From ntia Mon Nov 14 09:07:56 1994 Received: (from ntia@localhost) by virtconf.digex.net (8.6.9/8.6.9) id JAA06933; Mon, 14 Nov 1994 09:07:56 -0800 Date: Mon, 14 Nov 1994 09:07:56 -0800 From: NTIA Virtual Conference Message-Id: <199411141707.JAA06933@virtconf.digex.net> To: avail, intellec, opnacces, privacy, redefus, standard Subject: NTIA Virtual Conference KeyNote Address WELCOMING STATEMENT FROM DEPUTY SECRETARY OF COMMERCE DAVID BARRAM Welcome to the Virtual Conference on Universal Service and Open Access to the Telecommunications Network. In hosting this conference we seek to broaden our reach beyond the physical limits of any conference room or auditorium. The NII will tear down the barriers of time and distance. This conference, like the NII itself, is meant to be inclusive and your ideas are welcome and encouraged. Your participation will help make it a success. This effort is jointly sponsored by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) and the Information Infrastructure Task Force (IITF), as part of the Administration's National Information Infrastructure initiative. Through the NII, the Administration is focusing on the ability of computer mediated communications to enhance the life and work of every American. The NII is a harbinger of change, both economic and political, and holds great promise for the future of America. Some benefits of the NII include telecommuting, distance learning and active life-long education, remote consultations with expert medical professionals, as well as new forms of art, entertainment and culture. This conference continues the dialog started by NTIA's five field hearings, held over the past nine months in cities throughout America. Unlike the field hearings, this conference allows for a much wider participation, and more in-depth discussion on the issues. There are over 80 public access points in 25 states. With this conference we are hoping to:  Garner opinions and views on universal telecommunications service that may shape the legislative and regulatory debate.  Demonstrate how networking technology can broaden participation in the development of government policies, specifically, universal service telecommunications policy.  Illustrate the potential for using the NII to create an electronic commons.  Create a network of individuals and institutions that will continue the dialog started by the conference, once the formal sponsorship is over. This conference is an experiment in a new form of dialog among citizens and with their government. The conference is not a one- way, top down approach, it is a conversation. It holds the promise of reworking the compact between citizens and their government. I thank you once again for your participation. From don@dcez.com Mon Nov 14 09:11:10 1994 Received: from relay2.UU.NET (relay2.UU.NET [192.48.96.7]) by virtconf.digex.net (8.6.9/8.6.9) with ESMTP id JAA07332 for ; Mon, 14 Nov 1994 09:11:10 -0800 Received: from dcez.dcez.com by relay2.UU.NET with SMTP id QQxpzk17258; Mon, 14 Nov 1994 09:03:08 -0500 Date: Mon, 14 Nov 1994 08:59:31 -500 (EST) From: Don Evans Subject: Subscribe To: redefus@virtconf.ntia.doc.gov Message-ID: MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII Sender: don@dcez.com Subscribe Donald F. Evans From 11DTODD@gallua.gallaudet.edu Mon Nov 14 09:26:03 1994 Received: from gallua.gallaudet.edu (gallua.gallaudet.edu [134.231.4.48]) by virtconf.digex.net (8.6.9/8.6.9) with ESMTP id JAA08388 for ; Mon, 14 Nov 1994 09:26:03 -0800 From: 11DTODD@gallua.gallaudet.edu Received: from GALLUA.BITNET by GALLUA.BITNET (PMDF V4.2-12 #4084) id <01HJGQ3RXR2801D1T0@GALLUA.BITNET>; Mon, 14 Nov 1994 09:14:11 EST Date: Mon, 14 Nov 1994 09:14:11 -0500 (EST) Subject: Re: [REDEFUS:1] NTIA Virtual Conference KeyNote Address To: redefus@virtconf.ntia.doc.gov Message-id: <01HJGQ3RYACY01D1T0@GALLUA.BITNET> X-VMS-To: IN%"redefus@virtconf.ntia.doc.gov" MIME-version: 1.0 Content-type: TEXT/PLAIN; CHARSET=US-ASCII Content-transfer-encoding: 7BIT I had a problem linking up because according to the center, there was a failure to deliver. I hope that I can still participate. thanks, Delia Todd :) From 11DTODD@gallua.gallaudet.edu Mon Nov 14 09:43:28 1994 Received: from gallua.gallaudet.edu (gallua.gallaudet.edu [134.231.4.48]) by virtconf.digex.net (8.6.9/8.6.9) with ESMTP id JAA09529 for ; Mon, 14 Nov 1994 09:43:27 -0800 From: 11DTODD@gallua.gallaudet.edu