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=========================================================================
SUBSCRIBERS
This new newsletter COM NET NEWS (CNN) will provide a brief monthly
roundup of news and information that is important to the community
networking community. COM NET NEWS, will, by choice, also contain
editorial
comment, which hopefully will stimulate discussion, argument, and action.
I will cover community networking, conferences, educational, and
commercial applications.
******************************************************************
COM NET NEWS is solely under my editorship, and is unrelated and
independent of the La Plaza Telecommunity, of which I am vice
president. The editorial comment is my own and does not reflect in
any way on La Plaza.
You may reproduce or publish any parts of this newsletter and distribute
it
electronically or in paper format. However, any reproduction or publishing
of
CNN material must be accompanied by the following reference:
>From COM NET NEWS:
Richard W. Bryant, Ph.D., Editor & Publisher
RW Bryant Associates
P.O. Box 1828
El Prado, NM 87529
Tel/fax: 505-758-1919
rbryant@hydra.unm.edu
***********************************************************************
***********************************************************************
COM NET NEWS
Vol. 1 No. 1 APRIL 1994
ALBUQUERQUE INFORMATION SUPERHIGHWAY SEMINAR
The first Information Superhighway Seminar in Albuquerque, New
Mexico was held on Thursday and Friday, March 24th and 25th. This
meeting was jointly sponsored by the Albuquerque Chamber of
Commerce, US West, MCI, Jones Intercable, and NM Technet. It was
held in conjunction with the Albuquerque Business Fair. The two-
day meeting was very well attended, implying a serious interest in
the so-called Information Superhighway.
The keynote speakers were Jim O'Brien, President of Jones
Intercable Inc. and Roanne Robinson, Deputy Director of the National
Telecommunications and Information Administration, U.S.
Department of Commerce. Other speakers on the first day of the
conference included: Chris Bowick, Group Vice President, Technology,
Jones Intercable; Jon Curran, Regional Manager, AT&T; Rob Smith,
Vice President, Advanced Systems Networks, Microelectronics &
Computer Corporation (MCC); Jeff Sterba, Vice President, Finance
Development, Public Service Company of New Mexico; Tom Garcia,
Vice President New Mexico, US West; Mort Aaronson, Vice President,
Large Accounts and Global Marketing, MCI Business Markets.
Speakers for the second day of the conference included: Robert
Raisch, President, The Internet Company; Fred Smith, President, High
Tech Computer Crime Investigations Association; Peter Broullire,
Attorney; Teresa M. Johnson, Attorney, Keleher & McLeod; Steve
Beffort, Superhighway Seminar Committee; Irwin Kirmer, Consultant.
The overriding theme of the conference was commercial applications
for the Information Superhighway--how will money be made on this
new highway. All of the industry speakers during the first day of the
conference discussed their company's plans for providing
commercial services over the new highway. Essentially, this relates
to the so-called "500 channels." Services would include such things
as movies on-demand, the golf channel and other specialized
entertainment channels, banking, "smart homes," healthcare,
telework (telecommuting), national defense, and purchasing goods on
home-shopping channels. Some attention was paid to educational
applications, but little was actually said. Ironically, US West Vice
President for New Mexico, Tom Garcia, noted that in surveys that
they had seen indicated that approximately 80% of the public poled
felt that educational services were the most important and would be
used the most. Yet, none of the speakers treated education as a
major feature of the National Information Infrastructure (NII).
Garcia also noted that in the US West United Kingdom venture to
provide television and other services through telephone lines in a
testbed location, that they started with 2,100 services two years ago
and now provide over 71,000 services. The types of services were
not discussed.
Overall, the industry participants were promoting their own
company's approach to the development of the Information
Superhighway. Unfortunately, most participants were more
interested in advertizing their own approach, rather than trying to
deal with the substantive issues facing the NII's development and
utilization. MCI even showed its television commercials advertizing
its network.
Jon Curran of AT&T made the point that the information
superhighway is actually a "global" information infrastructure. He
cited applications such as the "smart" home, learning, healthcare,
banking and finance, retail sales, telework, national defense, and
disaster recovery. Curran, who is the southwestern regional manager
for AT&T indicated that he knew very little about the Internet and
had never heard of community networks, nor was he aware of
community network concepts. However, he did indicate an interest
in the concept when informed about the community network
movement in the U.S.
Rob Smith from MCC discussed his organization's project to build
better tools and interfaces which would overlay networks to provide
better access and ease of use for ordinary people. MCC is studying
the managing and understanding of information and information
dissemination. MCC also is working on security issues, particularly as
they relate to banking and finance. Smith discussed the development
of "virtual companies" which are formed when several companies
come together for a specific project or projects, yet physically, they
may be located in geographically disparate regions around the
country or world. Once the job is done, the virtual company
dissolves. The business, research, development, etc. of the virtual
company is accomplished mainly through electronic means. The legal
issues surrounding virtual companies (and other electronic issues)
were discussed during the second day of the conference by Teresa
M. Johnson, an attorney with Keleher & McLeod, who gave an
excellent overview of some of the legal issues facing Internet and
software entrepreneurs. Smith suggested that electronic online
systems, the information superhighway, is probably the most
valuable business opportunity since the development of the
railroads. Smith also noted that he has finally reached the point
where over half of his mail is electronic mail.
Jeff Sterba from the Public Service Company of New Mexico
discussed the power company's role in on the information
superhighway. Usually, when one thinks of the types of
organizations becoming involved in the superhighway, one does not
think of power companies, except when they plug-in their computer
or television. However, power companies are interested in the NII
for a number of reasons. First, the power companies are looking at
the NII because it could provide real-time pricing for the customer
so that power usage could be better monitored to reduce costs to the
consumer and to the power company. NII technology also could
provide for better feedback on the condition of power stations,
transformers, etc. for improved predictions of failures and other
potential problems. Meter reading also could be done more
efficiently electronically. Power companies already utilize a
significant amount of fiber-optic lines to provide communications in
its systems. Some of the bandwidth of this fiber could be used for
telecommunications applications. In addition, power companies have
obtained rights of way which could be leased to NII providers.
Mort Aaronson from MCI discussed MCI's approach to the
information superhighway, which is essentially to provide access to
video on-demand and other commercial services. Much of MCI's
presentation comprised promotional videos advertizing its
NetworkMCI* systems. Aaronson was one of the more aggressive
speakers, and clearly indicated by his comments, the intense rivalry
between MCI and AT&T. Aaronson indicated that it was important
for MCI "to control the content" of what was being delivered. This
statement seemed to go un-noticed among the audience and other
panelists. He also indicated that MCI was emphasizing partnering
among companies. Aaronson, a top executive of MCI, had never
heard of community networks, and was completely unfamiliar with
the concepts. He indicated an interest, when informed about
community network concepts.
Robert Raisch, President of the Internet Company, discussed
commercial applications on the Internet. His company provides the
network resources for Counterpoint Publishing, a company that
processes government information and sells it online. The Internet
Company also runs the Electronic Newsstand, which provides sample
articles, tables of contents, and information about how to subscribe
to a number of magazines. According to Raisch, the Electronic
Newsstand receives 40,000 to 45,000 requests per day for
information through this gopher site.
Raisch suggested that there are six main methods of making money
on the Internet:
1. Hardware--servers, routers, etc.
2. Access Provider--connections, accounts, and dial-ins
3. Software--protocols, archie, wais, gopher, front-ends, etc.
4. Services--distribution, publishing, etc.
5. Expertise--Technology transfer, training, seminars, etc.
6. Content--information for a price.
He made the point that one of the most frequently made mistakes is
to try to do too many things. That is, companies have problems when
they try to tackle two or more of the above methods. He suggested
that a company or organization should only do one of the above. The
point was made that at the present time, he estimates that there are
only 500,000 megaPel, multi-mip workstations out of about 2 million
Internet hosts. This means that the fancier graphic interface
systems, such as mosaic can be used by only a relatively small
number of users. All of his company's information is in text form
only.
Raisch also discussed electronic publishing and the difference
between value and cost of the published product. Using the example
of a Stephen King novel, if it is available in a bookstore for $28.95,
should Simon and Schuster charge $28.95 when selling it online? The
answer is no. He suggested that the appropriate way of charging for
online publications is by time or volume. For instance, charging 25"
per x amount of time to read the novel, or by a certain volume of the
work. This approach can be profitable because the cost of electronic
dissemination in minuscule compared to the cost of paper volumes
and their dissemination. Obviously, the cost of reading the Stephen
King novel online should be considerably less than in paper format.
