Telco position on Internet -- anonymous contribution

[Dave Farber <farber () central cis upenn edu>]

------ Forwarded Message
Fell free to circulate this (anonymously please --don't want too
,many poison dart letters).

Note the helpful attitude of the Telcos.

Sub: H.R. 1757 Testimony, 5.4, FY 94 Budget
 

 
Anyone interested in computing and Internet, pay special
attention to section II of the following "Washington Report!"
 

 
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                        E-MAIL RECEIVED ON 5-17-93
 
Msg 301 (5491 chars):
Date: Fri, 14 May 93 22:53 EDT
Subject: Washington Report 93 - 11
 
 
I - Budget
 
     A - We're coming down to the wire on the House side for
appropriations for the FY'94 budget. Mr. Natcher, Appropriations
Committee chairman has sent a letter to each of the sub-committee
chairs stating that he expects the budget mark-up to be completed
by Memorial Day inorder to be sent to the Senate. 
 
     B - Today, Friday was the day that the subcommittee chairs
were to learn how much each would receive of the total funds in
the 602(b) allocation to work with. Until that number is known we
do not even have a ball park figure to consider for NSF. But no
word yet.
 
     C - The major competition in the HUD,VA,NASA, NSF and other
Independent Agencies budget comes not only from the other
agencies but from other programs within NSF, ie: LIGO funding,
the R&D budget - frozen since 1992, and the Education and Human
Resources budget (each of the last four years the Senate has
provided an unrequested line item appropriation [$44mil.] for
Math and Science Education which makes up a large portion of this
item).
 
     D - Some stimulus! A package is going forward with summer
jobs, extra police, etc. for a total of $900 million.
 
     E - ACTION TO CONSIDER - While time is too short to begin
making presentations to members of the Appropriations
sub-committee chaired by Mr. Louis Stokes (D.Ohio) it has been
strongly recommended that CASC members contact their local
Congressman and ask that letters supporting the NSF budget
increase be sent to members of the sub-committee.
Congressmen react favorably to letters from Hill colleagues. I
will be happy to provide "information" about the budget for you
to include. Members of the Appropriations sub-committee are
listed on page 151 of your "US Congress Handbook."
 
II - Negotiations - Round Three
 
     A - Today Mr. Boucher met with Tom Tauke of NYNEX, and Bob
Heterick of EDUCOM to make one last attempt to come to some
agreement over language to be included in HR 1757. No report by 
5 pm.
 
But during the discussions held yesterday, Thursday, the Telecos
came in with a proposition that researchers be held liable for
using the Internet for other than "official" activities. That
enlarged a chasm that was already present between the Telecos and
librarians, network and others from the education community who
were present. Reports suggest that finally Jim Wilson, science
consultant to Mr. Boucher and the Congressman himself, understand
why the great consternation about his provision in HR 1757. NSF
has used long lines but that has all but eliminated the Regional
Telecos. Hense these intense maneuvers to become part of the
action. 
 
     B - As expected, the Telecos have found members of the
Senate who will be introducing language, amendments to S.4 to
partner that currently in HR 1757. Currently, S.4 makes no
mention of moving to "commercial" networks. Mr. Burns (R.Montana)
is the designated hitter for this. He echos the words of
Congressman Sam Johnson (R.Texas) who, at the Boucher hearing,
stated that NSF should stop competing with the private sector in
networking. 
 
     C - Mr.Boucher has indicated that, come what may, he expects
to convene mark-up on Thursday May 20th.


------ End of Forwarded Message