What the NREN Really Is

[Charles Mattair <mattair () synercom hounix org>]

 Organization: Synercom Technology, Inc., Houston, TX
[Moderator's Note: Mr. Mattair passed along this message to us.  PAT]
       --- Forwarded message from eniac

Yes you may forward my parody, but I would like you to attach my
Email address to your forward.  I am interested in SUPPORTING the
NREN, but I personally believe its role should be to serve all of
science and education as NSFnet does now.  Maybe you should attach
this note to your forward.

Regards,
Greg      <GREG () SSCVX1 SSC GOV>

                       ----------------

I just returned from a network meeting in San Diego today and thought
you would be interested in my interpretation of what NSF proposes for
the National Education and Research Network (NREN).  Rather than
comment specifically, I decided it would be interesting to write a
parody which relates the NREN to the construction of a national super
highway.  Doing so removes the highly technical aspects of the overall
planned functions the NREN.  Please excuse this style, but I think
it's the only way to explain my understanding of their plan in a way
that does not immediately get very technical.  It may be flawed, but
the information is based upon Hans-Werner Braun's presentation ... as
I understood it.

Greg
                      ___________________________


    National Science Foundation Develops a National Super Highway
                Greg Chartrand  <GREG () SSCVX1 SSC GOV>

                               3/11/93


     The National Science foundation is in the process of developing
plans to build a national super highway that will advance
transportation technology in our country.  The super highway proposed
will replace the existing interstate highway system and allow speeds
of at least 240 MPH.  The following interview with NSF developers
explores their current plans.

                                   --------

ME: I understand you are building a new Super national highway(1) to
serve the purposes of advancing ground transportation throughout our
county.

NSF: Yes we are, as a part of an earlier initiative sponsored by the
then Senator Gore.  We are very excited about the technology that will
allow transportation speeds of 240 MPH(2) across the country.

ME: That sounds exciting, how will it be built?

NSF: Well, we will have this super highway designed to allow the high
speed travel(3) and it will have six entrance/exit ramps.(4)

ME: Ahh ... that doesn't sound like very many ramps, where will they
be located?

NSF: Well, several years ago we funded the establishment of six
gourmet restaurants(5) scattered across the country, we are going to
fund the building of the super highway and access ramps at the
restaurant locations.  We are however allowing the ramp contractor(6)
to build as many ramps as he wishes, at his own expense.

ME: I assume then the contractor for the highway(7) builds ramps where
ever it makes sense to optimize access.

NSF: Well, not exactly.  We are separating the contracts for the ramps
and the highway so the bidders can be very competitive.

ME: I see.  How to you plan to connect the rest of the interstate
highway system(8) to your super national highway?

NSF: Well actually, it's not part of our plan.  We are having the
highway and access ramps built for us, it's up to the states or other
government agencies to provide the highways to the access ramps.  We
will however fund a few temporary roads(9) to connect parts of the
existing interstate highway system, but don't intend to make them
permanent.  Did I forget to mention that we will be shutting down the
existing interstate highway system?(10)

ME: You mean I will no longer be able to drive across the existing
interstate highway system?

NSF: Yes, it will be destroyed.

ME: OK, let's see if I understand.  I have a state highway system for
example, and I put in a connecting highway to your super highway, and
I can now travel on it, right?

NSF: Well, no you can't.  The super highway will only be used for
vehicles that can run 240 MPH(11) and we must approve every vehicle,
destination, and trip the vehicle takes.(12) We don't want our super
highway clogged with vehicles which can only travel 70 MPH!(13)

ME: I'm confused.  You mean you want my state for example, to build an
access road to a super highway it can't generally use?

NSF: Well, yes and no.  You see we also want to encourage development
of toll roads in our country(14).  Our six high speed access ramps are
wide enough to allow parallel toll roads to be accessed as well as our
super highway.  Private road builders will be able to put in toll
roads between our access ramps, for a fee.

ME: So there will no longer be a "free" interstate highway system?

NSF: Right!

ME: Lets see if I got this straight.  You build a national super
highway that has six access ramps located where you once established
gourmet restaurants and you destroy the interstate highway system.
There are no plans to replicate the functionality of the interstate
highway systems, but you will allow private toll road builders to use
your wide access ramps and develop parallel toll roads to your super
highway.  My state or the government has to build the roads that lead
to the super highway, but once there, cannot travel on it unless the
specific vehicle can run at 240 MPH and has specific permission from
you to travel on it.