Raisch was the only presenter that discussed the issues surrounding
providing true two-way communications in networks. Most
companies consider interactivity to mean buying products or
services. He used Prodigy as an example. When Prodigy was
designed, it was believed that its customers would only want to
consume. Thus, a big "pipe" went to the customer, with only tiny
tubes coming back (for purchasing). Prodigy found that instead of
purchasing, people wanted to talk. According to Raisch, "...the
Internet is the only major medium in which the individual can talk
back and communicate with his or her peers..."
It was announced by Raisch that his company will be starting a
series of Usenet news groups specifically for advertizing on the
Internet. This is a new approach to commercialization on the
Internet.
One of the scarier presentations was by Fred Smith, President of the
High Tech Computer Crime Investigation Association. Citing
numerous articles which have discussed the highwaymen on the
Information Superhighway, he proceeded to describe all of the
potential (note potential) horrors that could befall travelers on this
highway. The Information Superhighway began to sound like the
highway to hell. He suggested that sex was driving the highway and
organized crime was beginning to infiltrate the Internet--with no
substantiation.
As in any other human endeavors, crimes will no doubt occur on this
new highway. However, the draconian approaches Smith was
implying suggested little regard for the First Amendment. Basically,
he seemed to see demons and shady characters behind every news
group sign post. And his approach to solving these purported
problems was, in essence, what I would interpret as an Internet
police. I told you it was getting pretty scary.
One of the glorious characteristics of the Internet is its freedom. It is
one of the most democratic institutions ever devised--even if by
accident. Rob Raisch made the comment that one could consider the
Internet a city of 25 million people--who actually, for the most part,
cooperate. Moreover, I will suggest that it is also a huge
neighborhood watch. Its inhabitants have been very successful at
policing their own neighborhoods--without an Internet police.
The last presentation of the conference was by Irwin Kirmer, an
Internet consultant, who attempted to take the audience on a tour of
the Internet. Actually, his demonstration amounted to a series of
frustrating attempts to gopher, ftp, or telnet to sites which were
overcrowded. It demonstrated very clearly the traffic jams already
on the highway.
(It should be noted, to the panelist's credit, all thought the notion of
community networks was an excellent idea. I brought up the topic of
community networks at the end of the first day's session. It was
encouraging to see a lot of affirmative nodding in the audience, as
well as on the dais. However, it is unsettling to realize some of the
key players in the Information Superhighway business had a
complete lack of knowledge about community networking. For us in
the community networking trenches, we must realize that many of
those sitting in corporate offices trying to figure out how to deal with
the Information Superhighway and how to wring the most money
out of it, have never heard of, or considered community-based
networks--a sobering thought.)[\\
=======================================================
SPACE COMMERCE '94--10th NATIONAL SPACE SYMPOSIUM
Space Commerce '94 is the 10th National Space Symposium,
sponsored by the United States Space Foundation, headquartered in
Colorado Springs, Colorado. This year's conference was attended by
approximately 400 executives from the aerospace industry,
government officials, military officers, astronauts, and others.
The conference's main theme was commercial applications in space.
New business opportunities, technology transfer, and related topics
were discussed.
Of particular interest to those with an interest in the NII, was a
strong emphasis on utilizing space assets for the development and
implementation of the Information Superhighway. It appears as if
everyone is ready to jump onto the highway, even from Low-Earth
Orbit.
Syed Shariq, Manager of Technology Commercialization, NASA/Ames
Research Center, noted that NASA's approach to technology transfer
has been reactive, rather than proactive. Now, NASA wants to be
more proactive, and to this end, it is developing its NASA
Commercial Technology Network that is accessible through a Mosaic
interface on the Internet. He indicated that NASA wants to use the
Internet for dissemination of proposals, RFPs, and be part of the "NII
Test Bed." To connect to the NASA Commercial Technology Network
Home Page using the NCSA Mosaic client, the URL is:
http://nctn.oact.hq.nasa.gov
NCSA Mosaic client software is available via anonymous ftp at:
ftp.ncsa.uiuc.edu in directory: mac/mosaic/
NCSA Mosaic for Microsoft Windows is available via anonymous ftp
at
ftp.ncsa.uiuc.edu in directory: pc/mosaic/
The contact point for help on this network is Murray Altheim at
OACT, NASA HQ email: murray.altheim@hq.nasa.gov \\
====================================================
POT HOLES IN THE INFORMATION SUPERHIGHWAY
POT HOLES is a column in this newsletter that will cover potential
problems and difficult issues concerning the development of the NII.
Most of us in the community networking world believe that
community-based networks is one of the best approaches to
providing democratic access to information and communications
resources. However, not everyone thinks the way we do. It is very
important to pay close attention to the corporate world, which as
Herbert Schiller remarks below, "...are doing the most natural thing
in the world to them..." For-profit corporations are in the business of
making money--and I have no quarrel with that. Yet, like the public
library, the citizenry must have free to very affordable access to
information and communications which can be provided by
community networking and the Internet.
As pointed out in the article on the Albuquerque Information
Superhighway Seminar, several high-level executives from
companies, presumably on top of the development of the NII, had
never heard of community networks. This was not an isolated case.
When I attended the Berkeley Roundtable for International
Economics' Technology Summit meeting in San Francisco in
November, the same problem was observed. Most of the top
telecommunications and computer industry executives that I spoke
with were unaware of the community network movement in the
country. Perhaps, those in the community networking world, despite
all of our sophisticated methods of communications, haven't paid
enough attention to communicating with the corporate world.
It is critical that those who believe that community networks are
valuable, if not essential, tools for using the NII, spread the word to
the corporate world. Corporate executives are not ignoring
community networks, but in many cases they simple don't know
about them. When I have explained what we are doing in the La
Plaza Telecommunity project, most executives with which I have
spoken, have been responded very favorably. Now, whether
favorable comments translate into action on the part of companies, is
yet to been seen.\\
THE INFORMATION SUPERHIGHWAY: PAVING OVER THE PUBLIC
>From the March, 1994 issue of *Z Magazine*
"...Huge companies are doing the most natural thing in the world to
them; following their own corporate interest..." Herbert Schiller
Open Magazine Interview with Herbert Schiller
"Q- Your article in the Nation (July 12, 1993) suggests that
commercial expansion [of information/Internet] is resulting in the
extinction of the public sphere. Can you comment more on this?
A- Yes. A clear example of this can be seen in the case of public
libraries. The public library has been one of the most democratic
institutions in American history. When you read biographical
statements of this country's most distinguished writers, many times
you'll find them describing what a tremendous debt, or what
gratitude they owe to the public libraries. It was a place they
entered without any real barriers, picked up a book, and read. The
public library has been one of the most progressive institutions in
American history. Yes, it's got deficiencies. No one's saying it's a
perfect institution. But, by and large, in comparison, it's been a much
more democratic institution than others. And one of the cardinal
principles of the public library system is that information is to be
available for everyone, and it's to be available without cost. Free.
Funding comes from the community. Therefore, the principle of
unlimited and free public access has been the cornerstone of this
democratic institution.
And what's happening now? As with so many other things in this
society, information is being turned into a good for sale. A good
that's made available on the basis of payment, a commodity. Of
course, information has always been part of commodities. Books and
newspapers were always sold. But a really massive change has been
under way due to the technologies that can transfer and reorganize
bits of data and information, and now an area that never had the
attention of private enterprise is being regarded as source of
massive profit.
An information industry has been developing since 1968. Companies
involved in the industry say they are doing very valuable things. It's
true that they are creating certain information services that were
never available before. One wouldn't argue with that. But they're
doing it on a commercial basis, which means that information which
once was or could have been available free, now is available for a
charge. If you have any experience hooking your computer in with
databases, you know that you have to pay."\\
SMOKING OUT THE OPPOSITION
The following came from Edupage, a summary of news items on
information technology, that is provided several times each week
online as a service by EDUCOM -- a consortium of leading colleges
and universities seeking to transform education through the use of
information technology.
Lawyers for the American Tobacco Co. were granted a subpoena for
the membership list of a computer network used by anti-smoking
groups. The move to acquire SCARCNet's (Smoking Control Advocacy
Resource Network) records is believed to be the first legal action of
this kind. The subpoena also demands the names of those funding
the network and copies of all posted strategy sessions. Attorneys for
the Advocacy Institute have filed papers seeking to deny the
subpoena on First Amendment grounds. (Wall Street Journal
3/30/94 B1)\\
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COM NET NEWS
Vol. 1 No. 2 May 1994
>From the Editor
Welcome to the second issue of COM NET NEWS. It has been and
interesting and hectic month since the first issue was published. First,
I want to thank everyone for the enormous amount of interest in CNN
and the many kind words about the newsletter. This issue is coming
out late because I, like many others on the Net, was writing an NTIA
TIIAP proposal.
