The Internet is drawing controversy again, but this time it’s not about pornography or addictive cyber-relationships. It’s about free Internet access for Iowa’s public universities.

After passing in the Iowa Senate last night students could lose dial-up access to the Internet from off-campus locations if the bill is signed by Gov. Branstad.

That’s disturbing. The Internet has a very real educational value. It’s a value that comes regardless of price, one that ought to be free.

Apparently, a legislator introduced the bill after telephone companies complained they couldn’t compete with the state-owned Iowa Communications Network (ICN) that provides the currently free-to-students service to ISU and other schools.

Instead of focusing on dollars, Iowa lawmakers should be concerned with education. This is especially true if Iowa keeps calling itself the best education state.

Breaking the ties between the Internet and a quality university education is not a wise decision.

The Information Superhighway is an essential and important educational tool. Even President Clinton thinks so. He wants to connect every school in the nation to it.

Free service would still be available to dorm residents, but that hardly seems fair to the other half of the student body.

It doesn’t seem logical to hinder access to a vehicle where university students have the opportunity to learn about scores of information from around the world. This is especially contradictory in a state where the regent schools are supposed to be fostering a diverse and enlightening educational experience.

Iowa lawmakers need to keep the Internet free to continue student access to a world of information.