CUTV coming to Cornell's residence halls soon

Cornell's departments of Campus Life and Cornell Information Technologies are partnering to introduce a campus television service delivered through data network connections in Cornell's residence halls. Beginning Aug. 20, students living on campus will have the option of purchasing this new Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) service, dubbed "CUTV."

Viewable on Windows-based PCs or on a standard television using an ethernet-based set-top box, CUTV offers 50 channels of news and entertainment programming. Channels available on CUTV are provided by Time Warner Inc., bringing many of the familiar cable TV channels as a data stream to network jacks instead of delivery through traditional coaxial cable.

IPTV refers to the technical capability to deliver video programming and content through an organization's existing data network. While the physical media of an organization's data network may vary, the transfer of information across those networks is typically based on widely accepted Internet Protocol (IP) standards for data exchange -- hence the expression "IPTV." CUTV is Cornell's brand of IPTV.

The CUTV video delivery service is designed to deliver cable programming to all 6,000 students residing in Campus Life's 44 residence halls via data ports equipped with a minimum of 10/100 mbps ethernet capability. IPTV possesses unique features in entertainment content and delivery platform.

Cornell's undergrads already have had the opportunity to view CUTV and provide feedback at a demonstration during Campus Life's Room Selection Process. Response to CUTV, gathered through an informal survey, has been overwhelmingly positive.

Details of service delivery, including pricing, will be finalized within the coming months. Service to residents will begin as students arrive on campus this August for the opening of the fall 2005 semester.

Questions on CUTV can be directed to Don Sevey, campus life director of information technologies, 255-0857, or Kevin Feeney, CIT's senior information technology engineer for network and communication services, 255-5186.