Re: War of Internet Governance: 1995 -????

[Steve Heflin <steve@itw.net>]

> 
>  No average individual or small business
>  in Sri Lanka, Senegal, Chile or most 
>  nations on Earth could afford a sum
>  remotely approaching this astronomic
>  figure. No small business or individual
>  I know here in Toronto can afford such
>  a steep fee either. 

Well, last time I looked there were no significant number of servers in
Sri Lanka.  If the majority is here in the states and it began here, it
evolves here, yadda, yadda - why is it so inconceivable that the
governance of ANY degree come from here?  The US gov't built it.  They
should have a say on some level.  Hell, if the French built it, I bet NO
ONE would have access to anything lest they said so!  Only a soft, cash
cow liek the US would do this for free to the world.  'Course the US
taxpayers paid for that....

> 
>  Only in consumerist, computer professional
>  America. In the rest of the society non-
>  profit (read charity) means low/no money,
>  volunteers, donations, going without so
>  others may have a little more. This is a
>  huge world and only the tiniest fraction
>  is being represented in this discussion.

Volunteers?  This isn;t the peace corps.  I think you would agree there is
a significant difference in pertinent abilities doing it this way as
opposed to saying, 'We need volunteers!' 

> 
>  If any of you doubt what I say come here
>  to Toronto and I'll show you what non-
>  profit means. In my neighbourhood. I defy
>  any of you to find a community non-profit
>  or charitable group with 5 staff, 10k and
>  a 300k line of credit to spare. What sheer
>  and utter bloody stupid nonsense.
> 
On that same street, you will find many more for-prifts that do not meet
the criteria either.  So what?  Do they have something to contribute to
the governance of the Internet? mmmm, doubt it...

[disclaimer - this is all wayyyy off the topic now]

the UN (ever heard of it?) is non profit, yet they were dead in the water
until the US bailed them out with *.* billions.

>  Myself and others want to create a FREEnic.
>  And we sure as hell won't ever have that kind
>  of money because it will be free. As in no
>  or next to nothing funds. Interesting concept,
>  eh? Free... something ya'll don't seem to get.
> 
ya'll? ;)

Anyway - I hope the FreeNIC works out, but from my experience and on a
lower scale granted - I have seen free BBS's, free ISPs, free *.*'s come
and go.  None of them stay - why? Cuz it was free!!! therefore had no
funding to make it.  always idealists with grand ideas about freeing the
world of ISPs that charge money (the tyrants!) or BBS's run on a shoe
string cuz they only accept donations that never amount to anywhere near
what is needed.

FreeNIC is a great concept.  Free anything is a great idea!  I am with you
on that...but not in the goverance of the Net.  Won't work unless some
govenment or corporation steps in and funds it but then it isn't free
anymore.

>  TeleVirtually Yours,
> 
>  Bob Allisat
> 
>  Director, World TeleVirtual Network             http://www.wtv.net
>  PO Box 191 St E Toronto Canada M6H 4E2                 tor@wtv.net
>  (416) 534-1999                   http://www.wtv.net/portfolio.html
> 


Regards,

Steve Heflin, President
Internet Tidal Wave - Business Internet Solutions
(610) 882-4220 | 1 (888) THE-WAVE | http://www.itw.com
"Through the modem, off the router, around the world...Nothing but 'Net!"