[2205] in Commercialization & Privatization of the Internet
Bellcore Infrastructure Plan
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Joe Abernathy)
Thu Jan 30 21:00:28 1992
Date: Thu, 30 Jan 92 18:57:40 CST
From: edtjda@magic322.chron.com (Joe Abernathy)
To: com-priv@psi.com
Cc: farber@cis.upenn.edu, mkapor@eff.org, sysnmc@chron.com
Since nobody's mentioned it, I'll read from this press release,
which arrived Wednesday, Jan. 29 ...
Bellcore president proposes plan for creating national information
infrstructure
WASHINGTON -- The president of Bellcore, the nation's largest research
consortium, proposed a comprehensive three-point plan for creating a
national infromation infrastructure by the beginning of the 21st
century.
George H. Heimeier (seeks) ... pervasive, broadband, intelligent networks
enabling universal information access (involving) .. information malls,
multimedia ecommunications and business enterprise integration.
Heilmeier, the keynote speaker at ComNet 92, challewnged hundreds of industry
executives and government offic8ials to take part in this vital
national effort.
He called for:
* A national sense of prupose and vision.
* A focal point for technical, ar5chitectural, economic, regulatory
and marker considerations. "This effort could be led by the private
sector, and should have the character of a results-oriented integration
shop, not a new bureaucracy. It could come under the auspieces of the
FCC and work in partnership with aindustry and agencies such as NTIA.
* Congress should pass a National INformation Infrstructure Act to
support the national vision. This would supersede the 1934 communications
Act.
Proposals by Sen. Gore, Mitch Kapor and others are "a positive step,"
but the legislation is required, Heilmeier said. "Now is the time, not
five years from now, for government leaders to articulate a national vision
for an infromation age infrastructure, remove roadblocks to creating it,
and pass a comprhehensive (infrastructure) act,"
Key provisions: All-digital, broadband transport and switching;
distributed intelligence and high-speed signaling; geographic indepen-
dence for users and services; interoperability (love that word)
of diverse networks and equipment; transparent complexity -- common
look and feel interfaces.
Cheers.
Joe Abernathy edtjda@chron.com
Special Projects P.O. Box 4260
The Houston Chronicle Houston, Texas 77210
(800) 735-3820 (713) 526-9711
