From: petrilli@nextover.pe.utexas.edu (Chris Petrilli)
Newsgroups: austin.public-net
Subject: Re: Let's do it NOW
Date: 16 Nov 92 16:40:08 GMT
Reply-To: petrilli@nextover.pe.utexas.edu
Distribution: austin

In article <83709@ut-emx.uucp> ja@ccwf.cc.utexas.edu (Jay Ashcraft) writes:
> CA proposal & Public Access for Austin with Internet and Local Austin
> Public Common Carrier Network.
> 
> * Project Name
> 
> On the issue of Connect * Austin proposal, I have reservations about
> the name in it's confusion with Connect * America here in Austin.  As
> a project name in would probably work.

Well, that was just a first shot at a project name, and it certainly isn't an  
important aspect of the project.  Anything that isn't too terribly contorted  
and has some meaning would work just as well.
 
> * Process and Goals
> 
> The other isssue I have is the process of stages and there order.  It
> would seem to me that an Internet connection would be the primary
> focus as without it we have nothing new.  There are plenty of unix or
> free bbs's here in town but none that are free with a live internet
> connection.  This would be why people would gravitate to such a true
> public site. It is what would distinguish it from the others.

Well, this was a minimum idea, working from minimum resources.  If we could  
start on Internet, then we would most certainly do so, but if we couldn't  
(which is what the proposal assumed), then the stages would be necessary.  
Also, a staged entry of Internet would allow people to use Internet before  
they start putting their home machines on Internet.

> Secondly, it would seem an appropriate approach that all three stages
> should be happening in parallel rather than one, then two, then three.
> Perhaps even a UNIX 486 box with a few lines and a live internet
> connection as a goal by the end of the year, and then be working on
> getting a more powerful computer, developing the infrastucture of the
> local net, the connections.

All the stages were designed to be running parallel.  Hopefully end of the  
year isn't going to be much of a problem.  

> For the earlier goal we would have visabilty and could easily put this
> box at UT or Dell or at the Austin, Peace and Justice building at 4th
> and Congress and give public walk-in access.  From the center of town
> anyone could walk in and have a gopher menu and we could begin setting
> up all the links too existing data, while developing others and
> placing them in an existing space, accessable to all. And anyone could
> do it.  Now!.  

I agree, but I don't know that the public access lab will be available or  
feasable from the start, but certainly it is one of the first things that  
should be worked on.  The APL (Austin Public Library) is a good place to  
stick the machines, as it is already an "information source" and hence people  
would think of it before they might some other location.

> If Dell or UT would give us a SLIP connection, we could do it from
> downtown in a few weeks and then be working on the setting up of the
> infrastucture for the local net.  We could even link High Times Bar's
> 286 to the 486 at the public non-profit site which is about 500 feet
> away.

High Time is a good idea.  As for UT, I think right now it would be nearly  
impossible, and Dell is a much more "relaxed" place to deal with.  In my  
personal opinion (and this most certainly would be disagreed with by the  
administration), UT is not terribly concerned with "giving" to the community,  
whereas Dell seems to be much more dedicated.

> * Connect as many folks as possible
> 
> Yes, something now is better than nothing then.  I truly feel that as
> many as possible should be able to connect and without any
> discrimination.  If you breathe you can have access.

Well, adding people who are blind/deaf will have to come slowly, but that is  
also something that we've thought about, is how to provide access for those  
without the ability to use a normal computer system effectively.

> * FREE SERVICE
> 
> Yes, it must be free, free for all.  Other tiers can cost.

Free in all respects, including encumbrances of legal hassles.

> * Desseminate Info
> 
> Yes, and much is available nationally now via the Internet but only
> available to the privilaged few whom have access.

An unintentional thing, but none-the-less more a situation of cost rather  
than intentional situation. And I think there needs to be an emphasis on  
local information and resources.

> * Public Forum
>  
> Yes with Usenet it exists and on a local level can only grow with
> austin.public-net.sub-discussions.