Received: from GALLUA.BITNET by GALLUA.BITNET (PMDF V4.2-12 #4084) id <01HJGQIB1GSY01D1T0@GALLUA.BITNET>; Mon, 14 Nov 1994 09:35:48 EST Date: Mon, 14 Nov 1994 09:35:48 -0500 (EST) Subject: Re: [REDEFUS:1] NTIA Virtual Conference KeyNote Address To: redefus@virtconf.ntia.doc.gov Message-id: <01HJGQIB1QGK01D1T0@GALLUA.BITNET> X-VMS-To: IN%"redefus@virtconf.ntia.doc.gov" MIME-version: 1.0 Content-type: TEXT/PLAIN; CHARSET=US-ASCII Content-transfer-encoding: 7BIT Please help me get on this conference, thanks :) Here is my input. When Alexander Graham Bell invented the phone, he thought that it would help deaf people. The opposite became true. It became harder for deaf people because they could not use the phone. A few phones are made specially for hard of hearing people who can use the phone with amplifiers. About this information access, it is important to remember that there will be deaf people too. I am hoping that for the first time in a long time that deaf people will have equal access through the computer. I just read in the Silent News, November 1994 issue about something called Fax/Modem. The writer is deaf and s/he said that it helps a lot. Would it be possible for deaf people to use the computer/modem to call a hearing relative? I saw adverstizements about computers where airline reservations can be made through the computer. When I was an intern during the summer, I had access to electronic mail which was wonderful because it meant that I could talk with other people through the computer even if some people did not know sign language. Each office has a phone but I could not use the phone. My office was the only one with a TDD and not everyone is familiar with the relay service. But not all interns had access to electronic mail so if one of these interns had to call me, s/he would call my colleague and leave a message for me. My colleague was wonderful about writing down messages for me. Can a computer do more things than a TDD can do? Would it be possible for new inventions to include things for deaf people? I see new technology like cellular phones but how will deaf people be able to use them? thanks for your time. 11dtodd From <@QUCDN.QueensU.CA:andrukow@cspo.QueensU.CA> Mon Nov 14 09:59:44 1994 Received: from QUCDN.QueensU.CA (QUCDN.QueensU.CA [130.15.126.2]) by virtconf.digex.net (8.6.9/8.6.9) with SMTP id JAA10666 for ; Mon, 14 Nov 1994 09:59:43 -0800 Received: from cspo.QueensU.CA by QUCDN.QueensU.CA (IBM VM SMTP V2R2) with TCP; Mon, 14 Nov 94 09:50:57 EST Received: by cspo.QueensU.CA (5.0/SMI-SVR4) id AA14308; Mon, 14 Nov 1994 09:52:35 +0600 Date: Mon, 14 Nov 1994 09:52:35 -0600 (CST) From: Alison Andrukow X-Sender: andrukow@cspo To: redefus@virtconf.ntia.doc.gov Message-Id: Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII content-length: 21 sign me up. ALison. From gcvander@facstaff.wisc.edu Mon Nov 14 10:05:21 1994 Received: from audumla.students.wisc.edu (students.wisc.edu [144.92.104.66]) by virtconf.digex.net (8.6.9/8.6.9) with ESMTP id KAA11203 for ; Mon, 14 Nov 1994 10:05:21 -0800 Received: from by audumla.students.wisc.edu; id IAA18841; 8.1C/42; Mon, 14 Nov 1994 08:57:29 -0600 Date: Mon, 14 Nov 1994 08:57:29 -0600 Message-Id: <199411141457.IAA18841@audumla.students.wisc.edu> X-Sender: gcvander@facstaff.wisc.edu Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" To: redefus@virtconf.ntia.doc.gov From: gcvander@facstaff.wisc.edu (Gregg Vanderheiden) X-Mailer: Subscribe Gregg Vanderheiden Gregg Gregg C. Vanderheiden, Ph.D. Internet gcvander@facstaff.wisc.edu 608/262-6966 fax 608/262-8848 From redefus@ga295a.attmail.com Mon Nov 14 10:25:01 1994 Received: from pjl53ig.i-p.attmail.com (PJL53IG.I-P.MAIL.ATT.NET [198.152.2.8]) by virtconf.digex.net (8.6.9/8.6.9) with SMTP id KAA13545 for ; Mon, 14 Nov 1994 10:25:00 -0800 Date: Mon, 14 Nov 1994 10:37:54 -0500 From: redefus@ga295a.attmail.com (redefus) Received: from ga295a by attmail; Mon Nov 14 15:08 GMT 1994 Subject: NTIA Conference To: redefus@virtconf.ntia.doc.gov Content-Type: Text Message-ID: cancel subscription redefus Dave Porter From redefus@ga295a.attmail.com Mon Nov 14 10:25:19 1994 Received: from pjl53ig.i-p.attmail.com (PJL53IG.I-P.MAIL.ATT.NET [198.152.2.8]) by virtconf.digex.net (8.6.9/8.6.9) with SMTP id KAA13607 for ; Mon, 14 Nov 1994 10:25:17 -0800 Date: Mon, 14 Nov 1994 11:06:25 -0500 From: redefus@ga295a.attmail.com (redefus) Received: