[8873] in Commercialization & Privatization of the Internet
Re: NTIA Universal Access Hearing
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Brock N. Meeks)
Wed Dec 8 21:19:46 1993
Date: Wed, 8 Dec 1993 18:00:43 -0800
From: "Brock N. Meeks" <brock@well.sf.ca.us>
To: dave@oldcolo.com, rciville@civicnet.org
Cc: <com-priv@psi.com>, compriv@civicnet.org
Richard Civille is flat wrong if he thinks the NTIA is going to give
universal service short shrift. This issue *is* important to them, it
*will* be given full attention.
First of all, there's no way NTIA, after only holding 4 hearings, is going
to claim any of their findings are "exhaustive." Mostly, these meetings
are a show of good-will. Four hearings won't accomplish much, how could
they? What they will do is get the Washington bureaucrats out into
the public. This is something I've been told they want as much as need (and
this by people inside NTIA).
Just how much clout NTIA carries these days is anybody's guess. Right now,
word I'm hearing is "not much." They have some very good people, but their
policy-writing, formation "get it out the door" skill are lacking.
Still, if the NTIA folks do listen close during these hearings, they'll be
able to add some valuable insight to the Clinton Administration's view
of what Universal Service should look like going into the next century.
Because, frankly, right now, the Administration, despite all the hype about
how technologically-hip they are, don't have a clue about how to guide this
public policy concept into the next century.
But they have lots of company... nobody has a good model, which is why
we're all scrambling to find one.
Brock Meeks
reporter
Communications Daily
