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Approved-By:  Vigdor Schreibman - Federal Information News Synd
              <fins@ACCESS.DIGEX.COM>
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.pacs-l
Date:         Tue, 26 Jan 1993 11:13:24 CDT
Reply-To:     Vigdor Schreibman - Federal Information News Synd
              <fins@access.digex.com>
Comments:     Warning -- original Sender: tag was fins@ACCESS.DIGEX.COM
From:         Vigdor Schreibman - Federal Information News Synd
              <fins@access.digex.com>
Subject:      Industry Plans "Hostile Takeover" of the NII

----------------------------Original message----------------------------

Sometime last friday afternoon I sent a message to a number of
interest-groups active on the internet, asking them whether they "desire
vital news columns pertaining to the future of the proposed National
Information Infrastructure." The next evening, w ithout objection from any
group, I transmitted my report on the subject of "Industry Plans 'Hostile
Takeover' of NII." A few hours later, the Anthro-l, notified me that they
had successfully distributed my mail to the list.  Later, on Monday
evening Hugh Jarvis, co-owner of Anthro-l, reaffirmed his decision and
notified me that "Yes please, all such info would be very greatly
appreciated." Similar notification has come from John B. Harlan, owner of
the Library list, and from others such as Archives, Gov doc-l, etc., who
make up the heart and spirit of the information community.  On the other
hand, Lyonette Louis-Jacques, of INT-LAW has questioned the relevance of
my column to foreign and international law, while John Murray of Ontario,
Canada, and Roger Mackenzie of Warkworth, New Zealand have expressed
satisfaction with the relevance of my column to such matters.  Of course,
I will honor the desire of INT-LAW participants to be included, or
excluded, from this discussion.

Now that the fat is in the fire, some explanation from me of the
background of this story and what I wanted to accomplish, may be helpful.
The basic purpose of FINS is to communicate the emerging philosophy of the
Information Age.  Toward that end, my r ecent column was intended to
provoke frank commentary pertaining to two important issues confronting
this nation, which are in my view the root of all contemporary problems of
governance:  (1) the conduct of public officials in sanctioning the brazen
play of insider politics, even as they hypocritically entreat the players,
"Let us give this Capital back to the people to whom it belongs"; and (2)
the fundamental tenet of republican governance that the people must have
an opportunity to participate meaning fully in the process of decision
making by public and private organizations that directly affect their
lives, which the Computer-Information Industries have sought to defeat by
their recent conduct.

Actions by industry pertaining to planning for the proposed
National Information Infrastructure, which impact upon those root problems
provided the essential context for this story, which is most relevant to
this network.  Understandably, the whole subje ct involving the regulatory
scheme for broadcasting, planning a global communications and information
network, and the aspiration of citizen participation in such matters, is a
composite of dense considerations, involving facts that are uncertain and
comp lex. No one person can possibly understand all these matters,
however, we must either collectively come to grips with such issues are
resign ourselves to a form of slavery driven by the macabre march of
machines that we have invented to extend the powers of our bodies.  This
is the character of our civilization, we can understand only by a
continuing collaboration and working through of the issues.  The
simplistic attempt by some people, trying desperately to preserve the
status quo, to resolve all of the se issues through the power-driven
market system, is hopelessly out of date.  An atomized response system,
which arises through the market place cannot possibly respond to such
complexities.  We must find a more thoughtful, purposeful, and
collaborative r esponse.  This is the essence of the Internet mission!

 I have presented the column to a number of interest groups active on the
Internet, who are affected by such matters, so that all relevant
perspectives may be taken into consideration.  The process of bringing all
the relevant groups into this dialogue h as yet to be completed, because
of my own ignorance of who they are, how to find them, and how to make
contact.  But I will find the right answer to this problem, shortly, with
your help.

It is unfortunate that some people have expressed fear or derision
of this broad, inclusive approach, but it is clear from early responses
that people do have very different perspectives, which altogether
determine the meaning of our realities.  Similarl y, it is the traditional
in the Capital to tailor all behavior so as to avoid squarely confronting
any important problems and the power blocks that are most troublesome.  I
reject this approach to problem solving, avoidance never solved anything.
It is a lso the traditional view that journalists should always report a
value-free, objective view of relevant realities.  I also reject this
concept as preposterous.  There never has been a value-free report, people
simply do not and cannot think or act without guidance from their own
value-directed, cognitive program. I would rather admit this absolutely
unavoidable condition of humanity openly than make any superficial attempt
to cloak my own world-view pertaining to the subject of my reports.

Finally, and most importantly, I urge everyone to express their
frank criticism, comments, or support of the facts and conclusions that I
have reported to the best of their professional ability.  An examination
of the important issues facing society in this spirit is the core purpose
of the Internet, which we have the responsibility to fulfill.  I am ready
to substantiate each statement made, to the best of my professional
ability, and to work with networkers both to help clarify the important
elements raised, as well as to adjust my own view of such matters to the
larger truths that I hope will emerge from this dynamic collaborative and
educational effort.

Vigdor Schreibman, Editor & Publisher
Federal Information News Syndicate
18 - 9th Street NE #206
Washington, DC 20002-6042
Voice/Fax 202-547-6106
Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU