US/ND-1: Re: US-ND: Two issues
Re: US-ND: Two issues
Marty Tennant (marty@sccoast.net)
Thu, 29 Aug 1996 22:43:53 -0700
A careful review of my comments will reveal that I never proposed
that schools try to compete in the provision of Internet Services.
I specifically refered to dial tone and long distance services.
Resale of long distance, as many people are aware, can be highly
profitable. Look at the Telcos. Willing to sell their network
soul so they can do it themselves. Until the FCC issued their rules.
I see a separation between networks and the services provided on them.
The underlying networks are open game for all to resell at a profit.
Services from a variety of sources will be offered on them, maybe some from
schools and libraries.
Would I get my telephone service from my local school in the future,
knowing that I would be putting $3 or $4 every time I pay my bill into what
would hopefully be a long range technology fund? Yes.
Would I give it to the government and expect the same? Maybe, but I'd rather
have local people that I trusted make the decisions on what to do with the money,
with no strings attached.
Schools do fundraising all the time, utilizing incredible energy of students,
parents and teachers. Why not invest your time in something that will have
long term implications? In the case of my Mother's Alumni Assoc., it is run
by the long distance company, not the University or the association.
Schools don't need to turn into businesses. They are community and social
support systems. But any organization can benefit from being run like a
profitable business enterprise. Long term sources of funding, in this day
and age, is good business for education, whatever the source.
On a different subject, don't some schools in the prairie states own farmland
and rent it out to pay for education?
Marty Tennant