from ga295a by attmail; Mon Nov 14 15:11 GMT 1994 Subject: NTIA Conference To: redefus@virtconf.ntia.doc.gov Content-Type: Text Message-ID: cancel subscription redefus ga295a!redefus From <@QUCDN.QueensU.CA:andrukow@cspo.QueensU.CA> Mon Nov 14 10:34:27 1994 Received: from QUCDN.QueensU.CA (QUCDN.QueensU.CA [130.15.126.2]) by virtconf.digex.net (8.6.9/8.6.9) with SMTP id KAA14527 for ; Mon, 14 Nov 1994 10:34:25 -0800 Received: from cspo.QueensU.CA by QUCDN.QueensU.CA (IBM VM SMTP V2R2) with TCP; Mon, 14 Nov 94 10:25:40 EST Received: by cspo.QueensU.CA (5.0/SMI-SVR4) id AA14503; Mon, 14 Nov 1994 10:27:18 +0600 Date: Mon, 14 Nov 1994 10:27:17 -0600 (CST) From: Alison Andrukow X-Sender: andrukow@cspo To: redefus@virtconf.ntia.doc.gov Subject: Subscribe Alison Andrukow Message-Id: Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII content-length: 26 Subscribe Alison Andrukow From sbrenner@efn.org Mon Nov 14 11:11:04 1994 Received: from skinner.cs.uoregon.edu (skinner.cs.uoregon.edu [128.223.4.13]) by virtconf.digex.net (8.6.9/8.6.9) with SMTP id LAA17379 for ; Mon, 14 Nov 1994 11:11:03 -0800 Received: from efn.org by skinner.cs.uoregon.edu with SMTP id AA16972 (5.65/IDA-1.4.2 for redefus@virtconf.ntia.doc.gov); Mon, 14 Nov 94 08:03:04 -0800 Received: from net18.efn.org by efn.efn.org (4.1/smail2.5/05-07-92) id AA17892; Mon, 14 Nov 94 08:02:25 PST Message-Id: <9411141602.AA17892@efn.efn.org> X-Sender: sbrenner@efn.org Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Date: Mon, 14 Nov 1994 08:58:22 -0800 To: redefus@virtconf.ntia.doc.gov From: sbrenner@efn.org (Stephen Brenner) Subject: Public Accesss X-Mailer: Right now, due to economics, access to the Internet is heavily biased for those who can afford their own computer. I'm a volunteer for the Eugene Free Net (the Eugene node of Oregon Public Networking). We have a few projects in the works for getting terminals out into publicly accessible places. I'd like to hear from other groups who have successfully accomplished this kind of public outreach. In what kinds of areas have you found the best response? Where is the biggest need? What are some of the problems in maintaining and supporting this kind of public access? Thanks, Steve From dmitchel@ednet1.osl.or.gov Mon Nov 14 11:25:13 1994 Received: from ednet1.osl.or.gov (ednet1.osl.or.gov [192.84.215.8]) by virtconf.digex.net (8.6.9/8.6.9) with SMTP id LAA18267 for ; Mon, 14 Nov 1994 11:25:12 -0800 Received: by ednet1.osl.or.gov id AA25971 (5.67a8/IDA-1.5 for redefus@virtconf.ntia.doc.gov); Mon, 14 Nov 1994 08:17:20 -0800 Date: Mon, 14 Nov 1994 08:17:20 -0800 Message-Id: <199411141617.AA25971@ednet1.osl.or.gov> From: dmitchel@ednet1.osl.or.gov (Dave W Mitchell) To: redefus@virtconf.ntia.doc.gov Subject: Statement Reply-To: dmitchel@ednet1.osl.or.gov It is indeed pleasant to see the hopes of many mirrored in the keynote statement. There is a sense in which the information infrastructure serves for present generations the role once played by Highway 66: a pathway affording new opportunity in the face of disappearing traditional choices and diminishing quality of life. Although I speak for a rural populace reaching toward broader communication and readier access to knowledge, many of the economic barriers impeding their progress affect other large segments of the citizenry. In that light, I wish personally to posit that: Universal access should imply free entry to the universality of human thought and culture and two-way interaction with the repositories thereof. It is indeed true that the public library model provides a philosophical and structural underpinning, yet the immense popularity of talk radio (for example) shows a strong underlying hunger for communication of individual reactivity and creativity. In its satisfaction may lie the tool wherein we redefine the compact with one another on which this society was founded. Dave Mitchell -- Dave W. Mitchell Waldport, Oregon Oregon Coast Rural Information Service Cooperative "A bit off the superhighway" From wvia@scranton.com Mon Nov 14 11:27:21 1994 Received: from lydian (root@lydian.scranton.com [199.234.242.1]) by virtconf.digex.net (8.6.9/8.6.9) with SMTP id LAA18375 for ; Mon, 14 Nov 1994 11:27:19 -0800 Date: Mon, 14 Nov 1994 11:20:26 +0000 From: WVIA Virtual Conference Account To: redefus@virtconf.ntia.doc.gov Message-ID: MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII