[745] in Public-Access_Computer_Systems_Forum
Re: service provision
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Lisa deGruyter)
Wed Jul 15 18:32:39 1992
Date: Wed, 15 Jul 1992 17:21:42 CDT
Reply-To: Lisa deGruyter <ldeg@tenet.edu>
From: Lisa deGruyter <ldeg@tenet.edu>
To: Multiple recipients of list PACS-L <PACS-L%UHUPVM1.BITNET@ricevm1.rice.edu>
In-Reply-To: <199207131346.AA25596@formby.tenet.edu>
----------------------------Original message----------------------------
The NREN legislation makes specific provision for developing billing
mechanisms so that providers can charge for time and access. My
understanding of the legislative intent is that the service should
eventually be universally available and commercial.
As we all know, computing power, band-width and making information
available require time and equipment. The 'free' communication and
information we get on the network is paid for by someone - some subset of
taxpayers, students paying tuition, alumni donors, foundations - and
generally not the someone who is getting the benefit. I am very concerned
that we maintain equal access to information for everyone, but I think it
needs to be done very deliberately, with full awareness of exactly what
services to whom we are subsidizing.
One consequence of the current situation, where there is no structured fee
mechanism, is that authors of extremely useful tools like _Zen and the Art
of the Internet_ must publish in paper to receive any monetary
compensation for their time and effort. University faculty may get tenure
and promotions for publishing on the net, but most others are not going to
get rewarded by their employers for time and effort spent to produce tools
and information for everyone else.
We need to think about both how the people running the net and developing
tools will be compensated (we all have to eat) and how we can promote the
free flow of information.
There are several good position papers available on parts of these issues
from the Electronic Frontier Foundation (ftp to ftp.eff.org, pub/EFF
directory).
Lisa deGruyter, Manager, Library Systems and Networks
Library Development Division, Texas State Library
ldeg@tenet.edu
