[2826] in Commercialization & Privatization of the Internet
Clarifying the ANS-CIX agreement
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Mitchell Kapor)
Tue Jun 9 11:34:05 1992
Date: Tue, 9 Jun 1992 11:32:24 -0400
To: com-priv@psi.com
From: Mitchell Kapor <mkapor@eff.org>
In repsonse to issues raised by Gordon Cook and comments by Marty
Schoffstall:
The agreement which was signed explicitly covers the case of mid-level
networks which have an ANS attachment. If they sign an ANS CO+RE agreement
and join the CIX then they can route traffic to and from the CIX via ANS
without invoking the NSF AUP. Thus, propsectively, NEARNet, BARRnet and
other regionals will be able to exchange commercial traffic without
restriction with all CIX members. This was not possible previously. By
the same token, commercial service providers on Alternet, PSI, etc. will be
able to reach all sites on participating mid-levels without running afoul
of the AUP. This too is a step forward.
ANS commercial customers (in the sense of individual "retail" sites) do not
automatically gain CIX connectivity under the agreement. However, both
parties are working toward ANS CO+RE itself joining the CIX, which would
enable this connectivity. It is even possible this could occur before
physical connectivity is achieved in the next 60 days or so. In this
event, ANS commercial customers will have CIX connectivity. The signing of
this first agreement is a necessary but not sufficient step. The issues
standing between ANS CO+RE joining the CIX appear to be solvable, based on
progress made to date. Watch this space for further developments.
Marty is correct, in a narrow sense, that as of the moment, ANS is acting
like a conduit. In the broader scheme of things, and where I hope we go,
this is just a transitional stage to fuller connectivity.
Getting this far has not been simple, but, hopefully, it represents a base
upon which to build. I think Al Weis would agree.
Mitch Kapor
Chairman, CIX
