Students looking to use television sets in their dormitory rooms next year will likely have to spend several hundred dollars on "set top boxes," devices that make a traditional television set compatible with Dartmouth's new television system.
Currently Dartmouth uses both a traditional cable system and DarTV, which operates over the campus ethernet system and is viewed on computers. The traditional cable system, however, is scheduled to be shut down this June -- leaving the DarTV system as the only campus-wide television option.
While DarTV allows students to view television on their computers, the system requires the use of a set top box to convert the signal from the campus network into a traditional cable signal for display on a television set.
The set top boxes were introduced in several dormitories this year in what Director of Network Services Frank Archambeault called a pilot program. DarTV is already the only available option in dorms like the McLaughlin cluster, Tuck Mall and the two most recently renovated buildings in the Choates. Some residents of these dormitories leased set top boxes from Computing Services after putting down a $100 deposit this fall.
Next year, however, the set top boxes will be necessary for all those wishing to have personal television sets, and will likely be available for purchase only.
"Our position right now is that it's going to be a purchase of the set top box," Archambeault said. Though he could not name an exact price, Archambeault estimated that the cost to students could reach $300.
Student Assembly's Student Services Committee has been working with Network Services to develop other less costly distribution plans. Ideas include making the set top boxes a standard issue item with rooms and then charging students for damages, or permanently instituting a lease system similar to the one used this year.
The Assembly's Student Services chair Harshil Shah '09 said that as of yet the two groups have not reached a compromise.
"What we deliver is television on your computer," Archambeault said. "If you want to go beyond that, then much like you'd have to buy the TV or buy any cables or other devices, this is a piece that helps you support the TV."
Archambeault said that Network Services did not initially anticipate the need for many set top boxes, as students will still have the option of watching television on their computers using DarTV. He also noted that set top boxes will be provided for all televisions in common areas, such as dormitory lounges.
"What we have heard from students is that watching TV on laptops isn't really what they want to do," Archambeault said. "If they're watching a common show they don't want to gather around a computer."
Network Services is currently exploring the option of involving Evolving Vox, a temporary ownership business started by Jack Groetzinger '07 and Russell D'Souza '07, in the distribution process.
But members of the Student Services committee are concerned that a program run by Evolving Vox would result in a higher cost to students than would a similar program run by the College.
"Unless there is a student outcry this might be a dead end," Shah said. "We certainly hope not."
Although a BlitzMail message was sent to students during the Fall term explaining the development, many students said that they were unaware of the impending change and would be unwilling to pay such a high cost.
"It would still be like $100 per person, even if it was split among three people, which is the worst possible option," Kim Wade '09 said.
Archambeault, however, stressed the value of the new technology, noting that the old traditional cable system was in disrepair and unable to support newer technology like high-definition television.
"The campus made a very large investment in this technology," Archambeault said. "It's tomorrow's technology and we are out in front of a lot of our peers in providing this service."
- Staff reporter Amanda Cohen contributed reporting for this article.
