[11518] in Commercialization & Privatization of the Internet
What's an ISP again...?
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Barry Shein)
Tue Apr 5 07:08:12 1994
Date: Tue, 5 Apr 1994 04:16:10 -0400
From: bzs@world.std.com (Barry Shein)
To: tenney@netcom.com
Cc: com-priv@psi.com
In-Reply-To: Glenn S. Tenney's message of Mon, 4 Apr 1994 23:50:25 -0800 <199404050650.XAA12986@netcom9.netcom.com>
Look, all I am saying is that the CIX provides what I perceive as a
useful service, and one that no doubt costs them money to coordinate.
Turning that into a fair price is another matter altogether, but
$10K/yr/member doesn't strike me as outlandish on the surface.
Perhaps part of that feeling comes from a short period before they
were formed when I (and others) fretted that this might well become a
big, big problem, how do the nets interconnect in some way that does
not tear the net apart with sweetheart deals and backroom dealings?
The word "balkanized" was a major theme on this and other lists around
that time.
Then the CIX appeared and it all seemed at least momentarily resolved.
It was the right idea at the right time, it was a good idea, it was
what we (the net community) needed and provided its services for mere
money (i.e. no muscular organization calling the shots, perhaps
killing smaller players in their infancy, etc.)
I have no doubt that the idea will evolve, its early role almost
necessitates that, the net is changing continuously. But let's keep
things in perspective and not demonize that which was basically trying
to be helpful when no one else had an idea.
-Barry Shein
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