One of the major events that occurred over the last month was the
Apple Computer/Marino Foundation "Ties that Bind" conference held
at Apple in Cupertino, California. There will be much said about this
conference on the Net over the next few weeks, and as I was unable to
attend, it will not be covered in CNN.
I would like to remind everyone, if you have information or articles of
interest to the community/commercial network communities, please
feel free to send me articles, information, or pointers. If you have
comments or criticisms, please let me know.
Richard W. Bryant, Editor
RW Bryant Associates
P.O. Box 1828
El Prado, NM 87529
Tel/fax: 505-758-1919
rbryant@hydra.unm.edu
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
SAN LUIS VALLEY RURAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS
PROJECTPPRURAL TELECOMMUNITY EXPO '94
The first San Luis Valley (SLV) Rural Telecommunications ProjectPP
Rural Telecommunity Expo was held on 30 April 1994 in Alamosa,
Colorado. The meeting brought together over 100 interested people
throughout the San Luis Valley in Southern Colorado, other parts of
Colorado, and Northern New Mexico.
The SLV Rural Telecommunications Project is looking into hooking up
the San Luis Valley, a large, sparsely populated agricultural region
that is roughly 110 miles north to south and 60 miles wide in South-
central Colorado. Alamosa, the largest SLV town, sits at the southern
end of the valley. Because of the long distances between towns, and
the very remote nature of these towns, connection through a
telecommunity would result in benefits for all.
Attendees included: Jerry Cook, Coordinator for the SLV Rural
Telecommunications Project; a number of SLV farmers; a contingent
from Florence and Canon City, Colorado, who are attempting to start
up their own community network; Tom Bonomo, "techno wizard; "Alan
Wehe from Blanca Telephone (a tiny local telephone company serving
two small towns in Southern Colorado); Flo Raitano, Executive
Director of the Colorado Rural Development Council; Jeff Richardson,
Director of the Colorado Advanced Technology Initiative; John
Kuenhold, District Judge; Dan Jones from the SouthCentral Colorado
Tourism Region; David Edwards from the Colorado State University
Cooperative Extension Service; a representative from the Governor of
Colorado's office; Richard Bryant and Barbara Lazar from the La
Plaza Telecommunity Foundation, Inc.; and many other interested
individuals.
The one-day meeting provided a medium for regional discussion and
dialog and demonstrations of ongoing activities. The emphases of the
project are healthcare, education, government, and agriculture. At the
end of the day a forum was convened to discuss the day's activities,
plans, problems, and where to go in the future.
The diversity of people that came together for this meeting was very
encouraging. and the meeting was characterized by a great deal of
enthusiasm for the project and the resources that it will provide. It
was unclear how the project would be funded. However, the State of
Colorado apparently has some interest in these types of endeavors.
This group is at the very beginning of its process and currently
developing community support of the project.
TAOS WORKSHOP ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
The Town of Taos (New Mexico) recently held a number of workshops
covering economic development, education, environment, and
sustainable land use. I chaired the economic development workshop in
which a wide range of representatives attended. Without going into all
of the details, one of the most commonly mentioned issues was access
to online systems--particularly the Internet. In fact, those who showed
the most interest were 9th-grade civics class students who
participated in these workshops. They felt that access to the Internet
and all of its resources was very important for their education, so that
they could be better prepared for the job market once graduating from
high school.
COMMERCE ON THE INTERNET From Edupage
CommerceNet, to be operational by September, is being billed as the
first large-scale effort to transact business on the Internet. Backers of
the effort include Apple Computer, BankAmerica, Hewlett-Packard,
Lockheed and Sun Microsystems. The service will start with about 50
companies offering products, services, and on-line banking, and will
expand to include brokerage and notary services as well.
CommerceNet has an initial investment of $12 million with half of its
funding to come from government. "This is the first industrial park in
Cyberspace," notes author Daniel Dern. (Wall Street Journal 4/8/94
B2)
ON-LINE SHOPPING
IDG's is planning a computerized on-line shopping service for 1995; it
will feature product reviews, articles, and messages from advertisers,
and will allow users to shop for hardware and software by ordering
from their networked computers. (Folio 4/1/94 p.25)
LAWYERS CAPITALIZE ON INTERNET FLAMING
Canter & Siegel, a husband-and-wife law firm that found itself
scorched by flame mail last month for advertising on the Internet, has
decided to launch a new service, Cybersell, to help other businesses do the
same thing. Cybersell will charge $500 for access to 6,000 news groups.
"People like Canter & Siegel are taking grotesque advantage of liberating
technology that supports the free and open exchange of ideas," says the
president of the Internet Company. Retorts Siegel, "Our fate has been that
we're making a lot of money. If a bunch of hysterics want to scream and
yell and make fools of themselves, then I don't feel they warrant respect."
(Wall Street Journal 5/9/94 B2)
WOMEN FAVOR E-MAIL OVER E-MALL
A survey conducted by an online publication reveals that more than
66% of the women surveyed log on to an electronic service at least once a
day and the same number spends at least $20 a month on online fees. Top on
their list is interacting with editors, writers and other readers, with
Internet access ranking second. Only 6% considered shopping, banking or
travel services a priority. (Tampa Tribune 5/9/94 B&F3)
SURGE OF ELECTRONIC NEWSPAPERS
More than 2,700 newspapers are now experimenting with one or
another kind of electronic venture, says The Kelsey Group, compared to only
42 in 1989; part of the urgency for the experiment is that almost half of
young people 18 to 24 years old don't read newspapers at all. The Palo Alto
Weekly (http://www.service.com/PAW/home.html) is the only
general-circulation newspaper now on the Internet. (U.S.News & World Report
5/16/94 p.60)
INTERNET TOP TEN BEST-SELLING BOOKS
CPU Publishing Update says the top ten best-selling books on the
Internet are: 1. Whole Internet User's Guide (Krol); 2. The Internet
Complete Reference (Hahn & Stout); 3. Internet for Dummies (Levine); 4. Mac
Internet Tour Guide (Ventana); 5. Complete Internet Directory (Braun); 6.
The Internet Companion Plus (LaQuey); 7. Internet Starter Kit for the Mac
(Hayden); 8. The Internet Navigator (Glister); 9. Connecting to the
Internet (Estrada); 10 Zen and the Art of the Internet (Kehoe). (Internet
Business Report May 94 p.5)
BATTLE WAGED OVER NSFNET CONTRACT
The National Science Foundation will spend $50 million on an
upgraded NSFNet backbone, and has selected MCI for the vBNS (very
high-speed backbone network services) portion of the project. Sprint is
raising objections, and the lawyers are preparing to do battle. Sprint
claims that NSFNet management had a too-cozy relationship with MCI during
the evaluation process, and that a National Science Board member also has a
possible conflict of interest with MCI. (Telecommunications 5/94 p.15)
HIGH-TECH BANKING COMMUNICATIONS
The Royal Bank will build a state-of-the-art communications center
in New Brunswick to enable customers to obtain account balances, pay bills
and carry out other transactions using home computers, phones and
ultimately through info-highway connections to their TVs. (Toronto Globe &
Mail 5/12/94 B4)
According to Washington Telecom Week, Sen. Inouye will introduce, this week
or early next, a new bill to set aside "reserve capacity on the National
Information Infrastructure (NII) for use by non-profit or public
institutions [incl. NGOs, schools, local govt., civic organizations, etc.]
at little or no cost". The bill is expected to be "married to"
Holling's S1822, the Senate counterpart of the Markey/Fields HR3636.
Sounds interesting, though this bill, like S1822 and HR3636 seems set up,
for some reason, so that the FCC should be involved in this process, which
may turn out to be a hazardous proposition, given the censorious and
iron-fisted behavior of FCC in the past and present.
From: Stanton McCandlish * mech@eff.org * Electronic Frontier Found.
