[6] in Commercialization & Privatization of the Internet
re: Cygnus / Alternet dispute has settled down
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Craig Partridge)
Tue Oct 16 13:06:27 1990
To: gnu@toad.com
Cc: com-priv@psi.com
From: Craig Partridge <craig@NNSC.NSF.NET>
Date: Tue, 16 Oct 90 12:18:18 -0400
[First, lest folks be confused -- these are my own views, not those of
BBN, nor the NSF, despite my e-mail address]
> * Who exactly can we talk to on the NSFnet? (I've got to say
> that Stephen Wolff's response to my questions was the limpest
> excuse for a non-answer I've seen since I left bureacracy. If
> that was a clarification, I'm running the NSFnet. Has Stephen
> been taking lessons from George Bush?)
John, I think you're being unfair. I don't claim to know Steve's thinking
on this subject, but consider the following hypothetical scenario --
your local govt bureaucrat wants to allow you to do the "right
thing." Unfortunately, govt rules/procedures/regulations suggest that if
pushed, said bureaucrat will have to deny you permission. In such a
scenario, a good person will give you the weakest possible version
of the party line possible -- making it clear that, while it ain't
quite kosher, if you discretely do what you want, wet noodle punishment is
probably all you'll get. Said bureaucrat will thus have done his/her job
without causing you real trouble, and at the same time made clear that if
your behavior gets wildly out of hand you'll get stopped. A general rule of
thumb is that pushing for a firmer answer will probably only hurt your cause,
because the official will be forced to state the party line more firmly (and
perhaps, enforce it). Don't ask permission unless you're prepared to
be told "no."
> * Why does nobody want to confront the companies who have been
> ignoring the NSF and regional rules for their own benefit?
Depends. There's actually a certain amount of behind the scenes spanking
going on for egregious violations (i.e. advertising on mailing lists).
But less intrusive stuff is, in fact, considered desirable by many folks
I've talked with.
Craig