subscribe wvia From adelson@crab.rutgers.edu Mon Nov 14 11:37:22 1994 Received: from crab.rutgers.edu (crab.rutgers.edu [128.6.128.6]) by virtconf.digex.net (8.6.9/8.6.9) with SMTP id LAA19293 for ; Mon, 14 Nov 1994 11:37:20 -0800 Received: by crab.rutgers.edu (5.59/SMI4.0/RU1.5/3.08) id AA20042; Mon, 14 Nov 94 11:29:30 EST Date: Mon, 14 Nov 94 11:29:30 EST From: adelson@crab.rutgers.edu (Beth Adelson) Message-Id: <9411141629.AA20042@crab.rutgers.edu> To: redefus@virtconf.ntia.doc.gov Subject: managing information flow would it be possible for the appropriate person to look into the issue of not forwarding subscribe and unsubscribe messages? thanks, beth adelson From joemortz@rain.org Mon Nov 14 11:59:17 1994 Received: from coyote.rain.org (joemortz@coyote.rain.org [198.68.144.2]) by virtconf.digex.net (8.6.9/8.6.9) with SMTP id LAA20892; Mon, 14 Nov 1994 11:59:16 -0800 Received: by coyote.rain.org(4.1/SMI-RAIN) with id AA16594 for standard@virtconf.ntia.doc.gov on Mon, 14 Nov 94 08:47:51 PST Date: Mon, 14 Nov 1994 08:47:49 -0800 (PST) From: Joe Mortz To: opnacces@virtconf.ntia.doc.gov, redefus@virtconf.ntia.doc.gov Cc: standard@virtconf.ntia.doc.gov, avail@virtconf.ntia.doc.gov Subject: NTIA hearings staff reports, request Message-Id: Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII TO: NTIA staff VirtConf participants Secretary Barram's welcoming statement(s) advises that this conference "continues dialog started by NTIA's five field hearings". Can staff provide summaries of these hearings? Thank you NTIA and IITF for this conference. Joe Mortz (805-564 0824) From PMRMK@tundra.alaska.edu Mon Nov 14 12:02:15 1994 Received: from orca.alaska.edu ([137.229.10.36]) by virtconf.digex.net (8.6.9/8.6.9) with ESMTP id MAA21358 for ; Mon, 14 Nov 1994 12:02:11 -0800 Received: from UA.ORCA.ALASKA.EDU by VMS.ORCA.ALASKA.EDU (PMDF V4.3-13 #8271) id <01HJGNAMG26OHSIZ07@VMS.ORCA.ALASKA.EDU>; Mon, 14 Nov 1994 07:53:19 -0800 Received: with PMDF-MR; Mon, 14 Nov 1994 07:53:59 -0800 MR-Received: by mta TUNDRA; Relayed; Mon, 14 Nov 1994 07:53:59 -0800 MR-Received: by mta ORCA; Relayed; Mon, 14 Nov 1994 07:53:13 -0800 Alternate-recipient: prohibited Date: Mon, 14 Nov 1994 07:53:58 -0800 From: RICHARD M KENSHALO Subject: Pilot Projects To: redefus@virtconf.ntia.doc.gov Message-id: <01HJGNANMNRAHSIZ07@UA.ORCA.ALASKA.EDU> MIME-version: 1.0 Content-type: TEXT/PLAIN; CHARSET=US-ASCII Content-transfer-encoding: 7BIT X400-MTS-identifier: [;95357041114991/389257@TUNDRA] Hop-count: 2 Two years ago, we developed a pilot project with our local school district to provide a two-way interactive distance education network over fiber. We are a local REA Co-op telephone utility. We proposed providing the service at minimal cost ($100 per mo) for a ten-year period to allow the school district to become familiar with distance learning, and to develop our expertise with this technology. This seemed like a good community development project that a co-op should undertake. Our local public utilities commission took great objection to our project. Their objections were based on: 1. The commission questioned if it was appropriate to ask existing customers to participate in the costs. 2. We did not notify existing ratepayers concerning the cost of the project. 3. We did not ask if existing ratepayers support the project. 4. The commission felt the pilot project was unduly discriminatory and favored the school district over other customers. 5. The appropriate pricing method was not determined - fully distributed costs, incremental costs, discounted costs? So, since we anticipated using existing capital credits owned by the co-op members to finance a community development project, the commission found this to be unduly discriminatory. Initially, the commission felt that the project must bear the fully distributed costs, and numbers were developed in the range of approximately $6,000/mo to $14,000/mo per school! Of course, the school district could not afford such costs. Finally, after contributing to the lawyer full employment act, we were able to negotiate a reasonable settlement for the pilot project, which was defined to be for a period of five years, under a number of reporting and cost accounting requirements. At the end of the five year period, which expires 11/1/97, we will have to propose a tarrif or another special contract. My concerns deal mainly with