[9043] in Commercialization & Privatization of the Internet
Re: A Report of the Resource Allocation Committee, etc.
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Dennis Fazio)
Wed Dec 15 02:08:05 1993
From: dfazio@mr.net (Dennis Fazio)
To: com-priv@psi.com
Date: Wed, 15 Dec 1993 01:07:28 -0600 (CST)
In-Reply-To: <199312142113.NAA23477@mail.netcom.com> from "Glenn S. Tenney" at Dec 14, 93 01:13:36 pm
> >At 1:10 PM 12/14/93 -0500, Peter O'Neil wrote:
> > After reviewing and discussing several proposals, the RAC approved
> >two proposals to receive Pool funds:
> >
> > The first is entitled "Inter-Regional Problem Tracking and
> >Reporting", submitted by William Yundt, Director Networking & Communication
> >Systems at Stanford University and Executive Director of BARRNet, the Bay
> >Area Regional Research Network. ...
> > A second, entitled "Bits and Mortar: Building the Information
> >Infrastructure for Health Care", submitted by Laura Breeden, Executive
> >Director of FARNET, the Federation of American Research Networks and Eric
> >Hood, President of FARNET and Executive Director and CEO of NorthWestNet.
> > ...
> > The current members of the RAC are:
> > ... William Yundt, BARRNet ...
> > ... Eric Hood, NorthWestNet ...
>
>
> Isn't it at all strange that the people receiving the funds are the same
> people who decided on the disbursement?
>
>
> ---
> Glenn Tenney
> tenney@netcom.com Amateur radio: AA6ER
> (415) 574-3420 Fax: (415) 574-0546
I enjoy a spirited debate as much as the next person, but the level of
viciousness of the recent discussions in some threads, particularly the
Third Annual Bash ANS Festival and this comment above, have been most
disheartening. There is an excessive eagerness to take limited and partial
data and create extrapolations and assumptions that have little basis in
reality, with the central tenet of the argument being that the "other
fellow", no matter who or what or on which side of a debate, is obviously
underhanded or duplicitous.
I have not devoted my career to studying all the details of the history of
the NSFNET and therefore cannot testify confidently whether or not there
were any inadvertent, minor or serious improprieties committed by anyone.
All I know is that in all my dealings with ANS personnel at all levels, I
have found them cooperative, courteous and obliging. The technical staff in
Ann Arbor has been exceptional in their assistance and the marketing and
executive people have always answered all of my questions on all issues
completely and to the best of my knowledge, honestly. Ditto for those at the
NSF. Your perceived mileage may vary.
The above remark by Mr. Tenney is an example of how these combative
postings, recently visible on this list, create an atmosphere of suspicion
and a style of debate given to quick disparaging zingers rather than
informed reasoning. There was no effort taken to look into the issue, make
direct queries of the source of the information to confirm or refute an
assumption, and then post a comment or open a debate with some researched
facts.
To respond to this recent remark, Mr. Yundt, Mr. Hood, BARRNet or
NorthWestNet will not be the recipient of any of the Infrastructure Pool
funds that were recently allocated.
Let us get all the facts and do proper unbiased research before firing off
any accusations. It would be helpful to first assume that all others
are honorable and well-intentioned, as has been my experience in this
industry so far, unless proven otherwise. I believe that is the custom we
have adopted in this country.
--
Dennis Fazio, Minnesota Regional Network --|||-- Gabnet: (612) 342-2570
