[822] in Public-Access_Computer_Systems_Forum
Re: Access to the Internet
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Malcolm Sharp)
Fri Jul 24 11:05:45 1992
Date: Fri, 24 Jul 1992 09:52:17 CDT
Reply-To: Public-Access Computer Systems Forum <PACS-L%UHUPVM1.BITNET@ricevm1.rice.edu>
From: Malcolm Sharp <sharp%mizar.usc.edu@usc.edu>
To: Multiple recipients of list PACS-L <PACS-L%UHUPVM1.BITNET@ricevm1.rice.edu>
----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>The coop model is one that has worked well. How will it deal with the
>growth that is coming? How will it provide services to small business
>and the general public?
I have been investigating this issue - ie, providing Internet services
to the general public. What I've found is that several communities
have used the FreeNet platform to do this at no cost to the user - but
with costs to the provider. In the case of Cleveland it seems that
Case Western foots the bulk of the bill - though the system is being
used as a means to get grants. The Heartland FreeNet in Peoria is run
by a non-profit organization and has a broad spectrum of local
support. In any case since the system's use is free to the user (a
requisite for using the FreePort software - unless one pays the
publisher "American Cybercasting" an amount much greater than their
$850/5 year fee), the sponsor of the FreeNet host is left with finding
the means to fund its operation.
Other possibilites that are already established - and are commercial -
include services such as "The Well" and "NetCom" though I don't have
first-hand experience with either.
Malcolm Sharp,
U. of SoCal