Online Activist
SENIOR PC SALES UP
Sales of PCs and on-line services to those over 65 are strong, and
a director at Compaq Computer notes that the robust senior market is "one
of the most overlooked facts or one of the best-kept secrets of the
business." Prodigy and Compuserve each report some 200,000 subscribers
over age 55. (St. Petersburg Times 4/11/94 Business p.11)
AUTHORS GUILD PROTESTS CONTRACT
The Authors Guild is protesting a new Random House standard
contract, calling its clause on multimedia rights "a brazen attempted land
grab on the electronic frontier." One source of irritation is the reduced
royalty rate for electronic products -- 5% as opposed to the usual 10% on
hardcover books. (Wall Street Journal 4/12/94 B9)
FAX FACTS
A Gallop poll has found that fax transmission account for 36
percent of telephone bills at Fortune 500 companies, and that e-mail has
made little headway in being used routinely for corporate communications,
in spite of its considerable cost advantage. ANS (Advanced Network
Services) says that a one-page e-mail message sent by network costs less
than 2 cents, compared to 29 cents for a letter sent by mail and an even
higher cost for a fax message. (New York Times 4/19/94 C3)
A WINDOW ON THE INTERNET
Bill Gates predicts by year's end that Microsoft Windows will come
equipped with built-in access to the Internet. Gates also unveiled a
technology that enables users to simultaneously send data and converse over
a single phone line. (Investor's Business Daily 4/20/94 A1)
WIRELESS INTERNET ACCESS
*Wireless Internet Access. The "Internet Anywhere" Consortium has
established a joint venture to develop a software/hardware systems
solution to allow wireless access over Morbitex to the Internet/CANet
news, mail, and data transfer services. Those involved in contributing
core technologies and performing research and development efforts
include Mortice Kern Systems Inc. (MKS), the Information Technology
Research Center (ITRC), and Research in Motion Limited (RIM). Contact:
Erin Hintz, Voice 519-883-4371; Fax 519-884-8861.
INTERNET STATISTICS: THE NET KEEPS GROWING AND GROWING
Traffic on the NSF backbone growing by a stunning 20.7 percent -
nearly 2 terabytes - during the month of March -- the largest single jump
in the history of the Internet. Gopher traffic grew by 17.6 percent and
http (WWW) grew by 32.9 percent to a new total of one-half terabyte per
month. Http traffic grew by a total of 0.7 percent of total NSFNet
traffic. (Internet Society)
NEWS FROM EDUCOM'S CORPORATE ASSOCIATES
*NTalk. NTalk provides a graphical interactive computer network that
allows institutions to maintain newsletters and other documents on the
network at no cost. Subscribers who join for $8 per month receive local
or 800 access to internet email, government research reports, directory
of embassies, forums, shareware, and a daily national electronic
newspaper featuring business, finance and markets, international news,
sports, features, and more. Contact: 513-241-7753.
NETWORKING
*Sonoma County Library. Sonoma County is now the first public library in
California to offer access to the Internet as a basic menu option on its
public access online catalog. Librarians are able to look at other
library catalogs and burrow to gophers, as well as use the system's
reference tools to answer questions. A lively curious icon named
Communicat helps explain the system through a user friendly booklet at
each terminal. For more information, contact Paul Kiley at 707-545-0831
or pkiley@sonoma.lib.ca.us.
POT HOLES ON THE INFORMATION SUPERHIGHWAY
It appears as if the Information Superhighway is proving to be a
lucrative new business for lawyers. Two of the short articles below mention law
suits
regarding postings on the Internet. There have several other cases
recently that illustrate how dangerous it is to exercise free speech in the
Internet. The judicial system must begin to deal with these issues and
set up equitable guidelines before it becomes impossible for the small
publisher to publish for fear of offending someone and being the subject of a co
stly lawsuit.
Sure, the Internet is a new frontier. But, before there are too many more
shoot-outs, some semblance of order must be put into place to protect
everyone. The government is putting a lot of effort into snooping (AKA
the Clipper Chip, see article below), but little has come out about
protecting freedom of speech and the press. editor.
DAVID AND GOLIATH ON THE INFO SUPERHIGHWAY
The La Plaza Telecommunity Foundation, Inc. (La Plaza) recently put
out a call for help on the Net. The posting asked that sympathetic
individuals email Senator Jeff Bingaman's office and the Provost at
the University of New Mexico in regard to alleged untoward behavior
on the part of a number of groups in New Mexico who were allegedly
attempting to subvert the La Plaza project.
Apparently, the call for help resulted in a large amount of email being
delivered to both offices. Dialogs with Senator Bingaman's and the
Provost's offices were started. Apparently, the Net really does
empower the little guy or gal.
More on this later...
E-MAIL EAVESDROPPING
One in five companies admits that it eavesdrops on its employees by
searching computer files, voice mail or e-mail, but a spate of lawsuits is
beginning to curb the habit. If a company plans on monitoring employees, it
should tell them in advance to avoid legal trouble later. (Investor's
Business Daily 4/19/94 A4)
LIBEL SUIT ON THE INTERNET
In the first lawsuit of its kind, the editor of Cyberwire Dispatch
was sued by the owner of Suarez Corporation Industries for "flaming" his
product on the Internet. The plaintiff ventured on-line to advertise free
Internet access and a "get-rich-quick" scheme, and was denounced by the
defendant as a "slick direct-mail baron." The exchange escalated and Suarez
filed a defamation suit. (Wall Street Journal 4/22/94 B1)
ARCHEOLOGIST WINS INTERNET DEFAMATION SUIT
An archeologist, formerly at the University of Western Australia,
has won a lawsuit filed in Australia against an anthropologist, claiming
comments made about him on an Internet bulletin board were defamatory.
Damages equal to $28,000 were awarded after a psychiatrist testified to the
plaintiff's anxiety and depression suffering caused by the remarks.
(Chronicle of Higher Education 4/27/94 A30)
MORE ON THE CLIPPER CHIP
Forwarded message from:
Date: Fri, 6 May 1994 11:17:38 -0400 (EDT)
From: Stanton McCandlish <mech@eff.org>
Subject: Stewart Baker (NSA) - Admin doesn't care what you say about
Clipper (fwd)
This from Steve Miller in New York, originally posted to ECHO's
"Internet" conference.
53:37) Sharp 23-APR-94 10:20
Stuart Baker is a lawyer who works for NSA. His duties presently include
traveling the country to explain his agency's position on the Clipper
chip, a telephone encryption device that the government would like to see
become a standard. If you live under a rock, you also need to be told that
part of the standard includes decryption keys that are kept in escrow for
use by legal wiretappers in their law enforcement efforts. It is safe to
say, I think, that most of the online community is opposed to this
idea. I
listened to Baker's remarks at yesterday's conference on "Lawyers and the
Internet" at the Association of the Bar of the City of New York. I took
some notes, and offer the following reconstruction of some of his
statements:
- The debate caused by the Clipper proposal is a culture clash among
"netheads." This is all really an overreaction to the government having
said it was going to buy these chips and "use them for its own purposes."
- Privacy would be preserved at least at its present level because it
won't be any easier to obtain a wiretap warrant than before.
- The government doesn't know what a world with perfectly secure
communications would be like, and that's disturbing because the Mafia and
child pornographers would be able to use it. Those groups have never used
state-of-the-art technology in the past, but they'd use this. We're not
sure how the world would be affected by such things, so we're moving to
prevent those effects.
- Objections to our efforts come mostly from would-be "cybernauts" who
picture themselves in "bandoliers and pocket-protectors." These are really
just people who "couldn't go to Woodstock because they had to do their
trigonometry homework."
- Some say that Clipper will only assist law-enforcement if criminals are
very stupid. But, criminals are very stupid. Many felons, for example,
attempted to buy guns in stores even after the Brady bill passed. The NSA
is much smarter than they are.
- The government is a trustworthy organization that wouldn't abuse this
standard once it was in place. After all, records of who does what and
what warrants are obtained over whose testimony are kept, so no one can do
anything sneaky or sly.
Well, I very nearly embarrassed myself in front of the audience of 200
with remarks of my own, but didn't get to do so; the conference chairman
(who knows just how embarrassing I can get) spotted me turning crimson in
the audience and (I think) advised Mr. Baker not to take questions from me.
Since I was one of those young people who felt studying nature and science
was more important than rock and roll, I did get upset by this spy's
words.
Fortunately, Mike Godwin of EFF spoke next and, I think, made Mr. Baker
look like the toady he is. Mike asked the audience to consider why
something as wholly useful as Clipper is claimed to be must so often (in
Baker's traveling road show) be sold on its child pornography prevention
platform. Probably, he suggested, that is because appeals to the emotions
sometimes work when actual merits are lacking. He said much more, and
with
an eloquence I found almost moving (and Mike don't always move me the way
he'd like, he knows), but I'll let him make his own case. I mention this
response to kid porn, though, for two reasons. First, Baker must have
mentioned kid porn and pedophilia at least six times in his thirty minute
presentation. Second, after Mike spoke, Baker was allowed a response. He
defended the emphasis on kid porn upon the notion that the online community
is already known to be full of young boys with poor social skills; that
they are easy prey for pedophiles.
