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This is an unformatted version of the overhea's used at MIT's
Imnformation Marketplace Symposium on October 12. This was broadcast to 50
corporate sites in addition to the 500 in attendance in Cambridge.
Attendees received a copy of the Open Road paper in their conference
materials.
Building The Open Road:
An Entrepreneur's View of Policies for the National Public Network
Mitchell Kapor
Inspiration from the Personal Computer Industry
>From $0 to $100 billion in a decade
Triumph of Entrepreneurialism
Self-organizing phenomenon
Computing and communications technology converging
Cultural gulf still wide
Infrastructure as Platform
Must be open in all dimensions - open architecture of Apple II, IBM PC,
Unix vs. proprietary systems
Must contain critical mass of features and capabilities -
Must promote good "user experience" - empowering the non-technical user
Must be designed, not just engineered
PC Industry Dynamics Represent a New Ecology of Innovation
Winning applications not knowable in advance
"Wasteful" competition is ok
Rapid evolution by emulation of successful products
Low barriers to entry in applications
Platform providers obtain leverage through evangelism
Post-MFJ Telephone Network
Telcos can not be excluded from information services market, but cultural
assimilation lags
Beltway Gridlock, armies of lobbyists, glossy brochures and videos
Safeguards alone necessary but not sufficient
Need for consensus on evolution of telephone system into a National Public
Network
Thoughts from an Entrepreneur's Daybook
Nature Never Starts from Scratch
Nature Doesn't Have a Long-Range Plan
The Commercial Internet is the Only New Infrastructure Game in Town
The Internet in a transitional era
>From research and education mission to unrestricted uses
Emergence of commercial IP carriers, public access Unix sites
Why the Internet?
An existing, open platform with large user population
Well-developed basic protocols and services
"Thick" connectivity
Terrific testbed for commercial experiments
Policies for the Internet / NREN
"Architecture is Politics"
Encourage Competition Among Carriers
Create a Level Playing Field With No Favored Players
Equal Access to the Research and Education Network
Interconnection Arrangements are the key
Developing the Commercial Internet
The Commercial Internet Exchange (CIX)
Declaring the Commercial Internet Open for Business
Stimulating its economic development
User census
Directory of services
Public Policies for the National Public Network
Expand the definition of universal service
Civil Liberties in Cyberspace
Extend Common Carrier Responsibilities and Protections
Privacy Protection
Universal Service
>From analog to digital
Connections to every home, school, business
Affordable, not free, service
Meaningless without:
standards for information presentation
easier to use interfaces
Civil Liberties in Cyberspace
Recognize computer networks as communications media which implicate speech
interests
Extend first amendment protections to new forms of digital media
New constitutional amendment not required, just appropriate interpretation
of Bill of Rights
Computer as 21st century printing press
Free Speech and Common Carriage
Common carriage as guarantor of free speech
Ominous trends in 900# telephone service
Carriers and forwarders should keep hands off content and be free from
liability
However, extensive government regulation would be burdensome
Vexing issues remain regarding liabilities of online publishers, bulletin
boards
Privacy
The Electronic Communications Privacy Act (ECPA)
Legal protections necessary but not sufficient
Must balance legal protection with technological support
Crucial role for encryption
Anti-encryption bias in current policy climate (S. 266)
The Electronic Frontier Foundation
Non-profit organization concerned with social impact of computer-based
communications
A conduit for pioneers "on the net" to have an impact on the policy process
Active initiatives:
Internet/NREN
encryption and privacy
public switched telephone network futures
first and fourth amendment issues
rights and responsibilities of nodes and carriers