US/ND-2: Why the Internet?

Why the Internet?

Bob Carlitz (bob@info-ren.pitt.edu)
Wed, 4 Sep 1996 14:43:01 -0400 (EDT) 

This is partly a response to some comments from Steve Kohn and partly
an explanation of why the Internet gets mentioned again and again
in discussions surrounding Universal Service subsidies for schools
and libraries.

The key to an understanding of why the Internet is such an important
resource for schools and libraries is SCALABILITY.  The Internet has
a structure which allows it to accommodate increasing numbers of users
at a given site or at multiple sites in a region without a wholesale
re-engineering of the system and without costs which grow in strict
proportion to the number of users.

The reason for the Internet's scalability has to do with the manner
in which it makes use of shared infrastructure, whether it be in
terms of shared space on servers, shared use of a Local Area Network
or shared infrastructure on the Wide Area Network or Internet proper.

I don't believe that any other telecommunications services provide
two-way communications with anything approaching the efficiency of
the Internet.  This is why Internet access for all schools and classrooms
is an economic possibility.  And this is why discussions of
the implementation of Universal Service provisions for schools and
libraries must ultimately involve the Internet.  While other
services may be very attractive, most of these services will always
be very limited in their use, because they lack the scalability 
to make them affordable for implementation on a large scale.

As technologies evolve we'll probably see other examples which equal
the Internet in terms of scalability and affordability.  This is why
it's probably wise to develop language for Universal Service subsidies
which is not too technology-specific.  On the other hand it's important
to keep in the mind the goals of the Telecommunications Act, which
speak of access from every classroom and library, and which hence
imply a scalable infrastructure underlying whatever services may be
contemplated.

Bob Carlitz
Moderator