That's it, friends. To your government, we are would-be nerds-in-arms who
don't deserve a hearing of our objections because we lacked the social
grace that goes with attending rock concerts. We aren't people worth
taking seriously; we're much more fun to laugh at.
The scary thing is (and Godwin put it best, this way), nothing we can say
will change the NSA's mind. The audience was polled, and about a fourth
were opposed to Clipper, a fourth were undecided, none held up their hands
in support (and some just didn't hold up their hands; why is that?). If
this proposal, essentially "trust us, we love you little dweebs," is to be
defeated, it will not be by discourse and debate. The other side isn't
listening. Logic is out. We must use the political process. You know the
rap: write your congressman, join EFF, send letters to editors. But do
it, folks. Stuart Baker doesn't care what you say, but he wants the power
to listen in the dark. Stop him.
_____ end ________
--
Stanton McCandlish * mech@eff.org * Electronic Frontier Found. Online
Activist
"In a Time/CNN poll of 1,000 Americans conducted last week by Yankelovich
Partners, two-thirds said it was more important to protect the privacy of
phone calls than to preserve the ability of police to conduct wiretaps.
When informed about the Clipper Chip, 80% said they opposed it."
- Philip Elmer-Dewitt, "Who Should Keep the Keys", TIME, Mar. 14 1994
ITALIAN CRACKDOWN ON COMMUNITY NETS
From: Bernardo Parrella <berny@WELL.SF.CA.US>
On May 10-12 1994, the first nationwide crackdown on telecom nets was
operated by Italian police.
Acting after a warrant issued by a Prosecutor in Pesaro, about 60 Bullentin
Board Systems throughout the country have been visited and searched by
police officials.
Dozens of people were formally accused of "distribution of illegally copied
software and appropriation of secret passwords" under the law approved by
Italian Parliament in January this year.
In several cases police officials didn't know what to search for, thus
seizing computers, floppy disks, modems along with electric outlets,
answering machines, audiotapes, personal effects.
The raids also hit private houses and belongings, and in some places
sleeping people were abruptly woken up facing machine guns.
After searching probably around one third of the entire network - that
includes more than 300 BBSes - police officials closed several Fidonet
nodes, but no arrests were made.
A still inaccurate figure of people were charged with software piracy, and
dozens of computers and related devices were seized - along with thousands
of floppy disks,
CD-Roms, W.O.R.M.S.
Moving after a suspected software piracy ring run by people involved in a
Fidonet node, the crackdown started in the night between May 10 and 11 in
Milano, targeting in the two following days BBSes in Pesaro, Modena,
Bologna, Ancona, Pisa and other cities.
Fidonet Italia, member of the worldwide Fidonet network, is a non-profit
organization devoted to distribution of shareware and freeware programs as
well as to electronic forums on topics ranging from technological to social
issues.
An essential communication tool for several groups and individuals
throughout the country, Fidonet Italia became an active multi-cultural
vessel and distributor of several different nodes dedicated to specific
issues: Peacelink (solidarity, human rights), Cybernet (cyberpunk), Ludonet
(games), Scoutnet, Amynet, and others.
For thousands of Italian people, Fidonet BBSes today are invaluable tools of
information-exchange, social activism and professional activities.
The network policy strictly prohibits any distribution of illegally copied
software and fraudulent appropriation of secret passwords.
Also, Fidonet is one of the few International organizations which has always
stated and pursued a clear position against unauthorized copying software.
At the moment, the raids seems to be motivated by accusations against two
people involved in a Pesaro-based BBS who were using Fidonet contacts to
allegedly distribute illegal copies of computer programs.
However, there are no reasons for such a vast law enforcement operation.
Most likely the prosecutor acted simply on the basis of the Fidonet
telephone numbers list (publicly available) owned by the two suspected of
software piracy.
The vast majority of the people searched don't have any kind of relationship
with the suspected, and many of the search warrants stated a generic
"conspiracy with unknown" for the crime of software piracy.
Particularly, the random and arbitrary seizures of floppy disks and personal
computers are completely unmotivated, because every BBS is a completely
independent structure and each sysop is running his/her own hardware and
software.
The seizures will resolve in a great economic loss for these people and
their professional activities will be surely affected from negative
publicity.
Some of them own small computer-related companies while others are
physicians, hobbyists, students who risk personal savings to run their
services.
Because police officials also seized electronic and paper archives
containing data and numbers of the people who logged onto Fidonet nodes, it
is evident that investigations are going even further - thus violating the
constitutional right to privacy.
The first result of this crackdown is that many Fidonet operators decided to
shut down immediately their systems all over the country, fearing heavier
police intrusions in both their public activities and private lives.
While the Italian Parliament recently approved specific laws about copyright
and piracy of computer software, there are still no rules to protect
personal privacy in the electronic medium.
This legislative void inevitably makes the sysop the only responsible person
about anything happens onto and around his/her own BBS.
Fidonet operators do not want and can not be the target of undiscriminated
raids that, forcing them to closing down their activities, cause serious
damages to themselves as well as to the entire community.
In an article published Friday 13 by the newspaper "La Repubblica",
Alessandro Marescotti, Peacelink spokesperson, said: "Just when the
worldwide BBS scene is gaining general respect for its important role at the
community level, in Italy the law hits those networks that have always been
strongly against software piracy. Charging
dozens of honest operators with unmotivated accusations, the main goal of
this crackdown is directed against the social activities of small community
nets - thus clearing the space for commercial networking."
While terms and figures of the entire operation should still be clarified,
on Sunday 15 Fidonet Italia operators will meet in Bologna to study any
possible legal counter-action.
****************************************************************
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You may reproduce or publish any parts of this newsletter and
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************************************************************
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COM NET NEWS
Vol. 1 No. 3 June
>From the Editor
Thanks to everyone for their kind words concerning COM NET
NEWS--the readership is growing significantly with each issue. One
comment was received from an individual asking that articles from
Edupage and other such newsletters not be reproduced here, as he
already saw them. Unfortunately, everyone cannot be pleased all of
the time. These types of articles are reproduced because I believe
that they should be of interest to the readership. Not all, and in fact,
most of the COM NET NEWS readership apparently do not
subscribe to these newsletters. One of the problems with the
explosion of information that is now available via print media, radio,
television, and computer networks is that there is way too much for
everyone to read and sort through. The purpose of this newsletter is
to help fill the need for selective reporting of news of interest to the
CNN readership. However, you can help define its content by
indicating to me your preferences and dislikes. Please feel free to let
me know what you think so that CNN can better serve you.
Richard W. Bryant, Editor
RW Bryant Associates
P.O. Box 1828
El Prado, NM 87529
Tel/fax: 505-758-1919
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***************************************************************
***************************************************************
HOW ABOUT A 9% RETURN ON DIRECT MAIL?
A Northern New Mexico entrepreneur who conducts summer
workshops covering various artistic media such as painting,
sculpture, pottery, etc., recently reported a 9% return on a direct
mailing to America Online subscribers. First, a search was made of
the profiles of AOL users looking for individuals who had indicated an
interest in the arts. After sending about 300 very low-key messages
to these individuals, within a few days, about 9% requested the
printed brochure. Not bad considering the typical return on direct
snail mail is 1%.
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SLOW TO PROMOTE THE
GRASSROOTS
In its report last year, "Making Government Work: Electronic
Delivery of Government Services," the Office of Technology
Assessment (OTA) recommended the federal government stimulate
grassroots citizen involvement in all stages of electronic delivery from
planning and pilot-testing to implementation and evaluation. The
report recommended a "mandatory set-aside" from project or agency
budgets to assure a proper amount of funding for such citizen
participation. The report also suggested the establishment at the
Office of Management and Budget and the General Services
Administration of "service to the citizen" or "grassroots community
involvement offices." These offices would help coordinate electronic
delivery initiatives with other federal programs that include
grassroots involvement in some form. Six months later, little has
been done to implement this suggestion, and no legislation has been
proposed to establish a mandatory set-aside. Fred Wood, OTA Project
Director of the study, said in an interview last week, "One thing that I
feel has not received the attention that I think is appropriate is this
grass roots empowerment idea. There is some activity in this
direction, but nothing systematic." Source: Summary of Electronic
Public Information Newsletter.Vol. 4, No. 9; May 6, 1994.
