[9650] in Commercialization & Privatization of the Internet
New NSF Agreement Politics
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Joseph W. Stroup)
Sat Jan 15 11:25:10 1994
From: "Joseph W. Stroup" <nettech@crl.com>
To: com-priv@psi.com
Date: Sat, 15 Jan 1994 08:23:25 -0800 (PST)
Steve,
I just read your comment to Gordon Cook. I would say that they National
Science Board will probably do what the admin. wants them to do. None
of us really knows what went on behind those closed doors in D.C. except
the ones who were there. What Gordon, myself and others are trying to tell
you is we would like to be pleasantly surprised and see someone (org) other
than ANS or MCI get this new contract. The people who could really talk about
the behind the curtains dealings at ANS are worried about getting sued and
or losing their jobs.
I read over the sol. and "technically qualified" fits alot of companies. AT&T
has fully functional ATM equipment in the field right now. They have two ver.
of the switch and a third in BETA trials. AT&T has more T-3 lines than anyone
in the world. I am sure AT&T could tailor a network to almost anything required.
With the past history of classified telecom work, incl. undersea cable &
submarine taps, norad complex work and satellite backround. Heck we are talking
about a company that controls 1/3 the gross national product and employees more
people than anyone except the U.S. government. I would be very hard pressed to
hear the board explain how a telco, started as a private network for a trucking
company can do this job better. From personal experience I can tell you, it
took MCI 3 attempts to install my leased line at the correct address. MCI
technical people leave soemthing to be desired. Oh yes, they have some good
people, but, some is about it. The companies history with cut-fiber cables, due
to lack of proper protection leaves me with great security concerns. MCI had
its 3 worst ever fiber cuts in the later part of 1993. Its the history of the
company to be cheap and not spend the extra $$$ to properly encase fiber ,
therefore exposing it to the danger of a cut. What kind of piece of mind does
that give those who want to use the Internet for business.
I can site the same examples for other companies as well. From other comments
I have read here, I was wondering... Will the NSF only give money to the
regionals if they agree to spend it on their connections to the national
backbone ?
I will leave you with this. This whole area has become of great interest to me
and I intend to see articles written as many places as I can, articles of a
non-technical/ 8th grade level. That way the ave. Detroit auto worker can see
who well this Superhighway deal can possibly screw him. You see I remember
when Bill Clinton told us our taxs would not go up. The parallels between the
way the nationwide railroad system and the concrete superhighway system are
very close to the way this electronic superhighway. Alot of deal making, graft
and corruption. And no I don't expect you or the others , whose future is
at stake to admit that these problems are in fact present. One of the man
reasons I have not released more information on ANS and its operations/scam
is not because I am afraid of a suit - NO, its because good people will get
fired and thats not right. You can understand that , working for the gov't
you know what happens to a "whistleblower". I can however assure all of you,
the dirt is out there - and just under the edge of the rug.
Joseph William Stroup
