Cuts by the Temer government threaten internet access for 740 universities.

247 - Michel Temer's internal government is expected to cut internet access to up to 740 university units in the country's interior by September. Funding for the National Research Network has fallen from R$258 million in 2015 to R$126 million in 2016, representing a 51% cut. 

The worst part: the funding that is usually provided in May has not yet been delivered. The Minister of Education in Dilma's government, Aloizio Mercadante, said that the loss of internet access in these 740 schools could leave profound consequences for the future of education, science, technology, and innovation in Brazil.

"The threat of interrupting internet access at the country's universities is very serious. It is a fundamental tool for both research and teaching," he said. The minister says the cut compromises the offering of distance learning courses at the affected universities and the Open University of Brazil, a priority program for training teachers in basic education.

Mercadante also recalls the strategic role of the National Research Network, responsible for the entire fiber optic network of these universities, in advancing science in the country. "Through the CAPES portal, Brazilian researchers have access, in real time, to the main scientific publications in the world. Furthermore, internet access was one of the advances responsible for us becoming the 13th country that produces the most science in specialized journals," argues the minister.

Reaction - The empty coffers led the network's general director, Nelson Simões, to send a letter to the directors of several teaching centers in the interior of Brazil and to ministers, warning of the possibility of the end of academic research. Up to 4 million people could be directly affected by the cuts, including professors, researchers, students, and patients at university hospitals. 

"If we don't receive the funding for this year between August and September, we will have to gradually cut some of these internet connections, starting with the most expensive ones," says Nelson Simões.

The National Research Network is present in all Brazilian states. High-performance cabling is responsible for bringing connectivity to more than 1.200 university campuses. However, it is the campuses in the interior of the states that cause concern, since their internet service has an individualized payment system due to the custom-made installations. 

It is thanks to the internet, for example, that students at federal universities throughout Brazil have classes via videoconference and direct contact with the international academic community. Surgeries and even the computerized control of medications in hospitals will cease to exist if the connection is cut off. 

Get a quote The funding allocated to the network is divided among the Ministries of Science and Technology, Education, Health, and Defense. The director of the physics department at the Federal University of Roraima, Roberto Câmara, says it will be impossible to maintain the level of education if the cuts are made.

"If the National Research Network were to stop today, we would go back in time in terms of teaching and research. It's what allows us to be familiar with what's happening both in the field of research and in the field of teaching, all over the world. Today, at the physics institute, we have studies of soil and materials, for example. In physics classes, we use the internet to make classes more attractive to students," enumerates Câmara. 

The director of services and solutions at the National Research Network, José Luiz Ribeiro, points out that internet outages can lead to other types of expenses, such as travel, which is currently compensated for by conferences, and telephone services, which are supplemented by emails.

"As we run out of resources to maintain active internet connections, universities will have to find their own solutions. This will imply higher costs," Ribeiro points out.

The other side - In a statement, the Ministry of Education (MEC) noted that it suffered a budget cut of R$ 6,4 billion. Even so, according to its press office, the amount transferred will be similar to that of 2015. However, the date for the deposit was not specified.

The Ministry of Science, Technology and Communications has announced that the transfer of funds to the National Research Network this year is only expected to take place in September, once the management contract is signed. While not specifying the amount to be transferred, the ministry confirmed that the allocation will be lower than in 2015. This is due to budget cuts approved within the Annual Budget Law.