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE TO PUT THE NATIONAL
TRADE DATA BASE ON THE INTERNET
A year after putting its Economic Bulletin Board (EBB) on the
Internet, the Office of Business Analysis (OBA) of the Department of
Commerce is moving to make its granddaddy of databases~the
National Trade Data Base (NTDB)~also available over the Internet
in June. Up to now, the NTDB has been available from the
government on CD-ROM. According to Ken Rogers, Director of
Information Product Development, the EBB has some 3000 files, as
opposed to 160,000 files in the NTDB. He said just keeping the NTDB
current is a formidable task. To start, only a part of the NTDB will be
accessible over the Internet in a gopher architecture. Rogers
cautioned searching a database the size of NTDB by gopher "will not
be pleasant." The agency plans later in the year to install "Inquery", a
search and retrieve software program developed and licensed by the
University of Massachusetts. Inquery is like a WAIS, but according
to Rogers, far superior. "We think the U of Mass product is better it
has been developed for more commercial applications and in
computing tests between this and other tools the Inquery system
always wins," Rogers said.
Source: Summary of Electronic Public Information Newsletter.Vol. 4,
No. 9; May 6, 1994.
UPDATE ON ITALIAN FIDOBUST
"The crackdown needed to be done, software piracy has become a
National sport in Italy. Unfortunately, the operation rapidly became
too wide for our forces: right now, here in Pesaro we are only three
Prosecutors, quite busy with penal trials, in court all day long. We will
try to do our best withthe less possible damage for the entire
community." Here are the explanatory words of Gaetano Savoldelli
Pedrocchi, the Pesaro Prosecutor who is managing the investigations
that last week led to a nationwide crackdown on Fidonet Italia BBSs.
During the operation - confidentially known as "Hardware 1" - more
than 60 (some sources go up to 130) Bulletin Board Systems have
been visited and searched by police officials. In the central and
northern part of the country, several Fidonet nodes were closed and
dozens of operators were charged of "conspiracy with unknown for
distribution of illegally copied software and appropriation of secret
passwords."
Some figures say the seizures included more than 120 computers,
300 streamer-cassettes and CD-ROMs, 60,000 floppy disks, an
imprecise number of modems and other electronic devices. In some
cases, police officials sealed off rooms and garages where the BBSs
were operated or closed all the hardware they found in a closet.
Several Fidonet operators (generally students, professionals, small-
company owners) lost their personal data because every magnetic
support was "suspected to carry pirated software."
Aimed to crack a distribution ring of illegal software run by two people
using the publicly available Fidonet node list, investigators searched
and seized every single site of the list - even those that had never had
any contact with the two suspected. Also, many operators not
inquired by police were forced to immediately shut down their
systems, searching for possible illegal software covertly uploaded on
their BBSs. As a consequence of such indiscriminate operations, the
real, very few pirate boards had the chance to quickly hide their
businesses - sources say.
"I do not believe this scenario," said the Pesaro Prosecutor in an
interview by SottoVoce Magazine. "We acted after precise
information about the activities of a specific data-bank; if some
operators have nothing to do with the charges, we'll verify it as soon
as possible."
Questioned about further investigations against BBSs users, the
Prosecutor said: "We'll see later....at the present, users can sleep
peacefully. Otherwise, I cannot imagine how many people should be
investigated. I do not want to criminalize the entire population. Even
if the inquiry has become so vast, this is not a subject of vital
importance for our country. It is mostly a fiscal and bureaucratic
issue, a matter of small-scale but spread illegality." However, rumors
say other inquires are currently underway in other cities, and even
the Criminalpol is working on similar issues.
Assisting the investigated people, some lawyers already asked for the
immediate return of the confiscated materials, while others suggested
to wait for better times. In any case, it will probably take months
(years?) before receiving official answers regarding the seizures.
Struggling to re-open in some way their systems, Fidonet operators
are also working to get the attention of mainstream media on the
issue - with little success, so far. After an article published by La
Repubblica, two localnewspapers, Il Mattino and Il Giornale di
Brescia, run brief reports on May 15, both centered on "a wide
software piracy ring cracked by police officials".
But, the real activity is happening inside and around electronic
communities. MC-Link and especially Agora' Telematica (the biggest
Italian systems) are doing a great job, offering space for news,
opinions and comments - also acting as connection links between the
decimated net of BBSs and worried individuals scattered in the
country. Here is just one example: "....police officials seized
everything, including three PCs (one broken), a couple of modems
(just fixed for some friends), floppies, phone cables, phone-books. Now
Dark Moon is off, hoping to have at least one line available in a few
days, maybe at 2400. I fear that more raids will soon follow
elsewhere. So, please, stay alert..."
A catching dynamism flourishes from the BBSs linked to Cybernet.
Although some of them are currently not operating, a special issue of
the Corriere Telematico was just released over the net and their
printed voice, Decoder Magazine, will soon distribute news,
testimonies, comments on "Operation Hardware 1".
PeaceLink has set up a defense committee-news center in Taranto
and its spokesperson, Alessandro Marescotti, will sign an article for
the next issue of the weekly magazine Avvenimenti.
Promptly alerted, the International online community gave good
response -quickly redistributing the news over the Net and sending
supportivemessages. Here is an email from Michael Baker, Chairman
of Electronic Frontiers Australia: "To that end I am writing to offer
assistance to anyone in Italy who wants to set up such an
organisation. Recently I (along with others) have set up Electronic
Frontiers Australia, and I am now its Chairman. Other national EF
groups have been, or are being, set up in several other countries
(Canada, Ireland, Norway, UK and Japan)....if there is anything we
can do to help, please ask."
Shifting toward politics, on May 19, the first working day of the new
Italian Cabinet, six Members of the Reformers group presented a
written question to the Ministers of Justice and Interior. After a short
introduction about telecom systems, the document gives an account
of the facts and asks three final questions to the Government: "if it
will intend to open an investigation to verify if the raids ordered by
the
Pesaro Prosecutor's office were prejudicial to the constitutionally
guaranteed freedom of expression; if it is not the case to set up a
better and greater team of computer experts in order to avoid further
random seizures of electronic devices that lead to shut down the
BBSs; if it is not the occasion to confirm that current legislation does
not charge system operators with objective responsibility for users'
activities on telecom systems."
Although the Fidonet sysops community (about 300 people) is still
quite uncertain regarding its future, many of them feel the urgent
need to overcome a sort of cultural and social isolation that clearly
surrounds the telecom scene in Italy. At the moment the main issue
is how to raise public interest and political pressure to obtain clear
laws in support of civil rights in the electronic medium. Ideas and
proposals are developing from several electronic laboratories, such as
the Community Networking conference on Agora' Telematica and
Cybernet.
"We underestimate our strength; if we could just be able to set up an
Italian Association of Telecom Users we could put pressure on
political and legislative bodies...Overwhelm newspapers, radio and tv
stations with faxes, letters, phone calls...We must attract common
people, through hundreds of tables and events in the streets more
than online, even if we do not have a Kapor to support us...There
should be press-conferences in several cities, with the presence of
investigated people along with famous persons, politicians...What
about a 24-hours silence from any system in the country with
simultaneous events in each city and village where a BBS operates?"
The situation is rather fluid and in e-motion. Stay connected!
Source: Bernardo Parrella (berny@well.sf.ca.us) Tue May 24 01:50:10
1994
==========================
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comments@educom.edu or info@educom.edu.
BARBARIANS AT THE CYBERGATE
The New York Times reports hostility and aggression are spreading in
cyberspace, and network experts are worried about the future of the
electronic community. A rash of newcomers in the last year or two
has undermined the tradition of rational self-government and the
democratic exchange of ideas. Commenting on the recent incident
where two lawyers advertised their services to Usenet groups and
were subsequently vilified, a University of California at San Diego
professor observes, "If such events become routine -- and there's very
little technical or legal reason why they won't -- then the whole net
will
basically collapse through flame-wars, the closing of e-mail discussion
groups to outsiders and whatever." (Tampa Tribune 5/15/94 B2)
CYBERPORN IS PROSECUTED
In two recent cases in Oklahoma and Texas, courts have convicted
defendants for using electronic bulletin boards to distribute obscene
material. In the Oklahoma case, defense attorneys argued that state
obscenity laws don't apply to electronic devices such as CD-ROMs,
claiming that what was on the disks was actually binary code. In the
Texas case, U.S. Secret Service agents seized computers and
electronic equipment from an electronic publisher. (Wall Street
Journal 5/27/94 B3)
WILL COMMUNICATIONS GIANTS CONTROL DIVERSITY?
