From: squatch@Athena.MIT.EDU
Message-Id: <9306082122.AA29607@m11-113-13>
To: et-people@Athena.MIT.EDU
Subject: more on the INTERNET
Date: Tue, 08 Jun 93 17:22:36 EDT


Here's the latest I have on the INERNET stuff:

- ---------- Text of forwarded message ----------
Date: Tue, 8 Jun 1993 13:13:43 EDT
From: John Clement <JRC@bitnic.bitnet>
To: Multiple recipients of list COSNDISC <COSNDISC@bitnic.bitnet>
Subject: Internet protest, please distribute

This is a rejoinder from Steve Wolff of the CISE directorate of the National
Science Foundation, a responsible officer in short, to the earlier message
posted about the congressional debate on access to the Internet.
John Clement===========================.============================

>Date: Mon, 07 Jun 93 07:54:12 EDT
>From: Stephen Wolff <steve@cise.cise.nsf.gov>
>
>This is the responsible office in the NSF, and I am the responsible person.
>
>There is no "plan to limit free use of INTERNET..."
>
>In the first place, there is no such thing as "free use of INTERNET".  Each
>and every institution with Internet access pays a service provider real money
>every year for the institution's connection.  Most institutions do not
>however trickle those charges down to users, but pay for them out of general
>operating funds.
>
>Service providers, most of whom serve a limited geographical area, attain
>national and international coverage via the NSFNET BackBone Service, which
>has hitherto been centrally funded by an award to Merit, Inc. and provided
>to the regional service providers at no charge.
>
>Since the beginning of the current NSFNET Backbone Service in 1987, a lively
>and competitive commercial market in Internet carriage has emerged, with
>multiple vendors offering robust, nationwide, commodity-level services.
>Continued centralized funding of a Backbone Service by the Foundation is no
>longer justified, as it would place the Federal government in direct
>competition with the private sector.
>
>Awards made under the currently active solicitation will include awards to
>regional networks to purchase backbone service on the open market.  That is,
>the NSF will switch from supplier funding to user funding.
>
>The NSF is committed to continuity of network service to the research and
>education community; we will take whatever steps are necessary to assure it.
>
>- -s


    Dr. Nora H. Sabelli
    Program Director, Applications of Advanced Technologies,
    Education and Human Resources,
    National Science Foundation
    Room 1227, 1800 G Street NW
    Washington, DC 20550
    Phone: (202) 357-7064 Fax: (202) 357-9805