In order to preemptively avoid notices from outside companies, GW keeps a "Top Talker" list to monitor the top 20 computers exceeding the bandwidth quota on the GW network, said Alexa Kim, executive director of ISS Technology Services. Students on the list are contacted to determine whether they are using the network legally.
After three warnings, a student's network access may be severed until the end of the semester, she added.
Junior Alex Bellone has received four notices from the University - two each year - warning him that he was "using excessive bandwidth" and would lose his Internet connection unless he alters his online habits.
Bellone also received an e-mail from Student Technology Services saying that there was no "hard limit" to define excessive usage.
Duckworth, of the RIAA, said there has been "a general shift in mainstream news coverage to focus on the exciting legal services in the marketplace today." She added, however, that "there are individuals who choose to ignore this route and get low-quality music from illegal sites that often come bundled with damaging viruses and spy ware."
GW offered a free version of Napster, a legal downloading program, from 2004 to 2006. Due to lack of student participation, however, the University ended its contract with Napster for the service last year.
After three warnings, a student's network access may be severed until the end of the semester, she added.
Junior Alex Bellone has received four notices from the University - two each year - warning him that he was "using excessive bandwidth" and would lose his Internet connection unless he alters his online habits.
Bellone also received an e-mail from Student Technology Services saying that there was no "hard limit" to define excessive usage.
Duckworth, of the RIAA, said there has been "a general shift in mainstream news coverage to focus on the exciting legal services in the marketplace today." She added, however, that "there are individuals who choose to ignore this route and get low-quality music from illegal sites that often come bundled with damaging viruses and spy ware."
GW offered a free version of Napster, a legal downloading program, from 2004 to 2006. Due to lack of student participation, however, the University ended its contract with Napster for the service last year.