Well, a "forum" in my mind consists of more than UseNet newsgroups.  That  
would include whole sections of the system that are "playgrounds" for groups  
to test ideas.  Give people the resources and they will surprise you with  
their ideas.

> * Non-Profit Status
> 
> Available Now under the organization I belong The Council for Public
> Media in association with Alternative Networks Inc.  which has for
> many years produced the Public Access show Alternative Views and
> distributed to over 150 different areas weekly.  I'm sure we can go
> under this for the interim and have tax-deductable status.  If you
> need a letter ask and I'll get a copy.  Also, I will put together the
> needed legal papers to be a non-profit this week and we can do that
> now as well.

I think this project will end up being large enough to warrant it's own  
corporation.  It's goals don't totally overlap with any existing group that I  
know of. But for interim situations, perhaps this would work, then spin the  
group off as another organization in 3-6 months.  The hardest part is getting  
a board put together.

> * Funding of the project
> 
> You get the box and the internet connection and I'll find a place at
> the Austin Peace and Justice building, if that is the best place.  Or
> UT or Dell if we could be on the ethernet from there as a physical
> place to put the box.  Ideally, a public place as the Austin Peace and
> Justice would work as it is a group of non-profits sharing the space.
> We could maybe put it in the ACLU's space and then see someone try and
> pull so government police state stuff.  That would be protection.  As
> far as $$ how 'bout cost analysis on costs, phones etc. Equipment 
> donations? Sources for funding? United Way?

ACLU is an amusing idea.  Right now, I think Dell is our best shot, but we're  
going to have to work with them some more.  I can do some cost analysis on  
what it is going to cost to run the organization.  It will eventually require  
a "staff" (if only 2-3 people) to run it as the complexity increases I think,  
but I think it will be OK from the start as a volunteer organization.

> * Access Methods
> 
> Well, downtown could provide the walk in, dial-up and internet as
> well, though the big machine might be best served by finding a secure
> cubbyhole at UT on the FDDI.

Again, UT will most likely be a problem, but there are other networks in  
Austin that might be usable, such AISD's fiber optic network.

> * City Info
> 
> The city and Capitol Metro and ACC could provide links via the I-net
> and X-net if they wanted.  I have the Access TV and some computer
> Images stuff already on the Bongo Gopher.

Good ;-)

> * Name of Local Net
> 
> Quite possibly we could use the name as the newsgroup
> austin.public-net or Austin Public Net Inc. for the non-profit
> corporation.
>  
> On feedback to the local network name I discovered three corporations
> which have the AMNET name.
> 
> NAME:   ADVANTAGE MORTGAGE NETWORK, INC. ( AMNET) 
> 
> NAME:   AMNET,  INC.
> 
> NAME:   AMNET/ AMERICAN NETWORK OF REAL ESTATE SERVICES, INC.
> 
> The last one has disolved but brings issues about the unavailabilty
> of use of the name.

Well, the consideration is I believe if the two companies share a common  
goal, just a with Trademark infringement.  I don't think anyone would confuse  
a IP network with a mortgage company :-) Again, it is only a first attempt at  
a name however.

I am going to try and post an ASCII copy of our proposal for everyone to  
read, as it is already available via Internet.  If you want it, here's the  
information you need:

	Machine:	nextover.pe.utexas.edu
	Directory:	/pub/ConnectAustin
	File:		ConnectAustin.*
	Formats:	FrameMaker 3.0 (.frame)
			FrameMaker Interchange Format (.frameif)
			PostScript (.ps)
			ASCII (.txt)

Please feel free to contact either myself or the other author listed in the  
document with ideas, criticisms, etc.  This isn't a project for just 2  
people, it's a project for everyone to work on.

Chris
--
| Chris Petrilli
| petrilli@nextover.pe.utexas.edu, petrilli@gnu.ai.mit.edu
| All opinions are my own, if they even belong to anyone.
Newsgroups: austin.public-net