[12019] in Commercialization & Privatization of the Internet
Re: Fwd: Short substantive EFF policy question
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Karl Denninger)
Mon May 2 15:21:12 1994
From: karl@mcs.com (Karl Denninger)
To: frezza@radiomail.net (Bill Frezza)
Date: Mon, 2 May 1994 10:57:52 -0500 (CDT)
Cc: farber@central.cis.upenn.edu, djw@eff.org, com-priv@psi.com,
stahlman@radiomail.net, dbuck@world.std.com, ggilder@mcimail.com,
gbolles@radiomail.net, rre-maintainers@weber.ucsd.edu,
Sam_Boyle@mcimail.com, brodsky@radiomail.net, mech@eff.org
In-Reply-To: <199405021347.AA04606@radiomail.net> from "Bill Frezza" at May 2, 94 06:47:22 am
>
> Stanton,
>
> Two weeks ago you committed to provide an authoritative answer to a few
> basic questions submitted to the EFF on its envisioned funding mechanisms
> for ensuring Guaranteed Universal Service on the 'Information
> SuperHighway'. To date, we have not heard from you or anyone else from
> the EFF that was copied on these questions.
>
> Could it be that the EFF issued its Open Platform 2.0 policy without
> thinking this through? Could it be that the EFF doesn't really want people
> to think about these issues as it pursues its ambitious fund raising
> program?
>
> The questions are repeated below for your convenience. Many of us would
> still be interested in hearing your answers.
Yeah, like a lot of us.
It is seriously amusing (NOT) to some of us that the "EFF" comes off as a
shill for regulated monopoly interests when they publish these treatises.
Frankly, I find it alarming that the EFF, and Mitch Kapor in particular
(who made his money by being a <capitalist>) now want to impose a
regulatory burden on the providers of this service that will insure that
only RBOCs and cable TV companies end up "serving the public".
Then we will have measured service as the only way to get into the net.
Commercial providers are doing an EXCELLENT job of providing Internet to
the public right now. To those who say that "but you don't cover East
Podunk, USA" I say "Go after the damn telco tariffs that LEGALLY PREVENT
the provision of flat-rate inter-LATA telephone service, and this problem
becomes a non-issue". Flat-rate Internet access, and CHEAP timed access is
already available from HUNDREDS of providers. Unleash us from the
REGULATED, "IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST" (NOT!) telco chain and you'll have your
accessibility.
Oh, and those who want to claim that "but you need a computer to access
the net" need to gopher over to "www.mcs.net" and read our announcement
regarding the North Suburban Library System deal we just signed. It
should dispell THAT piece of nonsense. I would hope that the way we
went about this becomes a model for other systems nationwide.
Those who would like to argue that the Internet is an entitlement, IMHO,
should go crawl in a hole. We have too many "entitlements" in this society
as it is.
I hear a lot of noise about "high speed access to the home, cheap!". What
isn't explained is how that's going to get paid for. I am the President of
this company, and I cannot afford "high speed" access to MY home, despite
the fact that MCSNet has more than a half-million bucks of infrastructure
in place here in Chicago! Dial-up packet mode (PPP & SLIP) access is
sufficient for me, it brings the Internet home, and until the cost of
bandwidth and the support equipment for it drops it is the most reasonable
and economical method for individuals to get to the net.
Its also available <right now>.
I consider the EFF's continued silence to the questions raised to be
indicitive of malevolent intent and as such have withdrawn any and all
support of all EFF positions and policies until such questions are answered
in full.
--
--
Karl Denninger (karl@MCS.Net)| MCSNet - Full Internet Connectivity (shell,
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