From: ashcraft@ccwf.cc.utexas.edu (Jay Ashcraft)
Newsgroups: austin.public-net
Subject: Minutes
Date: 22 Nov 92 22:27:42 GMT
Reply-To: ashcraft@ccwf.cc.utexas.edu (Jay Ashcraft)
Distribution: austin
Organization: The University of Texas at Austin, Austin TX
Originator: ashcraft@minnie.cc.utexas.edu

Most of the Stuff on Austin Public Net is available
for ftp via bongo.cc.utexas.edu 
in pub/output/Austin_Public_Net

or via gopher on bongo in the same area: 
3.CC-FTP/ 4.Output Magazine/ 5.Austin Public Net

MINUTES:

Saturday 14, 1992 informal meeting @ Martin Brothers:

The discusion varied from one end of the table to
the other as it was a long table of about twenty folks.

Much of the discusion was about vision for the 21st century
of building the data highways for austin and connecting
everyone while meeting the needs for the local bandwith
for the 21st century and issues of covergence of media. 

Also, there was discusion on how we could get something
done now.  What could be done. What organizational needs 
we might need and finally who, when, where and how we could 
get the system and implement it. 

Jay said he could umbrella the project NOW with tax-deductable
status under the Alternative Information Network Inc. a 
local non-profit with a track record since 1980 and with
tax-deductable status.  He stated that the Council for
Public Media which he is associated is covered by this 
corporation and that what we were doing was within the 
goals of the organization.  

Also, that when the new corporation was approved 
that the assets could be transfered.

Bob committed to send the C*A proposal to get a machine.
Chris (Max) to talk to Dell.
Jay to draft corporation papers for the organization.

Lisa listed her concern on how the organization should
be organized, dangers of a self-perpetuating group vs.
anarchy vs. a democratic of the people group.

I think the consensus was a little of all.  First, a group
of core folks willing to commit to get it done, a dash of
anarchy to void any control of the people and to do our best
to avoid getting bogged down in red tape, and of course
the pilot issue to provide the public a unix site accessable
to all and for free with connectivity.

Later there was discusion about just providing a transport
to interconnect local machines and stay immune from legal
issues such as obsenity, censorship, control and government
seizure.  

Lisa also spoke of interconnecting the libraries and making 
inroads to reach this goal.

In conclusion, we decided to move forward and do it ASAP
with the primary goal to provide a system and interconnectivity.
The next meeting to take place the 21st of November @ Max's (Chris).

- Sept. 21, 1992 at Max's (Chris) home:


The discusion began with Chris P. talking about different
hardware and it's resource capabilities/limitations.
He stated that minimal config besides a box would take a 
router at a cost of $5000.00 to hook up to the internet.  
Phone lines with a trunk of 24 lines cost about 180-200 month 
not including channel services.  He said a T1 line runs about 1600 
month for < 100 miles. Also, that 56K leaselines run about 500-600.  
He continued talking about hardware possibilities, placement of the 
system, and current local resources.

Tim spoke about the transport/network and about the possibilty of
a seamless interface of all local BBS's wherein folks could "point
and click" from a central base to connect to the other boards in town.
Chris P., Michael C., I believe and others shared that most the BBS's
are not on multi-tasking operating systems and that this approach from 
the get-go was not really an option.  Chris P. pointed out that we could, 
depending on resources, provide different groups space off the main system 
to have areas of interest, other BBS's SIG's etc.  The best approach would 
be to allocate space like other systems such as the well or peacenet do. 
Lastly, that in the longer-term such an interconnection of local machines 
could possibly become feasible.

The next item discussed was the Incorporation of the group as
Austin Public Net Inc.  Its purpose: to setup and maintain a 
public computer system and develop a computer network and 
infrastructure for the Austin Metropolitan Area and to take 
whatever steps neccessary to reach this goal.

It was decided to go ahead and get the process rolling and the
first meeting to take place tenatively December 12th at a place 
yet to be determined.

Discusion on the proposed by-laws took place. Lisa stated she
thought there should be some changes and will work on her ideas
while Micheal Cheselka said he would forward cactus.org by-laws
and said that Ed Cavasos at tic.com of EFF would be glad to review
or give feedback and forward EFF's By-laws.  Jay said he would see
if Mike Godwin might review the proposed papers legal stuff for input.

Chris (Max) said he would continue to talk with folks for room, connection.
Chris P. said that he would work with Bob to get hardware.

People left with gracious thanks to Max (Chris) and family for their
hospitality, food and refreshments.

by:
Jay Ashcraft
ashcraft@ccwf.utexas.edu

In attendance: 

lisa deGruyter ldeg@tenet.edu, 
alan peery peery@gluttony.tamu.edu,
john & diana shomaker lusty@fermat.dartmouth.edu, 
timothy sheridan sparky@wixer.cactus.org, 
michael cheselka cheselka@cactus.org 
chris nystrom, aka Max Cray max@underg.ucf.org 
chris petrilli petrilli@nextover.pe.utexas.edu

and others maybe