[12062] in Commercialization & Privatization of the Internet
Net fee-for-service
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (blumberg@aol.com)
Tue May 3 20:08:46 1994
From: blumberg@aol.com
To: com-priv@psi.com
Date: Tue, 03 May 94 16:15:09 EDT
I am concerned about the general question of commercialization of the
internet. In particular, I am concerned that the increased traffic generated
will require a change in the basic billing structure. As I understand the
situation today, a user essentially pays for bandwidth or access to
bandwidth. I have heard talk of a change to a fee-for service model (ex. I
would get charged for each e-mail, ftp, etc.). This would, I fear, be
disasterous. One central feature of the internet is free information and if
you have to pay to connect to free information it's not free. Another
central feature of the internet is what I conceive of as "freedom of
movement". I can connect to anyone anywhere without worrying about the
connect charges. Take that away and you reduce the net to little more than a
long-distance carrier.
My thought is to suggest a "transaction tax" for the net: a small tax
imposed on all net financial transactions. The income from this tax could be
used to pay for increasing network capacity. Thus (i) all that is now free
would remain free, (ii) the essential characteristics of the net are
preserved, (iii) commercialization of the net pays its own way, and builds a
high-speed system for the rest of us to have fun with.
Any thoughts on these ideas?
-Matt Blumberg
**Free exchange of information is what makes the internet so effective. Free
exchange of information is threatened by a fee-for-service model. The
character of the Net, therefore, is threatened by a fee-for-service model.
**o
