From: eah@xenitec.on.ca (Ed Hew)
Subject: low volume mail/news should be free! (was Re: Normal email and news for as low as $5 per month *)
Organization: XeniTec Consulting, Kitchener, Ontario, CANADA
Distribution: kw
Date: Thu, 19 Nov 1992 02:20:38 GMT
Followup-To: kw.uucp
Keywords: email,news    

In article <BxxA1v.6t3@u36.kwnet.on.ca> sean@u36.kwnet.on.ca (Sean Goggin) writes:
>Announcing 
>		KWNet
>		_____
>	[...]
>Normal email and news for as low as $5 per month *
>
>	Basic Service 
>	$7 	1 month rate
>	$20	4 month rate 
	[...]

Ladies and gentlemen,

For years the (now) larger sites in KW have propagated mail and news
for free for the smaller sites, often at substantial expense to
themselves.  We don't generally ask for money, but are gratified with
the periodic thank you from those we help.  Funny thing, we collectively
still do this, and as a result the KW downstream has grown substantially.
Historically, we've always strived to provide an entry point into the
wonderful world of USENET for those who otherwise would be unable to get
a connection.

I suppose that those who are paying for the service may plead poverty
and nicely request donations, but really, re-selling a low-volume
service that should be given away is crossing the line somewhat.

Very simply, those with volume substantial enough to be noticed should
be talking directly to either uunet.ca or your local friendly ONet host.
If your volume is so small as to be negligible, then I see no reason
why you should be asked to pay until you grow to a size where it is
warranted.

While I'm not adding _new_ uucp mail/news feeds here, I still maintain
quite a few of the old ones.  (The larger now talk to uunet.ca directly.)
We also provide news feeds (up to _full_) for our established historical
connections when we know they support the people who bring news and mail
into the city.  Obviously, we strongly encourage the propagation of news.

If you're one of the many who have historically benefited from free
service, you may wish to send me some quick email indicating (or
confirming your past indication) to take on new feeds, and authorizing
me to direct those small enough and in need, to you.

If you're one of those newbies stuck between a rock and a hard place,
send me a note (oh no! yet more email! ughh), and I'll refer you to
one of the above.  My last referral was yesterday, I expect the future
will bring more.  Call it a no-charge clearing house if you will.

Just one note of caution...when you do grow large enough to be noticed,
then it _will_ be fair for you to pay for your service.  Just remember
the two organizations (no, I'm not talking about xenitec) who make it
possible to have connectivity in and out of KW.  Virtually all mail/news
flows in and out of KW via uunet.ca (CIX - the commercial Internet)
and/or ONET members.  If you're going to buy service, then support those
who make service possible and without whom there would be none.

Many have gone to great lengths to ensure the "sprit of USENET" stays
alive in KW (not to mention Canada).  I see no reason why it should
now meet an untimely demise.

[an additional note:  kw.uucp is _not_ the newsgroup to which to post
 commercial offerings.  The crossposting to which this is a follow-up
 is inappropriate.  Please restrict such to appropriate "forsale"
 newsgroups.  kw.uucp is intended for local connectivity _discussions_
 and service interruption notices.]

                --ed            (Ed Hew)
--
        XeniTec Consulting Services             <edhew@xenitec.on.ca>
Xref: sparky kw.forsale:1099 ont.forsale:1270