the regulatory environment, and changes to the telecommunications funding mechanisms. As you may know, local competition directions are aimed at removing or altering many of the existing price support structures that presently finance local, and particularly rural, telephone companies. Additionally, the concept of a co-op seems to be fragile: If capital credits are not allowed to be returned to the infrastructure for community development, and must be returned to ratepayers, the difference between co-op members and stockholders becomes blurred. Thus the co-op becomes more like a for-profit company, concerned more with financial return to stockholders than community infrastructure development. It seems to me that co-ops could be the ideal situation for the development of community networks, but the regulatory environment seems to be a stumbling block. I know that the contributors to the price support structures don't like the idea of building community development networks in rural America, but they don't like the idea of price support structures in the first place. And rightfully so - they are being hit with competition in their areas from CAPS, who are not required to participate in the price support structures. So, I find this to be a very convoluted problem, and without very careful planning and thoughtful pending telecommunications legislation, I feel that a lot of people are going to be stuck in the breakdown lane of the information superhighway. And they will almost all be in rural America. So how can we get this thing off the ground and make the regulatory people happy, our finance officers happy (who are paranoid as @#%# about pending telecom reform legislation), contributors to price supports happy, and our users happy? Seriously, I would appreciate any ideas or contacts you may have with people who have implemented these networks under similar circumstances. Thanks, Richard Kenshalo Network Engineering Matanuska Telephone Association Palmer, Alaska pmrmk@tundra.alaska.edu 907-745-9575 From jloh@futon.sfsu.edu Mon Nov 14 14:00:34 1994 Received: from futon.sfsu.edu (futon.sfsu.edu [130.212.2.65]) by virtconf.digex.net (8.6.9/8.6.9) with SMTP id OAA25873 for ; Mon, 14 Nov 1994 14:00:32 -0800 Received: by futon.sfsu.edu (NX5.67e/NX3.0M) id AA11247; Mon, 14 Nov 94 10:52:37 -0800 From: Jonathan Loh Message-Id: <9411141852.AA11247@futon.sfsu.edu> Subject: Re: [REDEFUS:10] Public Accesss To: redefus@virtconf.ntia.doc.gov Date: Mon, 14 Nov 94 10:52:30 PST In-Reply-To: <9411141602.AA17892@efn.efn.org>; from "Stephen Brenner" at Nov 14, 94 11:11 am X-Mailer: ELM [version 2.3 PL10] > > Right now, due to economics, access to the Internet is heavily biased for > those who can afford their own computer. I'm a volunteer for the Eugene Free > Net (the Eugene node of Oregon Public Networking). We have a few projects in > the works for getting terminals out into publicly accessible places. I'd > like to hear from other groups who have successfully accomplished this kind > of public outreach. In what kinds of areas have you found the best response? > Where is the biggest need? What are some of the problems in maintaining and > supporting this kind of public access? > > Thanks, > > Steve > > I think this is kind of like TV Steve. Each person needs to buy his or her own. -- Jonathan jloh@futon.sfsu.edu **** Please quote from this message when responding --- Thanks! From jloh@futon.sfsu.edu Mon Nov 14 14:11:32 1994 Received: from futon.sfsu.edu (futon.sfsu.edu [130.212.2.65]) by virtconf.digex.net (8.6.9/8.6.9) with SMTP id OAA27654 for ; Mon, 14 Nov 1994 14:11:31 -0800 Received: by futon.sfsu.edu (NX5.67e/NX3.0M) id AA10892; Mon, 14 Nov 94 10:34:46 -0800 From: Jonathan Loh Message-Id: <9411141834.AA10892@futon.sfsu.edu> Subject: Re: [REDEFUS:10] Public Accesss To: redefus@virtconf.ntia.doc.gov Date: Mon, 14 Nov 94 10:34:37 PST In-Reply-To: <9411141602.AA17892@efn.efn.org>; from "Stephen Brenner" at Nov 14, 94 11:11 am X-Mailer: ELM [version 2.3 PL10] > > Right now, due to economics, access to the Internet is heavily biased for > those who can afford their own computer. I'm a volunteer for the Eugene Free > Net (the Eugene node of Oregon Public Networking). We have a few projects in > the works for getting terminals out into publicly accessible places. I'd > like to hear from other groups who have successfully accomplished this kind > of