By luring 12 major TV stations to leave their networks and sign up
with Fox, Rupert Murdoch has expanded his global print and
electronic communications empire -- demonstrating, says one
reporter, that power is concentrating in the hands of those with the
money, the experience and the programming, leaving them "poised to
control the still-to-be-designed information and entertainment
delivery systems of tomorrow." (New York Times 5/29/94 Sec.4, p.1)
BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, THOSE DONUTS CAN
HEAR YOU
Many retail stores, restaurants and food outlets, such as Dunkin'
Donuts, are using audio monitoring as a surveillance technique to
prevent employee or customer theft; the practice is so new that
many advocates of consumer privacy have not yet heard of it. (New
York Times 5/28/94 p.6)
BIG SAVINGS ON TELECOMMUTERS
The director of marketing for AT&T Virtual Office Solutions says,
"For every dollar spent, we saved $2," on their telecommuting project.
With approximately 8.000 employees functioning in the virtual world,
managers report productivity up 45% and office space savings up
50%. (San Francisco Examiner 5/29/94 C5)
NEW USES FOR HIGH-TECH TRAINING
The Clinton administration plans to use expensive computer
simulators developed for the Pentagon to train tomorrow's workers in
subjects ranging from physics to manufacturing. (Business Week
6/6/94 p.44)
SNAIL MAIL AN ENDANGERED SPECIES?
Canada's postal corporation is making preparations to join the info-
highway. Its chair predicts that stamped mail likely will become
extinct as electronic information replaces regular mail, delivering
services by TV, telephone and computer. (Toronto Globe & Mail
6/03/94 B3)
EUROPE URGED TO REMOVE BARRIERS TO INFOBAHN
The president of the European Union says that the benefits of more
EU participation in the information society could include alleviating
the union's chronic unemployment problem, which now stands at
about 20 million people. (Wall Street Journal 6/3/94 A5A)
INTERACTIVE LEARNING CURVE
Apparently very little of the expertise in traditional merchandising,
cost control and customer service translates into the electronic
marketplace. "Opening an electronic store is completely different
from a retail store or catalog... It took us six months just to figure
out
how to present our product effectively," says one merchant.
(Investor's Business Daily 6/3/94 A3)
TROLLING IN PUBLIC DATABASES
The government routinely scours its 4,000 databases looking for
welfare cheats, draft dodgers, tax cheats, etc. The Clinton
Administration's proposed Health Security Card, a "smart card" with
personal information on individuals, would create a huge new
government database with medical records on every citizen.
(Investor's Business Daily 6/2/94 A1)
ELECTRONIC GOVERNMENT BENEFITS
The federal government will start delivering public assistance benefits
electronically over the next five years, and a nationwide system will
replace welfare checks and food stamps by 1999. Following a pilot
program in Maryland that reduced welfare fraud by 47% in the first
year, it's expected that the new system will net $195 million a year in
savings. (Wall Street Journal 6/1/94 A8)
MECKLERWEB SEEKS CYBER-ADS
Mecklermedia has launched a new service on the Internet aimed at
providing a "politically correct" forum for companies that want to
share information about their products and services. MecklerWeb
provides each sponsor company 10 to 15 megabytes of space in
exchange for a $25,000 annual fee, and user access to the site is free.
"Our audience comes into MecklerWeb voluntarily. It is not
unwanted, unsolicited e-mail," notes project manager Chris Locke.
Try http://www.digital.com/demo.html. The permanent address will be
: http://www.mecklerweb.com/demo.html. (Advertising Age 5/30/94
p.18)
INDIA SOFTWARE SHIPMENTS SURGE
India's computer software exports totaled $330 million in the year
ended March 31, up 47% from a year earlier. The country's software
industry is increasingly moving from lower-end products toward more
sophisticated, higher quality applications. (Wall Street Journal 6/1/94
A10)
FUTURISTIC FUNDRAISING
Entrepreneurs can go online to find investors for their ventures
through companies like Technology Capital Network and American
Venture. Start-up businesses buy a listing describing their function
and needs, and investors pay to search the database for new
opportunities. "It's still an unconventional way of raising capital, but
that doesn't mean it's not a fantastic idea," says Paul Saffo of the
Institute for the Future. (Wall Street Journal 6/2/94 B1)
NEW INTERNET TRADE ASSOCIATION
Suppliers of Internet access software and services have formed a new
trade group -- the Internet Business Association -- to be
headquartered in Washington, DC. (San Francisco Chronicle 6/1/94
B2)
WIRING AFRICA
The head of a UNESCO effort to revive the Pan African News
Agency says, "For years, the main obstacle to real development has
been the statement, `We have to feed the people first.' After all, who
can withhold food? But if you want the people to feed themselves, you
have to have a different view. Say you go to a small village. People are
hungry. Is the priority an electronic mailbox...or 1000 kilograms of
corn? What we've learned, over the past 20 years, is that the mailbox
may well be the priority." (Wired June 94 p.60)
>From Canada The Traffic Report
Information Highway Secretarait. Vol. 7 June 2, 1994.
ONE STOP SHOP FOR BUSINESS
The business service center is up and running in Fredericton,
providing one-stop shopping for businesses in the capital region.
Participants include the Department of Economic Development &
Tourism, the Capital Regional Development Commission, the
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and Industry Canada. The
objective is to give businesses a single point access to programs,
services and regulations. Contact: Andre Charon (506) 444-6156
THE TELEGRAPH JOURNAL GOES ONLINE
Newspapers in New Brunswick have long used the telephone system
and computer modems to transmit stories from bureaus to the
editorial offices. But until now, they haven't been seen searching for
story ideas on the Internet. Telegraph Journal reporter Jacques
Poitras is the first. He's already done some research using NB*Net's
news groups and says he's looking for more story ideas. Contact:
Jacques Poitras jpoitras@nbnet.nb.ca
TRAVEL INFORMATION ON A DISKETTE
Aquilla Destination Marketing of Saint John launched its
computerized travel information system at a gathering of Meeting
New Brunswick this week. The Windows-based guide features color
coded New Brunswick maps and other graphics, such as meeting floor
plans and hotel locations.Hundreds of the diskettes will be mailed to
meeting planners and associated businesses outside the province. The
guide will be updated annually and distributed free of charge. Contact:
Beth Kelly (506) 633-1224
AUTOCAD ON THE HIGHWAY
Ten students have graduated from the first ever distance education
course of the well-known AutoCad computerized drafting software.
The course was designed and delivered by the Moncton Community
College in conjunction with TeleEducation New Brunswick. The
project impressed AutoDesk, the owner of the software, and the
community college is becoming an authorized AutoDesk training
centre in order to deliver the course across Canada. Contact: John
Hanusiak (506) 856-2169 or 1-800-263-4403
U.S. CARD OR BIG BROTHER IS GETTING CLOSER
Ever Feel Like You're Being Watched? You Will...
Digital Media has learned that the Clinton administration is debating
not if, but how, to create a card that every American will need in order
to interact with any federal government agency. Combined with two
potential executive orders and the Postal Service's designs on putting
its stamp on personal and business electronic transactions, the card
could open a window on every nuance of American personal and
business life.
The wrangling among the administration, the U.S. Postal Service, the
Internal Revenue Service and Department of Defense, emerged into
the public eye at this April's CardTech/SecureTech Conference. The
gathering of security experts was convened to discuss applications for
smart card and PCMCIA memory card technologies in business and
government. The Postal Service, at the conference presented a
proposal for a "general purpose U.S. services smartcard," which
individuals and companies would use to authenticate their identities
when sending and receiving electronic mail, transferring funds and
interacting with government agencies, such as the I.R.S., Veterans
Administration and the Department of Health and Human Services.
President Clinton is also considering signing two executive orders that
would greatly expand the government's access to personal records,
including an order that would allow the I.R.S. to monitor individual
bank accounts and automatically collect taxes based on the results,
said sources close to the White House. The collection service will be
presented as a convenient way to avoid filling out a tax return. The
White House did not respond to requests for comments about this
report.
The Post Office: We deliver for you. The Postal Service's U.S. Card
would be designed to use either smart cards (plastic cards with an
embedded microprocessor carrying a unique number that can be read
by a electromagnetic scanner and linked to computerized records
stored on a network) or PCMCIA cards, which can contain megabytes
of personal information. (You've probably seen this type card in
AT&T's "You Will" ad campaign, which shows a doctor inserting a
woman's card in a reader in order to access a recording of a
sonogram). The Postal Service said it is considering AT&T and other
companies' smart card technologies.
