[1347] in Commercialization & Privatization of the Internet
Re: Questions: ANS Plan for Commercial Services
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Laura Breeden)
Mon Sep 16 18:40:07 1991
Date: Mon, 16 Sep 91 15:39:41 PDT
From: Laura Breeden <breeden@farnet.org>
To: ittai@shemesh.ans.net, schoff@psi.com
Cc: breeden@farnet.org, com-priv@uu.psi.com, proll@casbah.acns.nwu.edu
Gentle readers of com-priv,
A few comments from FARNETs executive director.
I think it is fair to say that a number of people who are
associated with FARNET participated in or commented on the
development of an ANS plan for handling settlements. This
does not mean that any of those individuals necessarily endorse
the current plan. There has been no official endorsement by FARNET
of any plan (nor has there been a condemnation).
It is up to prospective customers of ANS to decide whether
the proposals that ANS offers them meet their business
needs.
FARNET, for the record, is a voluntary association of network
service providers. ANS, PSI, and most of the state and regional
networks that attach to the NSFNET backbone are members. We work
to define areas of common interest among the members and to
develop programs to satisfy those interests. Among the areas
we have identified are improving user services, raising the
visibility of our members, and bringing new communities into
the networking arena (K-12 is a good example).
FARNET would probably die a quick death if it spent its
limited energy trying to make peace between ANS and PSI :-).
Speaking personally, I believe that both the CIX and the ANS
combits plan are sincere attempts to grapple with the
commercialization of teh Internet. It remains to be seen
which model will prevail, or whether, in fact, they will
come to resemble each other more over time, like old
married couples. (`Bill, meet Al. You two have a lot
in common.`)
The Montana meeting was designed to look at a spectrum
of issues, with the core question being `what should inter-
regional connectivity look like after 1992?` We
explicitly rejected looking at that question from a
narrow viewpoint and are working to produce a document
for NSF that will present the issues as fully as we can,
with some recommendations about how to proceed.
The document will be public as soon as it is complete
(early in October).
Rest assured that NSF will listen to all comers and
welcomes input on the subject. The FARNET membership
are important stakeholders in the NREN, but they
are by no means the only stakeholders.
Thanks for your time and attention.
Laura Breeden
Executive Director
FARNET