public outreach. In what kinds of areas have you found the best response? > Where is the biggest need? What are some of the problems in maintaining and > supporting this kind of public access? > I'm not sure it should be free. But I'll grant you that there shouldn't be an exhorbitant charge either. $10 to $20 a month should suffice. Why don't I think it should be free? Well the InterNet is not run by one single entity, rather it's run by the companies who have accounts on the Inet, government and academia, yes students also pay, it's included in your tuition. Like most networks the InterNet must be maintained. Are we as Netizens going for a free ride? It would be one4 thing if the Inet was a commercialized institution like Television. Where corporate sponsors pay for advertising. But on the net it's not like that. There is an increasing ammount of commercial ads which I see yes. But aI think it's still not at the level of even PBS. The one exception to this was that blatant piece of commercialism by Canter & Siegle. I think these pieces of commercialism are rare. On the net commercialism is rare usually limited to posts in specific newsgroups, or signatures. I think it is the duty of every individual to contribute some kind of money for the use of the net to support the upkeep of the net. ok ok maybe 10 or 20 is too much, too little, or whatever. The point I'm tring to make is that the responsibility of the upkeep of the net rests in no ones hands but the user's. -- Jonathan jloh@futon.sfsu.edu **** Please quote from this message when responding --- Thanks! From strait@sara.cpb.org Mon Nov 14 14:25:42 1994 Received: from sara.cpb.org (sara.cpb.org [198.187.60.3]) by virtconf.digex.net (8.6.9/8.6.9) with SMTP id OAA29947 for ; Mon, 14 Nov 1994 14:25:41 -0800 Received: by sara.cpb.org; id AA10500; Mon, 14 Nov 1994 14:24:05 -0500 Date: Mon, 14 Nov 1994 14:24:04 -0500 (EST) From: Michael Strait Subject: Re: [REDEFUS:1] NTIA Virtual Conference KeyNote Address To: redefus@virtconf.ntia.doc.gov In-Reply-To: <199411141707.JAA06933@virtconf.digex.net> Message-Id: Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII The opening question was, "what is the minimum 'basket' of basic services or capabilities that all Americans should be able to obtain today?" I think the simple answer to that is: single-line telephone service capable of supporting touch tone and computer modem exchange. Tomorrow is something else, but that should be the minimum today. Michael J. Strait strait@cpb.org Annenberg/CPB Projects 202-879-9649 Corporation for Public Broadcasting 202-783-1036 (fax) 901 E Street NW Washington, DC 20004 From jhav@cleo.bc.edu Mon Nov 14 14:26:34 1994 Received: from cleo.bc.edu (cleo.bc.edu [136.167.2.122]) by virtconf.digex.net (8.6.9/8.6.9) with SMTP id OAA00158 for ; Mon, 14 Nov 1994 14:26:33 -0800 From: jhav@cleo.bc.edu Received: from laf8.bc.edu by cleo.bc.edu (AIX 3.2/UCB 5.64/4.03) id AA18299; Mon, 14 Nov 1994 14:08:42 -0500 Date: Mon, 14 Nov 1994 15:26:53 +0000 Subject: Re: [REDEFUS:16] Re: Public Accesss To: redefus@virtconf.ntia.doc.gov In-Reply-To: <9411141852.AA11247@futon.sfsu.edu> Message-Id: Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; CHARSET=US-ASCII >> Right now, due to economics, access to the Internet is heavily biased for >> those who can afford their own computer ...[deleted]... What are some of >> the problems in maintaining and supporting this kind of public access? >> >> Thanks, >> >> Steve > >I think this is kind of like TV Steve. Each person needs to buy his or >her own. > >Jonathan >jloh@futon.sfsu.edu Perhaps a more apt analogy would be to a cable TV provider: There are fixed costs of owning computer equipment, and to date several libraries have been able to provide places to use such. Libraries, as several commentators have noted, would be logical places to install this equipment in order to give public access. There is less discussion, however, on how Libraries and local government might be stymied by changing standards and needs for adequate hardware. What might seem like 'one-time' investments rapidly become outdated and need replacement. Likewise this does not address issues of who will, or should, pay for the ongoing service charges for net access. Monthly fees can get quite high, especially for public access areas with high traffic, higher still in areas (such as rural U.S.) where there is little