an information worker.
• Wireless networking in the home changes how people interact with information.
• What are the boundaries to campus?
• The College's role as an Internet Service Provider.