US/ND-2: Reply to Ronda's Reply
Reply to Ronda's Reply
Steve Kohn (NOTES.SKOHN@A50VM1.trg.nynex.COM)
01 Sep 1996 10:48:10 GMT
Replies to Ronda's replies. And I agree with the moderator's note.
> But who is working on making Internet access, particularly access
> to the worldwide communication that the Internet makes possible
> available to everyone in the U.S.? That's why the concept of
> POTS (Plain Old Telephone Service) was so important as it provided
> a minimum that would be available to everyone.
>
> It seems once you start saying there is no need for a minimum
> service, you can argue for all sorts of things, but the minimum
> gets lost and therefore not available.
Reply:
In my mind once you have defined a minimum, you might just have also
defined the maximum.
I think the full range of telecommunications services should be available to
schools via US.
Again, I don't think we should fixate on Internet access as the solution
to all of the needs of education.
> I've wondered why NYNEX hasn't helped there to be a free-net or
> community network in NYC. NYC is a major city and yet it is
> backward in what it offers its citizens. Several of us presented
> talks at the NYPL (New York Public Library) about the important
> communications that the Internet made possible. Many people came
> to the talks. Several of those who came felt it was crucial
> for NYC to have some form of community network that would provide
> basic access to Usenet newsgroups and email and a text based
> browser like the Freenets and community networks provide in
> many other cities around the U.S. and in a number of cities in
> Canada. The talks were announced in lots of the local
> newspapers that announce events. Also, the talks were announced on
> Usenet. I would have expected someone from NYNEX to have been
> interested. However, no one got in contact with us or seemed
> interested.
Reply:
It sounds like an interesting discussion and if I had known about it I would
have probably attended.
I live on Long Island so I don't read the local NYC papers and even though I'm
on the Internet daily, I don't participate in Usenet newsgroups yet. So...
next time you are going to have a meeting please email me with the info.
Thanks
> That's why it seems that there needs to be some government provision
> identifying what is a minimum standard and providing the regulation
> to provide for it. Otherwise it would seem that the teleco's would
> determine what they think is needed, and citizens will be considered
> "customers" rather than citizens.
Reply:
I think you have a misconception on how this procedure is going to be rolled
out. Telcos will not be deciding what is offerred to schools and
libraries - the FCC will. See above for comments on minimum standards.
> Steve, is there some reason that NYNEX isn't in support of having
> a Freenet or local community network like the Cleveland Free-Net in
> New York City? Is there some reason that they haven't been encouraging
> to have such a minimal set of access to Usenet newsgroups, email
> and a text based browser made available to everyone at a low or
> free cost so that people will have some minimal level of Internet
> connection available as people in the U.S. in other cities like
> Cleveland, and Youngstown, and Washington D.C. and Los Angeles, etc.
> have available?
Reply:
Access isn't the limiting factor for people to participate in free-nets. More
people have phone service. How many people have PCs equipped with modems???
I can't speak for NYNEX, put I think we would be more than willing to
sit down with any group that is thinking about forming a freenet in
NYC. Please see other discussion on this board concerning the Buffalo
freenet and NYNEX's involvement.
> Ronda
> rh120@columbia.edu