US Interest mainly --CIX - Upheavals may be in the Eye of their Beholder

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

From: cook () path net (Gordon Cook)
Date: Sat, 16 Jul 1994 23:40:56 GMT


Well Mr. Dhesi, I suggest that you don't
 condemn my analysis until and unless you read it.  Undoubtedly my blunt
entree yesterday to CIX-members ruffled some feathers.... I certrainly
 have evidence of that.


I also have had an on-record discussion with Bob Collett from
 Sprint and detailed feed back on a draft from someone higher up in the
food chain at Sprint than Bob.


I have input via telephone and comments on a draft from several CIX
members.  I have been working on this story 16 to 18 hours a day since
 about 8 pm on Thursday evening.  I have learned a huge amount and the
 key players are generally telling me that I am right on target.
The message to cix-members produced valuable feedback.


Upheaval?  Time will tell.  Thursday's Board decision will very likely be
the most important one yet made via the CIX board.  What service
providers do between now and November 1 and how the CIX implements the
filters (route or packet) for example will determine whether this
is an upheaval.  Perhaps momentous would suit the occasion better.  The
CIX has now very bluntly said that it will *ENFORCE*, equally, and
presumably for everyone its MOST important policy.  This decision will
mean a very significant change in Sprints market position..... we may
be seeing the first signs of a shake out in this industry.  You
decide how you want to characterize it.


What will there be by way of routing disruptions for ISPs who do not
join CIX by November 1?  That I have learned will likely be different
for almost every ISP.  They will be playing a double form of Russian
roulette.  Some if they know very well the connectivity of their
provider to other backbones may decide that loosing Cix Routing at the
CIX router won't hurt them.  They may be right. but if they win that
round they will have to gamble with whether CIX members may throw up
filters at the borders of their own networks.  This is the other barrel
of the gun.


Yeah, its a very very fluid situation, and no doubt my public reporting
on it will cause a few people at the center of it a few extra headaches.
So be it.


I didn't go looking for this story.  it came to me within 2 or 3 hours
of the conclusion of a highly confidential meeting.  When that happens I
am not doing my jobif I don't do some further investigation.


I am still learning and still writing.  With any luck I will make my
midnight deadline.  If I am not satisfied with my product at that point
I'll give myself some extra time.  You should realize that a helluva
lot can be accomplished via the net and the phone in a helluva short
time.


wanna talk?  609 882-2572  lets use phone and not the net.... I am too
slow a typist.