economic incentive to provide such service. I have seen proposals ranging from market-mechanism pay-as-you-play ones to others indicating that a fixed fee could be charged for access much like the postal $0.29 stamp used to mail anywhere in the U.S. (though this is an admittedly different model since it is a govermental monopoly rather than a market incentive as is being discussed here). Perhaps more policy-oriented views could be aired regarding: - Who should pay for hardware and what incentives should be used? - Who should pay, and what payment structure is best for services? - While 'public access' is sometimes considered either a necessity or a public good, what effects will the above choices make on a market that is still in the early stages of development? Specifically, will public access stunt market and technological development in the long term? Viraj Jha jhav@bcvms.bc.edu From conf@ba.com Mon Nov 14 14:49:30 1994 Received: from relay1.UU.NET (relay1.UU.NET [192.48.96.5]) by virtconf.digex.net (8.6.9/8.6.9) with ESMTP id OAA02484 for ; Mon, 14 Nov 1994 14:49:30 -0800 Received: from ba.com by relay1.UU.NET with SMTP id QQxqag22193; Mon, 14 Nov 1994 14:41:35 -0500 Received: by ba.com (4.1/SMI-4.1) id AA13289; Mon, 14 Nov 94 15:40:11 GMT Date: Mon, 14 Nov 1994 15:40:03 +0000 (GMT) From: NARUC Conference Sender: NARUC Conference Reply-To: NARUC Conference Subject: Re: [REDEFUS:18] Re: NTIA Virtual Conference KeyNote Address To: redefus@virtconf.ntia.doc.gov Cc: Multiple recipients of list In-Reply-To: Message-Id: Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; CHARSET=US-ASCII Hi, I'm Esther Nelson here at the NARUC Conference and I'm with US West and, speaking for myself, I agree with Michael. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ NARUC Conference Public Access Site | Internet: conf@ba.com Site Connection Provided Compliments of Bell Atlantic ------------------------------------------------------------------------ On Mon, 14 Nov 1994, Michael Strait wrote: > The opening question was, "what is the minimum 'basket' of basic > services or capabilities that all Americans should be able to obtain > today?" I think the simple answer to that is: single-line telephone > service capable of supporting touch tone and computer modem exchange. > Tomorrow is something else, but that should be the minimum today. > > > Michael J. Strait strait@cpb.org > Annenberg/CPB Projects 202-879-9649 > Corporation for Public Broadcasting 202-783-1036 (fax) > 901 E Street NW > Washington, DC 20004 > > From wc_resa@server.greatlakes.k12.mi.us Mon Nov 14 15:04:20 1994 Received: from merit.edu (merit.edu [35.1.1.42]) by virtconf.digex.net (8.6.9/8.6.9) with ESMTP id PAA03605 for ; Mon, 14 Nov 1994 15:04:20 -0800 Received: from server.greatlakes.k12.mi.us (server.greatlakes.k12.mi.us [198.108.4.7]) by merit.edu (8.6.8.1/merit-1.0) with SMTP id OAA11007 for ; Mon, 14 Nov 1994 14:56:25 -0500 Received: from [198.111.160.21] by server.greatlakes.k12.mi.us (4.1/1123-1.2) id AA07357; Mon, 14 Nov 94 14:18:29 EST Message-Id: <9411141918.AA07357@server.greatlakes.k12.mi.us> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Date: Mon, 14 Nov 1994 14:17:11 -0500 To: redefus@virtconf.ntia.doc.gov From: wc_resa@server.greatlakes.k12.mi.us (Wayne County RESA) Subject: Re: [REDEFUS:17] Re: Public Accesss >> >> Right now, due to economics, access to the Internet is heavily biased for >> those who can afford their own computer. I'm a volunteer for the Eugene Free >> Net (the Eugene node of Oregon Public Networking). We have a few projects in >> the works for getting terminals out into publicly accessible places. I'd >> like to hear from other groups who have successfully accomplished this kind >> of public outreach. In what kinds of areas have you found the best response? >> Where is the biggest need? What are some of the problems in maintaining and >> supporting this kind of public access? >> > >I'm not sure it should be free. But I'll grant you that there shouldn't >be an exhorbitant charge either. $10 to $20 a month should suffice. > >Why don't I think it should be free? > >Well the InterNet is not run by one single entity, rather it's run by >the companies who have accounts on the Inet, government and academia, >yes students also pay, it's included in your tuition. > >Like most networks the InterNet must be maintained. Are we as Netizens >going for