[10924] in Commercialization & Privatization of the Internet
Re: The FCC strikes the Internet (fwd)
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Miles R Fidelman)
Mon Mar 14 18:55:51 1994
Date: Mon, 14 Mar 1994 12:09:32 -0500 (EST)
From: Miles R Fidelman <fidelman@civicnet.org>
To: com-priv@psi.com
In-Reply-To: <199403140751.XAA02960@netcom9.netcom.com>
On Sun, 13 Mar 1994, Glenn S. Tenney wrote:
> >Neither I, nor The Center for Civic Networking, have ever espoused a
> >position in favor of mandated, flat-rate email service. I/we agree with
> >those who point out that cheap email is already a reality.
> >
> >Rather, we have espoused a goal of universal, cheap, flat-rate IP service.
>
> Then, Miles, could you please clarify the following statement from The
> Center for Civic Networking re: the flat-rate email proposal from Jamie
> Love (I included a few extra lines for context, but the last two sentences
> are the key):
>
> At 12:24 PM 2/25/94 -0500, Richard Civille wrote:
> > On Thu, 24 Feb 1994, Johna Johnson wrote:
> >> In other words, we're talking a regulated basic rate service offered by
> >> some carriers, with additional services offered by any interested
> >> carriers?
> >This is close to our view. We believe not only that Internet email will
> >become the model for a future basic service, we also believe that a
> >flat-rate tariffed "pipeline" to government and public information
> >disseminated over the Internet -- the precursor to the NII -- is very
> >important to consider in the present legislative debates in Washington.
> >What is important is that the flat-rate, capacity-based pricing principle
> >of the Internet is preserved, when the net is accessed through a telco
> >common carrier or a cable-based service. This is why we support the
> >notion of a flat-rate basic Internet tariff. Whether such a tariff should
> >be constrained only to email is another issue and I could imagine cases
> >where it should be expanded.
>
> The last sentence sure sounds as if The Center for Civic Networking *WAS*
> supporting the flat-rate email initiative. Perhaps the problem is that
> some people view access to the Internet to *BE* email rather than IP
> service.
>
I think this is a case of late night writing :(
**************************************************************************
Miles R. Fidelman mfidelman@civicnet.org
Executive Director 91 Baldwin St. Charlestown MA 02129
The Center for Civic Networking 617-241-9205 fax: 617-241-5064
Check out our gopher server:
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Information Infrastructure: Public Spaces for the 21st Century
Let's Start With: Internet Wall-Plugs Everywhere
Then We Can Worry About: "Switched, Interactive, Broadband Services"
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