In a slide presentation at the conference, Postal representative
Chuck Chamberlain outlined how an individual's U.S. Card would be
automatically connected with the Department of Health and Human
Services, the U.S. Treasury, the I.R.S., the banking system, and a
central database of digital signatures for use in authenticating
electronic mail and transactions. The U.S. Card is only a proposal,
Chamberlain insists. Yet the Postal Service is prepared to put more
than a hundred million of the cards in citizens' pockets within months
of administration approval, he said.
"We've been trying to convince people [in the different agencies] to do
just one card, otherwise, we're going to end up with two or three
cards," said Chamberlain. He said in addition to the healthcare card
proposed by President Clinton last year, various government agencies
are forwarding plans for a personal records card and a transactions
(or "e-purse") card. Chamberlain said the I.R.S in particular is
pursuing plans for an identity card for taxpayers.
Don't leave home without it. Though he did not name the U.S. Card at
the time, Postmaster General Marvin Runyon suggested that the
Postal Service offer electronic mail certification services during
testimony before the Senate Governmental Affairs Subcommittee in
March. The proposal is clearly intended as a way to sustain the
Postal Service's national role in the information age, since it would
give the agency a role in virtually every legally-binding electronic
transaction made by U.S. citizens. For instance:
* When sending or receiving electronic mail, U.S. Card users would be
able to check the authenticity of a digital signature to screen out
impostors.
* Banking transactions (notably credit card purchases) that depend
on authentication of the participants identities and an audit trail,
would be registered in Postal Service systems.
* Veterans, or for that matter college students and welfare recipients,
could check their federal benefits using the identification data on their
U.S. Cards.
* Visitors to an emergency room would have instant access to
medical records at other hospitals, as well as their health insurance
information.
These examples may seem benign separately, but collectively they
paint a picture of a citizen's or business's existence that could be
meddlesome at best and downright totalitarian at worst. Will buying a
book at a gay bookstore with a credit card that authenticates the
transaction through the Postal Service open a Naval officer up to
cour marshal? If you have lunch with a business associate on a
Saturday at a family restaurant, will the IRS rule the expense non-
deductible before you can even claim it?
"There won't be anything you do in business that won't be collected
and analyzed by the government," said William Murray, an
information system security consultant to Deloitte and Touche who
saw Chamberlain's presentation. "This [National Information
Infrastructure] is a better surveillance mechanism than Orwell or the
government could have imagined. This goddamned thing is so
pervasive and the propensity to connect to it is so great that it's
unstoppable."
Deep Roots; Deep Pockets; Long History. Chamberlain said the
Postal Service has been working for "a couple years" on the
information system to back up the U.S. Card. He said the project was
initiated by the Department of Defense, which wanted a civilian
agency to create a national electronic communications certification
authority that could be connected to its Defense Messaging System.
Chamberlain said the Postal Service has also consulted with the
National Security Agency, proponents of the Clipper encryption chip
which hides the contents of messages from all but government
agencies, like law enforcement. The National Aeronautics and Space
Administration's Ames Research Laboratories in Mountain View,
Calif. carried out the research and development work for Clipper.
"We're designing a national framework for supporting business-
quality authentication," said John Yin, the engineer heading up the
U.S. Card-related research for NASA Ames' advanced networking
applications group. "This is not specifically with just the Postal
Service. We'll be offering services to other agencies and to third-party
commercial companies that want to build other services on the card."
For example, VISA or American Express could link their credit
services to the U.S. Card.
Yin, who works on Defense Messaging Systems applications, said his
group has collaborated with "elements of Department of Defense" for
the past year, but would not confirm the participation of the National
Security Agency, a Department of Defense agency. The NSA is
specifically prohibited from creating public encryption systems by the
Computer Security Act of 1987. Yin also would not comment on the
budget for the project, which other sources said was quite large and
has spanned more than two years.
A false sense of security? According to Yin, the cards would allow
individuals or businesses to choose any encryption technology. "It's
not our approach to say, 'Here's the standard, take it our leave it,'" he
said.
"We're not trying to create a monopoly, rather it's an infrastructure
for interoperability on which a whole variety of services can be built."
Yet, NASA, which is a participant in the CommerceNet electric
marketplace consortium will "suggest" to its partners that they adopt
the U.S. Card certification infrastructure, he said.
The reality is that government agencies' buying power usually drives
the market to adopt a particular technology -- not unlike the way the
Texas Board of Education, the largest single purchaser of textbooks in
the U.S., sets the standard for the content of American classroom
curricula. Since, the administration has already mandated use of
Clipper and its data-oriented sibling, the Tesserae chip, in federal
systems it's fairly certain that the law enforcement-endorsed chips
will find their way into most, if not all, U.S. Cards. Even in the
unlikely
event that one government agency should weather the pressure and
pass on the Clipper chip, it's still possible to trace the source,
destination, duration and time of transactions conducted between
Clippered and non-Clippered devices.
"Most of this shift [in privacy policy] is apparently being done by
executive order at the initiative of bureaucracy, and without any
Congressional oversight or Congressional concurrence, " Murray said.
"They are not likely to fail. You know, Orwell said that bureaucrats,
simply doing what bureaucrats do, without motivation or intent, will
use technology to enslave the people."
EDITOR'S NOTE: Digital Media has filed a Freedom of Information
Act request for Clinton and Bush Administration, Postal Service,
NSA, Department of Defense, NASA, I.R.S. and other documents
related to the creation of the U.S. Card proposal.
-- Mitch Ratcliffe
Copyright 1994 by Mitch Ratcliffe and Seybold Publications.
Mitch Ratcliffe
Editor in Chief
Digital Media: A Seybold Report
444 De Haro St., Ste. 128
San Francisco, Calif. 94107
415.575.3775 office
godsdog@netcom.com
The above article was resent-From: Sam Sternberg
<SAMSAM@VM1.YorkU.CA> communet@uvmvm
To: Multiple recipients of list COMMUNET
<COMMUNET@UVMVM.BITNET>
QUICKTAKE 100 DIGITAL CAMERA REVIEW
I recently got the opportunity to use the new Apple QuickTake 100
digital camera. The new Apple camera lists for $799, but has been
advertized at a lower price. The unit works well with both Macs and
Windows-based computers. The one-pound camera operates easily,
simply, and plugs into a computer with a simple cable, supplied with
the camera. It has a built in flash, with two settings. The QuickTake
100 has two resolution settings. At high resolution (640 by 480 pixels)
eight color images can be taken. And, at the low-resolution setting
(320 by 240 pixels), 32 images are possible. Once the pictures are
taken, they can be easily downloaded as PICT, TIFF, or Quick Take
format files. The camera memory is then cleared and more images
can be captured. The 24-bit color images are reasonably good for
many applications. The resolution may not match your Nikon, but for
the price and the ease of use, the QuickTake 100 is not a bad deal.
The simplicity with which snaps can be taken allows use by most
anyone. Some may complain because the unit has a fixed-focus lens
that ranges from four feet to infinity, and the shutter speeds and
aperture are automatically adjusted. However, it would appear that
the 100 model number may indicate that more advanced camera are
on the drawing board. Nonetheless, the camera works well and shows
promise for many applications. Moreover, its great fun to use.
At a recent demonstration of the La Plaza Telecommunity, I used the
QuickTake to take pictures of those who came by our demonstration.
Within seconds, the curious were immortalized with their pictures
scattered around the edge of a 16-inch Apple monitor, with live
Internet in the center. Everyone seemed impressed with the little
digital camera. A number of business persons who stopped by the
demonstration commented that the camera would be great for real
estate, art gallery, desktop publishing, and other such applications.
R. Bryant, Editor
***************************************************************
CNN SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION
Please send an email message to Richard W. Bryant, Editor &
Publisher at:
rbryant@hydra.unm.edu
indicating that you wish to subscribe. You will be put on the e-mailing
list for the following month. CNN is published only in electronic
format.
***************************************************************
COM NET NEWS is solely under my editorship, and is unrelated and
independent of the La Plaza Telecommunity, of which I am vice
president. The editorial comment is my own and does not reflect in
any way on La Plaza.
You may reproduce or publish any parts of this newsletter and
distribute it electronically or in paper format. However, any
reproduction or publishing of CNN material must be accompanied by
the following reference:
>From COM NET NEWS:
Richard W. Bryant, Ph.D., Editor & Publisher
RW Bryant Associates
Advanced Technology Market Research & Com Net Consultants
P.O. Box 1828
El Prado, NM 87529
Tel/fax: 505-758-1919
rbryant@hydra.unm.edu
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