NSF: You've got it!

ME: Well then you must have a very interesting reason to put this
highway and the access ramps at these restaurant locations.

NSF: Well, you see, the gourmet food business isn't what it used to
be.  Fast food has really taken over in our country; we really need to
preserve the gourmet food business.(15) High quality restaurants
should be located right off of classy high speed highways.  We really
would like to encourage restaurant patrons to use the super highway so
they can have breakfast in San Diego and dinner in Champaign Illinois.
We will be looking for patrons who can afford to eat at multiple
restaurants and we will let them ride the highway for free!  Of course
they must have a vehicle that can go 240 MPH.(16)

ME: I'm even more confused.  How will I get across the country?

NSF: Well, if your state puts in an access road to one of our access
ramps you take it, and then exit-off on to one of the toll roads that
will be built parallel to our super highway.

ME: How fast will I be able to go?(17)

NSF: What ever the speed limit is on the toll road.

ME: What will it cost me to ride on it?

NSF: What ever the toll is.  You see, we expect that several toll
roads will be developed.  Competition!  It should keep the price down.

ME: When the super highway is empty, how will it be used?

NSF: Well, we are telling the gourmet restaurants that they should
work together even though they will be competing with each other for
customers.(18) You know, they could develop plans to send trash to
each other so they can demonstrate how fast the transportation is on
the super highway, it would be in their best interest.(19)

ME: Aren't there plans for development of high speed toll roads
already in progress by several toll road builders?  What makes you
think they will put their roads in-between your access ramps?(20)

NSF: F.O.D.

ME: What?

NSF: Field Of Dreams.  If we build it they will come.

ME: So again, tell me who pays for what?

NSF: The government funds the super highway and six access ramps.  The
toll road providers build their own roads and pays an access fee for
the ramps.  The states and other government agencies pay for any roads
necessary to get to the access ramps.  When you get on a toll road and
pay what ever the price is.

ME: And the only ones allowed to ride on the super highway are those
persons who have special vehicles that can go 240 MPH with your
specific permission, or those who can afford to frequent the gourmet
restaurants and travel at 240 MPH.  Everyone else takes the toll
roads.

NSF: Right, but don't forget the trash runs between restaurants!

ME: Oh, how silly of me!  Hmmmm.  I wonder if this is really what
Senator Gore had in mind?


FOOTNOTES
 --------

(1) NSFnet backbone project

(2) 155 megabit

(3) high speed data transfer

(4) Network Access Points (NAP's)

(5) NSF sponsored super computer centers

(6) The contractor providing the NAP's.

(7) The contractor to provide the backbone telecommunications services

(8) The Existing internet, regional, state, and other networks

(9) NSF plans to provide interim funding for NSF regionals to connect
to the NAP's.  State networks and other government agencies are on
their own.

(10) The existing NSFnet will be turned off at some point after the
new "arrangement" is in place.

(11) The Very High Speed Backbone Service (VBNS) is reserved for
applications and purposes where a demonstrated need for high speed/
capacity transmission is needed.

(12) NSF will require approval.

(13) NSF does not wish to clog the VBNS with low speed aggregate
traffic unless additions are made to the network.  70 MPH=45 Mb/s.

(14) The NSF expects commercial providers like AT&T, MCI to put
networking between NAP's.  Most of the existing NSFnet traffic would
go over these commercial networks which would have to be paid for by
the users.

(15) The usefulness of super computer systems has been grossly reduced
by the technological advances associated with very powerful Unix work
stations.  Super computers fill a diminishing niche in science and
industry.

(16) NSF is looking for potential users that can use more than one
super computer center and use the VBNS to make the application work.
Applications of this nature are a bit obscure.

(17) There are no specifications for commercial providers.

(18) NSF super computer centers are no longer funded by NSF so they
compete for commercial and non-commercial business.

(19) NSF is asking the NSF super computer centers to develop
demonstration applications which show how the network might be used.
These applications would demonstrate, and not necessarily do anything
useful.

(20) The major telecommunications suppliers will be selling similar
services this year without the complications of the NAP's.  The NAP's
primary function would allow communications between commercial vendors
which would be very useful, but it is unclear if the telecommunications
suppliers will "buy" into this concept.

                  -------- End forwarded message


Charles Mattair          (work) mattair () synercom hounix org
<standard.disclaimer>    (home) cgm () elmat synercom hounix org

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