Re: The FCC strikes the Internet - Gordon Cook speaks and I comment

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

> From: cook () path net (Gordon Cook)
> Date: Fri, 11 Mar 1994 15:33:03 PST
> To: farber () central cis upenn edu, interesting-people () eff org
>
> credited to ralph nader!  Boy are you hitting below the belt!
> Credit due to Jamie love.


I was told via my original source that the people on the hill said it was
in there due to Nader. Let Nader and Jamie fight that out. I am not sure I
would like to be the winner :-)


> Place the FCC in the internet arena!!!   Horror.... the horror!!!


The FCC is a agency who regulates. If you want a NII with regulations and
rules and investment return pricing and even price by regulation,  fight
for the arrangement.  -- it is your right in our nation.


I believe this field is too young and fragile to stand any regulation and
DOES not need them. If the FCC gets involved you had better be ready to
hire a lot of high prices communications lawyers who know how to deal with
the FCC and attend many hearings and read many Notices of Rule Making. I
also believe you will be shocked and surprised by the outcome. Look at past
history.


By the way I happen to believe that the FCC does a good job in fields where
natural monopolies or public owned facilities (like TV and radio spectrum)
exist. Networks are not one of these.


> Com 'on Dave....whose side are you on!!


I think my track record speaks for that. I help start CSNET and Cren, We
did as much to get schools, libraries etc into the network world and to
provide uniform fixed pricing as we could do with the technology of the
day. I and others have fought for years to establish the Internet as you
know it. We have defended and fought for the equal and open rights to
network and the right to communicate national and internationally. I and
others fought for fixed pricing and minority networking.


I know this may astonish you but the time it took to build CSNet and CREN
was not small, it was hardly profitable in money (I could have spent the
time consulting) and it was at times painful and heart breaking and
exhilerating.


One small contribution by me and others to our nations welfare.




> I'm out raged!


So am I


Peace


Dave