[9156] in Commercialization & Privatization of the Internet
bi-lateral transit agreements
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Mike O'Dell)
Sun Dec 19 17:31:26 1993
Date: Sun, 19 Dec 93 17:28:27 -0500
From: mo@uunet.uu.net (Mike O'Dell)
To: com-priv@psi.com
A provider doesn't *have* to pay for a long-haul line if they join the CIX.
Nothing stops an existing CIX member from entering into a bilateral
transit agreement with another CIX member who doesn't care to spring
for a dedicated leased line to the CIX. Several of the national-scale
CIX members have such transit agreements in place. I can't comment
on the details of such agreements primarily because I don't know them
offhand. But one would *assume* they are cheaper than pulling the
dedicated line, otherwise why would anyone have done the deal?
One minor problem with the "regional ownership" notion is that the value
of the Internet is it's Global scale. You have to get to the globalizing
nexi somehow, and the nexi have to be owned and operated by someone or
they don't happen. I know we spend an extremely non-trivial amount per
year to have the national and international connectivity we enjoy (beyond
our basic backbone). Contrary to what some people (even on this mailing
list) seem to believe, none of this happens for free.
The infrastructure of the Commercial Internet exists because people ponied
up real, non-governmental dollars to build it and make it happen. The
resulting frameworks are an amazingly level playing field for them what
wants to play the game. Changing the rules is easy for people who don't
have to pay for them. You pays your money and you takes your chances. If
it means that a network provider has to be a certain size to be viable,
then Amazing! They're just like any other business!! When you go into
business, there are risks and economic realities, and NOBODY makes any
promises about you succeeding, whether you are pure of heart or otherwise.
The fact that someone claims to have lofty, noble goals doesn't change the
arithmetic.
Remember: Nature neither seeks nor abides your opinion.
-Mike O'Dell
Me? I can barely speak for myself, much less anyone else.
