From ntia  Mon Nov 14 09:07:56 1994
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Date: Mon, 14 Nov 1994 09:07:56 -0800
From: NTIA Virtual Conference <ntia>
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
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From: Don Evans <don@dcez.com>
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Subscribe Donald F. Evans

From 11DTODD@gallua.gallaudet.edu  Mon Nov 14 09:26:03 1994
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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
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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
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From: Alison Andrukow <andrukow@cspo.QueensU.CA>
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sign me up.  ALison.
From gcvander@facstaff.wisc.edu  Mon Nov 14 10:05:21 1994
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From: gcvander@facstaff.wisc.edu (Gregg Vanderheiden)
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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
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cancel subscription redefus Dave Porter 
From redefus@ga295a.attmail.com  Mon Nov 14 10:25:19 1994
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cancel subscription redefus ga295a!redefus 
From <@QUCDN.QueensU.CA:andrukow@cspo.QueensU.CA>  Mon Nov 14 10:34:27 1994
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Subscribe Alison Andrukow
From sbrenner@efn.org  Mon Nov 14 11:11:04 1994
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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: <PC Eudora Version 1.4>

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
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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
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subscribe wvia

From adelson@crab.rutgers.edu  Mon Nov 14 11:37:22 1994
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From: adelson@crab.rutgers.edu (Beth Adelson)
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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
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From: Joe Mortz <joemortz@rain.org>
To: opnacces@virtconf.ntia.doc.gov, redefus@virtconf.ntia.doc.gov
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Subject: NTIA hearings staff reports, request
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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
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Date: Mon, 14 Nov 1994 07:53:58 -0800
From: RICHARD M KENSHALO <PMRMK@tundra.alaska.edu>
Subject: Pilot Projects
To: redefus@virtconf.ntia.doc.gov
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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
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From: Jonathan Loh <jloh@futon.sfsu.edu>
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
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From: Jonathan Loh <jloh@futon.sfsu.edu>
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
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Date: Mon, 14 Nov 1994 14:24:04 -0500 (EST)
From: Michael Strait <strait@cpb.org>
Subject: Re: [REDEFUS:1] NTIA Virtual Conference KeyNote Address
To: redefus@virtconf.ntia.doc.gov
In-Reply-To: <199411141707.JAA06933@virtconf.digex.net>
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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
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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>
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>> 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
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Subject: Re: [REDEFUS:18] Re: NTIA Virtual Conference KeyNote Address
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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
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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
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From: "Lew McDaniel" <MCDANIEL@wvuadmin3.csc.wvu.edu>
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
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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
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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

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