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Whether students want to view class assignments while studying at Luvalle Commons or surf the Web during lecture, many have found the wireless access on campus to be spotty.

UCLA currently has wireless Internet in concentrated locations throughout campus, but has yet to employ a universal wireless program, which schools such as Johns Hopkins University and Dartmouth College have already installed.

Alfonso Cardenas, a professor of computer science, said UCLA has been working continuously on upgrades to provide a more secure and reliable wireless network.

“There has been a UCLA-wide effort to get a wireless network that is more integrative. We are proceeding in a more well-planned way and will be looking at what the model for wireless support will look like three to four years from now,” he said.

UCLA has continued to add more wireless hot spots since they were installed in November 2001. Most recently, wireless Internet has been installed in the Humanities Building and the residence hall lounges.

But UCLA’s attempts to install a campus-wide wireless network in 2004 fell short due to a lack of funds for installation and maintenance, the Daily Bruin reported.

As part of UCLA’s effort to upgrade its wireless system, the Information Technology Planning Board, whose primary goal is to manage UCLA’s computing resource policies and layouts, plans on Monday to briefly discuss long-term options for wireless support for personal computers.

The board is moving toward centralization of the current system, which consists of more than 40 different wireless Internet providers on campus. With a more centralized wireless system, all departmental login programs would be standardized, allowing access to all students and faculty.

Daniel Fabbri, undergraduate representative to the board, said the committee plans to consider increasing wireless coverage of the current hot spot program or upgrading completely to the more costly blanket wireless program in the future.

The Undergraduate Students Association Council expressed support for such a blanket wireless program, unanimously approving a resolution Tuesday night in support of implementing a campus-wide wireless Internet service at UCLA.

The resolution encourages UCLA to upgrade from the current “hot spot” wireless service to a “blanket” wireless program that would provide wireless Internet connection for the entire campus.

USAC Facilities Commissioner PC Zai said she compiled a list of suggestions from UCLA students about the current hot spot wireless program, which she referred to when drafting the resolution.

She said many students have complained about the unstable wireless Internet connection between campus hot spots as well as in South Campus laboratories and classrooms where multiple private networks do not allow open access for all students and faculty.

“A lot of students have said they have spotty wireless connection in Bunche Hall. They would also like to have wireless in Bunche Hall and the Student Activities Center, among other places,” she said.

Zai said she hopes the approved resolution will affect the board’s upcoming decision on potential upgrades of UCLA’s wireless service.

Some UCLA students say they have noticed the need for more reliable wireless Internet on locations across campus.

“The only place I can really use wireless is in Powell, which is a problem. Sometimes when I try to access (the Internet) in class and during lectures, it doesn’t work,” said Luiza Jibinlian, a second-year communication studies student.

While USAC came out in favor of a blanket wireless program, others do not see a need to change the current wireless program.

Nina Zhao, a first-year English student, said she believes a blanket wireless program is unnecessary.

“I don’t see a need to have wireless Internet everywhere on campus. I prefer to go to places like Powell, Ackerman or Kerckhoff where wireless is already available,” she said.

According to the resolution, with campus-wide wireless coverage, students would be able to access the Internet in outside areas that students could commonly use for collaborating on projects and for discussions.

Zai said she believes blanket wireless will help UCLA students be more “productive and competitive.”