The idea of a University-wide data network goesback to the mid-1980s, when the Office forInformation Technology (OIT) decided to run twosets of wires to each room on campus. One of thewires is used for telephone connection, and theother used for data.

"It was an investment in the future at thattime," says Holmes, who is one of the project'sarchitects.

But the lack of general direction and theuncertainty about the costs of building such anetwork held back its implementation for severalyears. Many students, notably the Harvard ComputerSociety, voiced their strong support for a campusnetwork, but little was done to make use of thedata wires.

The scene changed with the arrival of PresidentRudenstine. Soon after he took office in July1991, Rudenstine, who had overseen themodernization of Princeton's facilities whileserving as provost there, promised to take aserious look into proposals to bring digitaltechnology to Harvard.

In early 1992, a committee consisting of 12senior faculty and administrators was appointed byJeremy R. Knowles, who had just become dean of theFAS, to investigate the need for better computertechnology. The faculty members representedvarious fields in the natural and social sciencesas well as the humanities.

In its report released in May 1992, thecommittee made a number of recommendations. At topof the list was "a state-of-the-arthigh-speed-data-network that pervasively linksstudents, scholars, and administrators."

The project is overseen by three Universityoffices: the Standing Committee on InformationTechnology, a body of eight faculty members andone undergraduate that advises on and coordinatesthe project; the OIT, which is responsible forlaying down the cables and selling Ethernet cards;and the Harvard Arts and Sciences ComputerServices (HASCS), whose staff develops andmaintains the communication software.

"Our strategy is to put in the fiber asinexpensively as possible in a massive way," saysPaul C. Martin '52, dean of the Division ofApplied Sciences.

According to Martin, who serves on the StandingCommittee report issued in May 1992 aboutconstructing a FAS-wide network, the fiber opticnetwork will cost less than $1 million. "We workvery hard to keep that price down," says Martin.

"The total cost depends on how studentsrespond," adds Martin. The more students opt forgetting connected to the network, the higher thecost will be, since additional switching devicesand technical support will be needed toaccommodate high demands.

The project is primarily underwritten by twoHarvard alumni, according to Martin. Operatingexpenses will be met by private donations.

But this arrangement has some worried. "I don'tthink the University understands the kind ofcommitment that needs to be made," says Bossert,who served on the Standing Committee last year. Hebelieves that the University should put morefinancial resources into the project.

According to some University officials, oneproblem with is that the network support staff istoo small. Some say this may result in poorresponses to students' needs and alienate somepotential users.

"It's not just about putting the wires out,"says Bossert. "We'll need a good staff to developand maintain software" as well as resolve anytechnical problems students may encounter.

According to Richard S. Steen, acting directorof HASCS, technicians will provide on-siteservices to help students deal with anydifficulties.