final material on IIA . Again would you send your credit card?

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

> Forwarded by Gleason Sackman - InterNIC net-happenings moderator
> ()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()
>
> ---------- Text of forwarded message ----------
> From: merrill () ccmail dsgmcl saic com (Kevin Merrill)
> Newsgroups: alt.bbs.internet
> Subject: ! ! ! IIA FAQ ! ! !
> Date: Tue, 18 Jan 1994 17:23:14 GMT
>
>        While logged into IIA's host this morning, I received an e-mail
> from the IIA staff (I've been asking lots of questions) asking If I would
> post their FAQ to the news groups where IIA debate has been going on. They
> claim that they have been have difficulty posting _anything_ to news groups
> and that they have tried repeatedly. Regardless,......here is what they gave
> me to post,............
> ****************************************************************************
>
> Date: Tue, 18 Jan 1994 10:20:55 -0500
> From: IIA Development Team <staff () mary iia org>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>                         IIA   FAQ
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Q: Who is the IIA?
>
> The International Internet Association is an organization of
> engineers and computer and network enthusiasts dedicated to the free
> flow of information without regard to position or affiliation.  In
> keeping with that concept, we are working diligently to ensure that
> all aspects of our society, be they individual, corporate, social,
> educational, intellectual, virtual, or correctional, have the
> opportunity to take part in the world of tomorrow, which we believe
> will be online.  The IIA is simply an organization that wants to do
> its part in shaping the future of the human race by providing net
> access for all...
>
>
> Q: If you're a non-profit association, what is your source of funding?
> How do you pay for the services you provide?
>
> We wheel and we deal, with elbow grease and motivation.  We leverage
> public image, information, and dreams to inspire people and companies
> to support our organization.  Currently, the majority of IIA funding
> comes from private contributions.  We are a not-for-profit association
> incorporated in the District of Columbia Nov. 18, 1993, and have a
> federal 501(c)(3) non profit application pending which will enable us
> to receive tax deductible donations.  We also have and will continue
> to solicit support from commercial organizations for technical assistance
>
>
> Q: How many people work for the IIA?
>
> 5 Billion.  They just don't know it.  We hope to increase that by 10%
> over the next two years.
>
>
> Q: Why does the IIA require a credit card number before providing
> service, and why does this "non-profit" organization charge for
> calls via their 800 number?
>
> One of the missions of the IIA is to provide Internet connectivity
> nationwide.  In order to do so we are putting together the requisite
> equipment and network and telecommunication resources to support a
> national user base.  Unfortunately, we are not yet in the position to
> provide local phone coverage for the entire nation.  As it is our
> interest to support users who do not have commercially available
> alternatives, we have implemented a system to ensure universal
> flat-rate access to our service.  Our system provides 800 access 24
> hours a day seven days a week from any point in the Domestic
> U.S. including Alaska, Hawaii, and U.S. Territories at the rate of 20
> cents a minute.  Though this may not be the least expensive option for
> users in major markets who are already being served by local
> providers, this system will provide users in previously ignored and
> forgotten markets equal access to the Internet.
>
> In order to provide this service we have contracted a U.S. long
> distance provider to supply 800 access.  Over the course of the next
> year the IIA will be reducing the cost of 800 access through a two
> tiered approach.  We will be monitoring our traffic patterns and begin
> placing local access nodes across the country.  Second, we will
> continue to negotiate with our telecomm providers to reduce the cost
> of access.  In addition, you can now, and will always be able to, dial
> directly into our nodes, and never will have to pay any access charges.
> You have to ask yourself the philosophical question.  Would you prefer
> to pay AT&T or support the online future??
>
> The IIA has not ever nor will they in the future charge anything for Internet
> Service.  We make a small royalty off of 800 time, which helps us to
> pay our bills.  What we really need is the support of the organizations we
> work with to make universal free Internet access a reality.
>
>
> Q:  But I don't *want* to use the 800 number...  Why do I have
> to give my credit card?
>
> Unfortunately, our system is currently unable to restrict access to
> the 800 number to specific accounts.  Anyone who has an account is
> able to log on through the 800 number.  As soon as we are able to fix
> this, we will be able to drop our credit card number requirement.
> Once again, if you don't use the 800 number, you will never see a
> charge on your bill.  Really!  Cross our hearts and hope to die!
