IP: RE: CRADA -- you can hear the rip (off)

[David Farber <dave () farber net>]

And the ps comment re ANS and NSF brings back non-fond memories that 
someday I will document .

Dave

> From: "Rick Adams" <ricknews () cello net>
> To: <farber () cis upenn edu
>
>
> The Network Solutions travesty is probably worse.
>
> UUNET offered to do the master domain system at no cost to NSF and for
> a nominal, cost sharing fee from the users (I think it was $1 per domain 
> per year).
> The technology proposed was essentially what TuCows is now running.
>
> The UUNET proposal was rejected. Network Solutions' proposal was accepted.
>
> There were two primary reasons sited in the review for rejection of the 
> UUNET proposal:
>
> 1) it was not technically feasible (I never got a straight answer as to 
> why not)
>
>         and
>
> 2) "Why should UUNET be allowed to make obscene profits by charging $1 per 
> domain"
>
> I particularly remember the accusation of making obscene profits. (It's 
> especially funny
> now when Network Solutions is getting $6 or so supposedly to cover costs.)
>
> I was later told in private by one of the review panel that one of the 
> central reasons the UUNET proposal was rejected was that NSF
> would have no control over the system if it was distributed as I suggested 
> and that they did not like that. It was not mentioned as
> a criteria at any stage of the process including the review...
>
> The CRADA process such as it is was and is badly broken, but then I 
> suppose so are most
> government funding procedures.
>
>
> Rick Adams
> Founder, UUNET
> (unaffiliated with UUNET since 1997)
>
> p.s. The ANS takeover of NSFNET an commercialization is another blot of 
> shame on the process.

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