[561] in Commercialization & Privatization of the Internet
Re: Who can connect to CIXes...
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Morten Reistad)
Sun Apr 7 17:31:46 1991
Date: 7 Apr 91 23:12 +0200
From: Morten Reistad <MRR@boers.uu.no>
To: com-priv@uu.psi.com
Cc: mrr@boers.uu.no
> Well, given that the CIXes (CIXen?) are physical entities and not just
> plain connections it would sure be nice to have a policy document as to who
> can connect to that physical entity, how and at what cost. We went through
> similar discussions a year or two or so ago with the FIXes (I guess the federal
> mommy of the CIXes), and it is a hairy issue if the agenda is not clear and
> people find out about it and desparately wanting to connect to it directly
> (where else can you find a connectivity point as robust as a mult-agency
> interconnection point (FIX) or multi-commercial network interconnection point
> (CIX))?
>
> Hans-Werner
As I see it this is the core of the debate on commercialization. Is this,
or is it not a common carrier ? (a common carrier is, as I have understood
Common Law, anyone offering the service of carrying traffic to the general
public. Being a C.C. gives you a lot of rights, but it requires you to carry
for ANYONE willing (and able) to pay for the services).
Are the CIXen "members" common carriers? The CIXen themselves ? If they are,
you can just go to them and ask for a commercial price for interconnection.
Otherwise, it is anyones guess.
It seems to me that it would be very foolish for the CIX "members" (what else
should we call them) to try to operate without being a Common Carrier. The
CIX then seems as a demarcation point between carriers. The legal documents
posted here does not seem to shine any light on the issue.
Can anyone enlighten me on these issues ? (or are bright lawyers banned
from this list ?)
Morten Reistad
System Designer
Oslo Stock Exchange Information <mrr@boers.uu.no> +47 2 341 700
