[2494] in Commercialization & Privatization of the Internet
Outstanding Oversight Hearings. But Only First Step on long Path
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Gordon Cook)
Thu Mar 12 19:48:41 1992
To: com-priv@psi.com
Date: 12 Mar 92 19:36:46 EST (Thu)
From: cook@tmn.com (Gordon Cook)
<<MESSAGE from>> Gordon Cook 12-MAR-92 19:36
cook@tmn
The hearings were fascinating. Walked into Jim Wilson's office to offer
him a copy of my 30,000 word study on the NREN. Was amused to see that he
already had a copy. Congressman Boucher led a session that went about
three hours. Over two hours were chock full of VERY astute questions by
Boucher and Packard of california.
Some threads:
The NSF acceptable use policy came under severe attack from almost all
sides except the NSF, MERIT and Educom.
The idea that the backbone provider (ANS) should have exclusive right to
determine commercial charges for commercial use of backbone came under
severe attack.
The notion that there should be federal funding of a backbone came under
servere attack.
The notion that subsidies should go to institutions was strongly supported
except for the NSF which stated it would need more staff to handle their
administration, MERIT which was against it, and Educom. (Mike Roberts
took it to mean subsidies to individual students and faculty and asked how
we could POSSIBLY be thnking of new ENTITLEMENT progams?)
Congress seems to be realizing for the first time what they have purchased
with the HPCC legislation's creation of the NREN. If Boucher's
outstanding performance is any guide, Congress will be looking VERY
closely over the NSF's shoulder`as the rebid process goes forward.
Oh yeah. Bill Schrader's testimony was RATHER INTERESTING to say the
least....quite an eye opener for me. Are you going to post it to the list
Bill? You're not gonna leave it to my newsletter are ya?
Off to work on the newsletter now. I want to have a preliminary draft by
Saturday evening when I rendezvous with Jack Rickard, editor and publisher
of Boardwatch magazine n Denver on Saturday evening. Boardwatch's
circulation is up to 22,000 copies per month!
