Computing & Information Services

Computing Policy Committee Meeting
November 21, 2008
4:00 – 5:00 pm, ETC 309

Present: Alex Botero-Lowery, Lily Copenagle, Chris Deiss, Jim Fix, Michael Gottesman, Vickie Hanawalt, Christine Morita-McVey, Karen Perkins-Butzien, Marty Ringle, Jon Rivenburg, Robert Slifkin, Sonia Sabnis

Guest: Gary Norbraten

Absent: Ed McFarlane, Kathryn Oleson, Darrin Pufall, Kjersten Whittington

Jim Fix called to order at 4:05 pm.

1.    The minutes of the 10/17/08 CPC meeting were approved.

2.    The minor updates to Reed’s technology policies were approved.  Christine Morita-McVey will make the changes on the policy web pages.

3.    The committee reviewed the draft of the Cloud Computing Policy. Jon Rivenburg suggested that the first paragraph of this policy should reference “Apple or Google” rather than just “Google.”  Gary Norbraten suggested that CIS, not just ACS, should be contacted for secure computing needs.  The CPC agreed with both modifications and also agreed that Christine will update Reed’s Computer User Agreement to include the 3rd paragraph from the Cloud Computing Policy and add a link to this new policy page.

Jim reminded the committee that the Reed community should be notified of this policy. The CPC agreed with Chris Deiss’s suggestion that Gary Norbraten send an email to administrative users and that Marty send a shorter email message to faculty.

4.    Gary Norbraten, Director of Administrative Computing Services, joined the CPC to discuss the 3rd party confidentiality agreement. Gary asked the committee to review the document, noting that section 4.1 was the most difficult to draft because it deals with contractor access to data on Reed’s network. Chris asked if this contract would be applied to existing relationships?  Gary replied that while it’s undecided, acquiring signatures to the existing contractual relationships would be difficult.    Marty suggested that if the CPC endorses this agreement, then administrative offices should be notified and should revisit existing contracts.  Marty noted that there is a quarterly Administrative Users Group (AUG) meeting with ACS that includes department directors and a separate departmental AUG meeting that rotates through individual administrative departments.  Gary responded that in the most recent AUG directors’ meeting this draft was discussed. 

Marty asked for the CPC’s endorsement of this policy so that it can become one of Reed’s computing policies.  The CPC unanimously endorsed this policy.

5.    Marty began by describing the takedown notices sent by the RIAA when the RIAA believes there is infringement on a copyright. The Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) provides legal protection for ISPs when illegal activities occur on an ISP’s network.   If the RIAA believes illegal use of copyright material has occurred, a takedown notice is sent to that ISP. This notice identifies the property used, when the use occurred and the IP address involved.  In response to these notices, Reed has identified the person involved, contacted and confronted that person and required a response.  If the person denied illegally using copyrighted material, that person signs a letter to that effect and their network access is restored. If the person agrees that there was illegal use of copyrighted material, that person signs a letter acknowledging that it is illegal, against college policy and that the person will not do it again. Reed restores network access to first time, non-egregious offenders in a week.

Marty noted that last year the recording industry began issuing pre-litigation settlement letters all of which have settled out of court for about $4,000.  Reed received its’ first pre-litigation settlement letter this month not from the RIAA but from a third party representing the Zappa Family Trust (www.payartists.com). This company sought $10 from the person involved.  CIS followed the policy of forwarding letters to the person involved. Marty will continue to notify the CPC of these events.

Jim adjourned the meeting at 4:50 pm.

The next CPC meeting is Friday, 12/12 from 4:00 to 5:00 pm in ETC 309.