a free ride? > >It would be one4 thing if the Inet was a commercialized institution like >Television. Where corporate sponsors pay for advertising. > >But on the net it's not like that. There is an increasing ammount of >commercial ads which I see yes. But aI think it's still not at the >level of even PBS. The one exception to this was that blatant piece of >commercialism by Canter & Siegle. I think these pieces of commercialism >are rare. > >On the net commercialism is rare usually limited to posts in specific >newsgroups, or signatures. > >I think it is the duty of every individual to contribute some kind of >money for the use of the net to support the upkeep of the net. >ok ok maybe 10 or 20 is too much, too little, or whatever. The point >I'm tring to make is that the responsibility of the upkeep of the net >rests in no ones hands but the user's. >-- >Jonathan >jloh@futon.sfsu.edu >**** Please quote from this message when responding --- Thanks! The net is certainly not free, I agree. We all pay to a certain degree for it. I am a little concerned about the commericialism aspect of it, though. I think if it is privatized we will see more ads. Seems logical. Why would someone pay good money to be on the net and not advertize their wares.I imagine it is inevitable but I would like the inevitable forestalled or better yet somehow modified so that information and the kinds of information is not compromised. From MCDANIEL@wvuadmin3.csc.wvu.edu Mon Nov 14 15:07:53 1994 Received: from nameserv.csc.wvu.edu (nameserv.csc.wvu.edu [157.182.140.5]) by virtconf.digex.net (8.6.9/8.6.9) with ESMTP id PAA03852 for ; Mon, 14 Nov 1994 15:07:53 -0800 Received: from wvuadmin3.csc.wvu.edu by nameserv.csc.wvu.edu (8.6.4/JLF-112293) id PAA02188; Mon, 14 Nov 1994 15:06:44 -0500 Received: from WVUADMIN3/SpoolDir by wvuadmin3.csc.wvu.edu (Mercury 1.13); Mon, 14 Nov 94 14:56:03 EST -0500GMT Received: from SpoolDir by WVUADMIN3 (Mercury 1.13); Mon, 14 Nov 94 14:55:40 EST -0500GMT From: "Lew McDaniel" Organization: WVU Computing Services To: redefus@virtconf.ntia.doc.gov Date: Mon, 14 Nov 1994 14:55:34 EST Subject: Re: [REDEFUS:15] Pilot Projects Priority: normal X-mailer: Pegasus Mail/Windows (v1.20) Message-ID: <3A45E1049AE@wvuadmin3.csc.wvu.edu> Richard Kenshalo ( Palmer, Alaska) says: > I feel that a lot of people are going > to be stuck in the breakdown lane of the information superhighway. > And they will almost all be in rural America. > I have the same fear. Here in WV, Bell Atlantic tells us they have installed the most modern fiber plant of any of the Baby Bells. Yet their plans call for delivery of advanced services (my term - actually movies on demand) to the Baltimore-Washington Metroplex, followed by Richmond, Pittsburgh, and maybe after that Charleston WV. Bell Atlantic says their return on investment is higher in those areas than in WV and they have stockholders to whom they must answer. Were I a stockholder, I mighty agree to their plan. (In fairness to BA, they are helping support K-12 in various programs now) But I am not. I live in a rural, economically depressed area where I see Interstate Highway system redux, except more so. 20 years after the Interstate program was started, we still have marginal highway access to our rural areas (some at our own choosing). In my opinion, information access is sufficiently important to be a guaranteed right. By guaranteed information access, I mean for K-12, adult education, health services, and government access. Movies on demand, games, and electronic shopping (ala the shopping channels) should be charged at an additional rate. I find it hard to believe a state can function in the 21st century without a solid information infrastructure and citizens with enough technological savvy to use it. Lew McDaniel Rural West Virginia From miriam@watson.ibm.com Mon Nov 14 15:08:10 1994 Received: from watson.ibm.com (watson.ibm.com [129.34.139.4]) by virtconf.digex.net (8.6.9/8.6.9) with SMTP id PAA03887 for ; Mon, 14 Nov 1994 15:08:10 -0800 From: miriam@watson.ibm.com Message-Id: <199411142308.PAA03887@virtconf.digex.net> Received: from YKTVMV by watson.ibm.com (IBM VM SMTP V2R3) with BSMTP id 7471; Mon, 14 Nov 94 15:00:27 EST Date: Mon, 14 Nov 94 15:00:15 EST To: redefus@virtconf.ntia.doc.gov Subject: [REDEFUS:21] Re: Public Accesss Ref: Your note of Mon, 14 Nov 1994 15:04:41 -0800 please cancel subscription