From: max@underg.ucf.org (Max Cray)
Newsgroups: austin.public-net
Subject: Re: Let's do it NOW
Keywords: public net austin free
Date: Sun, 22 Nov 92 00:26:05 CST
Organization: Underground Computing Foundation

sblair@upurbmw.dell.com () writes:

> 1) As the person responsible for DELL's internet connection, contrary
> to others' postings, I have *NEVER* said we will take this on at DELL.

I hope I am not the guilty party here. I thought I was clear in my posts
that I had spoken to you, and that you were interested, but that it was
not approved. I do think it is important to let people know that it is
not just a dream and that we are talking to people, and that we are
working on making it happen.
 
> 2) As one of the people responsible for a large # of Modem serivices
> here at DELL, I have *NEVER* committed Modem &/or phone lines.

This comes from some rumour about cactus.org support or something. I
would like to here more about how you think the arrangements could
be worked out. Details like machine location, access, phone lines,
etc. Your presence is certainly helpful in clarifying what is being
discussed.
 
> Now to rehash what I've told to no less than several callers to me:

Sorry about this. We are still getting organized. We are going to have
one person to work with you so this will not be a problem in the
future, either Bob Izenberg or myself, or better yet, come to one of the
organizational meetings if you can.

> 1) I'm not sure the NSF AUP(Acceptable Use Policy) would allow
> DELL, or any *other* comercial Austin Internet site the option
> to host such a system. I am checking with various parties, including
> our legal folks(as soon as I can get them) whether anyone can do so.

This is great. We need to know this.

> 2) I've only committed to investigate interally to DELL as folks
> here might be interested. No more, no less. Towards that end, I've
> spoken with but a few of the folks internal to here that would quite a
> bit of say so. No decision is anywhere near "in site".

Thanks. This is all we can ask for. We really appreciate your help.

> 3) I'm not 100% convinced that anyone supporting this FreeNet project
> save jsq, and a few others(myself too) are aware of the amount of 
> startup work, ongoing work, or "daily care and feeding" that an Internet
> connection requires. Several other site admins have stated that by
> the end of their day at work, the last(!!) thing they wish to
> do is to run yet another Internet site. That directly implies that
> it may take untrained, or "new to Internet site maintenance" folks to
> get such a project "on the net".

This is true and it is a real problem, but judging from the mail, and
contacts I have made there are quite a few very capable technicians who
want to do it. Since in many ways this is an educational project, having
people 'new to Internet site maintenance' is not a bad thing. Learning
by doing is one of the best ways.
   Also this is not a problem until we have the net connection. First
things first. What we need now is the connection. Without it we have
nothing. We might as well get to it, if we are going to get it done.

> Now then, in all honesty, this is still(as I've stated to several folks 
> verbally) as far as I'm currently concerned, a very infant project. The
> amount of work, time, and maintenance, as well as bills, may well
> stop this from happening. May not also.

Very true, and prior planning helps, but I agree with what jsq said at
the meeting: Let's just do it!

> In no way do I wish the project ill; IMHO it's quite an interesting
> project to undertake, I just wish everyone knew what we go through
> running sites. UUCP == running an Internet site.

I agree and I think that is why this project is so important. You can't
just walk into IBM and ask to run thier Internet site, but if we had
a public access site, that folks could volunteer to help run, then
they could learn what it takes to run a site.

                                          -= Max =-

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