[12097] in Commercialization & Privatization of the Internet
seeking source of non answers to commercial use questions
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Gordon Cook)
Thu May 5 05:22:56 1994
From: cook@path.net (Gordon Cook)
Date: Thu, 5 May 1994 05:46:40 GMT
To: com-priv@psi.com
Here is a FOIA request for the review process documents that
allowed Steve Wolff to decide NOT to answer the questions asked in
May 1993 by COOK Network Consultants, Bellcore, Ameritech,
Advantis, and NCAR on commercial use of the vBNS - defining such
questions as non substantive despite the earlier controversy
surrounding his handling of commercial use with ANS CO+RE. Since
Steve let a FOIA go unanswered for 30 calender days late last year I
thought I'd offer public notice that the clock is ticking.
COOK Network Consultants
431 Greenway Avenue
Ewing, NJ 08618
(609) 882-2572
Internet: cook@path.net
M. E. Schoolmaster May 5, 1994
FOIA Officer, Room 1245
National Science Foundation
4201 Wilson Blvd.
Arlington, VA 22230
Dear Ms. Schoolmaster:
This is a Freedom of Information Act Request focused on the
communications of Stephen Wolff Director of DNCRI. I am still
seeking to learn where Dr. Wolff receives his policy direction for
matters dealing with NSF 93-52. The subject is commercial use of
the vBNS. NSF was asked questions about commercial use of the
vBNS in May 1993 by myself and Bellcore, Ameritech, Advantis and
NCAR. Despite the controversy over the previous round of
commercial use as reported by the NSF Office of Inspector General in
April 1993, Wolff answered none of these questions in Amendment 2
to the solicitation issued on June 23rd 1993. Since Wolff stated then
that this ammedment contained the answer to all substantive
questions and reiterated this statement in electronic mail to Joe
Stroup on November 30 1993, I am seeking documents that would
help explain how he possibly could have reached this decision. In
the absence of any such documents I shall assume that the
Foundation allows him to set controversial policy without review -
something that the IG Review recommended against in April of last
year, shortly before the decision about which questions should be
answered was made. With this in mind I wish all copies of
communications between Dr Wolff and Walter Massey, Frederick
Bernthal, the current NSF Director Neal .Lane, Charles Brownstein,
Mel Ciment, and Dr. Donald A. B. Lindberg, (in his capacity of
Director of the High Performance Computing and Communications
Office) at the National Library of Medicine, and Jack Gibbons or Mike
Nelson in OSTP and Vice President Gore.
I wish copies of all electronic mail, letters, memos or other
documents. And please note that the term "documents" is intended
to have the broadest possible meaning and encompass, without
limitation, anything included within the definition of "writings" or
"recordings" set forth in Rule 1001(1) of the Federal Rules of
Evidence. Furthermore I wish not only email sent and received on
US government machines but email relevant to these matters sent or
received on private services such as America Online where Dr. Wolff
stated publicly on April 29 that he has a "personal" account.
I am the editor and publisher of The COOK Report on Internet ->
NREN, a monthly newsletter on the policy and politics of the
emerging NREN and on-going commercialization of the Internet. I
have paid subscribers across the United States and in Japan and in
Singapore. My newsletter is specifically cited by name in recently
published books on the Internet by Paul Gilster and Mary Cronin.
This information is for use in my newsletter and in other published
research on this subject. I understand that because I am a member
of the press I will not be charged for the expense of collecting or
duplicating this material.
Sincerely,
Gordon Cook
