Ten Essentials of Bulk Internet Access for Student Housing Management Part Two

By Henry Pye | Dec 30, 2011

Yesterday in Part 1, I discussed five essential student housing management guidelines that should consider when delivering bulk high-speed Internet access to its residents. Part 2 looks at five more considerations that will help you bring high-quality Internet services to your student residents.

6. Equipment

The network equipment needed to deliver high-speed Internet access must be maintained, repaired and upgraded during a contract term. Providers are better suited for these responsibilities than the owner. Having providers responsible for equipment also helps ensure service-level guarantees and avoid finger pointing when challenges arise.

7. Legal Liabilities

Bulk high-speed Internet agreements must address responsibility for network security and compliance with service-related legal requirements (including those imposed by the Digital Millennium Copyright Act and the Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act). A service provider must be obligated to maintain network security, comply with legal requirements, and indemnify the property owner and manager for related claims.

8. TV Everywhere

TV Everywhere is roughly the online version of a traditional linear or on-demand video offering from a cable, telco or satellite company. It requires close coordination of video and data services. Increasingly, whether students can use TV Everywhere will determine their satisfaction with both video and high-speed Internet access services at their community. Additionally, TV Everywhere could also dramatically affect network management, site bandwidth and related costs.

9. Convergence

TV Everywhere is just one example of how cable TV and high-speed Internet are increasingly interrelated or converging. As these services converge, coordination will be critical. Obviously, it is easier if the same vendor provides both services. If different vendors are chosen for the two services, providing converged products may be impractical. Moreover, because of shared overhead, one provider can often offer both services more cost effectively than two providers.

10. Outside Help

Negotiating bulk Internet proposals and agreement documents requires specialized skill and experience. Although some owners and managers may have dedicated personnel with the needed skill sets, many find it necessary to seek outside assistance.

Increasingly, top-tier providers of high-speed Internet access to student communities offer suites of services to assist operations. These services range from messaging systems that log residents’ acknowledgments of messages received to slow-down functions that reduce Internet connection speeds for residents who are late to pay rent. Going forward, these additional benefits may expand to further assist owners and operators with leasing and the annual turn at student communities.

What are some of your issues or questions about providing bulk high-speed Internet access at your student housing communities?