> Hopefully, the absence of posts about fraudulent charges will provide
> *some* evidence of our honesty...
>
>
> Q: Why do you have a DC address when you appear to operate out of NJ?
> Why is your official address just a PO Box?
>
> Originally it was planned that we would launch our operations from the
> nations capital.  Several of our founding members live in that region
> and the symbolism is very strong.  Unfortunately the reality of the
> swamp by the Potomac is that they have one of the least capable
> telecommunications infrastructures in the nation.  Our attempts to make
> the IIA function from a technical standpoint were so frought with
> problems that we ultimately decided to work instead from our research
> facility in New Jersey.  We still do a great deal of our
> administrative work out of Washington D.C., and will maintain
> operations in that area.  In any case, Washington D.C. has already
> been shown to foster ineffective and inefficient large organizations.
> We plan to play a role in making a new bastion of democracy in the
> minds and keyboards of the Internet.
>
>
> Q: Why is the address listed on the net for IIA a residential house in NJ?
>
> We maintain several technical facilities.  One is in Highland park,
> NJ.  On the Internet, and in the world of the IIA, it is not necessary
> to place every resource within geographical proximity of each other.
> As the Internet becomes more prevalent (our goal!), the model of the
> IIA will no longer seem strange.  We neither have the funds nor the
> desire to put up a schnazzy glass-faced office buildings.  Think to
> yourself exactly how much space does several strands of fiber and a
> few Sparc-10's take up?  Well, the answer is really not that much, and
> especially not when you have a few motivated engineers who don't have
> any funds to spare.  The real address of the IIA is on the net, and
> that's always where you'll find us if you want to look.
>
>
> Q: Why are you providing local access in NJ, but not in DC?
> When are you going to proide local access in DC?
>
> You have free libraries, an unbelievable metro (compliments of
> taxpayers), parks, 17 independent enforcement agencies, parades,
> marches, fireworks, standard of living, Library of Congress, etc..
> Please be patient!
>
>
> Q: Why is there no "real people" to answer calls at the "IIA", just
> an automated voice system?  Why hasn't the IIA responded sooner to
> the massive amount of net criticism??
>
> We get a call every 68 seconds on average, and just as many direct
> electronic requests.  If anyone is interested we would be willing to
> forward our number to your home and our mail to your account.  We are
> up all night several nights a week, many of us work full-time jobs and
> still put 8 or 10 hours into the IIA at night.  We eat lousy food from
> a corner deli, don't see our families, and spend Christmas Eve (true
> story) answering electronic requests.  Have a little patience.  Rome
> wasn't built in a day..
>
>
> Q: I sent in a request for an account but never heard from them?
> Why does it take so long to get an account?
> They seem to have announced their service a long time ago.  Where
> is it?  Are they having staffing or technical difficulties?
>
> Unanswered requests: If anyone has sent a request and not heard we
> apologize.  Two possibilities.
> 1: We screwed up and lost it.  Early on we were still
> perfecting our administrative systems and mistakes were made.  You
> have our sincere apology.  If you contact us via fax we will rectify
> this as quickly as possible.
> 2: We have it.  We will process it as soon as possible.  We
> are getting a whole lot better at this.
>
>
> Q: What is the connection between IIA and IDT, which contacted potential
> users in Europe?
>
> IDT asked us if they could provide foreign access to the IIA through
> the International Call-Back system they invented.  Since this is an
> organization which has members who have been very supportive of us, we
> allowed them to serve in this capacity.  Additionally IDT has served
> invaluably in the capacity of advisor to the IIA in our dealings with
> domestic telecomm companies.  Finally, this is not an exclusive
> arrangement.  If anyone else has a clever way to get to the IIA, we are
> all ears.
>
>
> In Summary:
>
> You achieve in proportion to what you attempt.  The International
> Internet Association is just one organization of thousands on a tiny
> world zipping around in a forgotten corner of the universe.  Much is
> happening on this world, some good, some bad -- yet there is so much
> more that can be done on this world that it makes us all want to cry
> in frustration.  However, we intend to press on in our attempt to make
> the the world a better place through Internet connectivity.
> God willing we hope you will join us.
>
>
> Maximillian D. Robbins, Executive Director, International Internet Association
> David S. Miller, Chief Technical Officer, International Internet Association