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NPTN policy on potential Free-Net/commercial conflictswriting

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1994-10-17 · 5 min read · Edit on Pyrite

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NPTN policy on potential Free-Net/commercial conflicts

``` Date: Mon, 17 Oct 1994 18:22:01 -0400 From: pfh@nptn.org (peter f. harter) To: action@eff.org (action mailing list) Subject: Policy

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NPTN POLICY ON POTENTIAL FREE-NET/COMMERCIAL CONFLICTS

Recently several incidents have come up which have focused attention on the relationship between NPTN community computer systems and commercial providers. Rather than answer a zillion individual e.mail messages, I thought I'd outline our position in one official policy statement.

THE FREE-NET MODEL

There are a variety of approaches to community networking, the "Free-Net(R) model" being one of them. Under our model we see no conflict between the operation of our systems and ANY commercial provider. Indeed, it is quite the reverse.

A Free-Net, properly run, is first and foremost a local system, run by local people, using local resources, to meet local needs. Our Internet connections are incidental to our primary mission and our net effect is to INCREASE the pool of telecomputing literate people to whom commercial services could eventually be sold.

A Free-Net, properly run, does NOT simply dump people onto the Internet. We believe in building community networks that are locally-oriented "electronic cities," not simply "electronic bus stations." We believe that "cyberdumping" people--especially K-12 students--onto the raw Internet will NOT accomplish the goal of bringing this nation into the information age with equity.

We believe what is needed is a national network not just for the people who are already on it, but for the people who are maybe two or three waves back--factory workers, farmers, blue collar people and others. This will not be accomplished by offering them access to the card catalog at the University of Paris. It MIGHT be accomplished if we can create systems that allow them to find out what's going on at their kids school, or what's happening with the latest flu-bug going around town, or what's going on with their local pro sports team or, for that matter, their own local bowling league.

This does not conflict with any reasonable commercial interest; and THIS is the heart and soul of Free-Netting.

With regard to commercial providers who DO see a problem with our work, there are two ways we can approach a resolution. We can do it via conflict; or we can do it via cooperation.

THE CONFLICT APPROACH

Recently several small IP providers have threatened to bring legal action against a number of community networks including at least one of our organizing committees.

Let me be absolutely clear on NPTN's position with regard to this:

If anyone so much as touches one of our affiliates or organizing committees with this kind of action--we will jump- in with both feet. We have full-time legal council on staff; we have the money; we have the time; and most importantly we have the WILL to fight this kind of BS. NPTN will simply not put up with it--not with OUR systems--not now, not ever.

We are not trying to be adversarial in taking this position. But this kind of thing is one of the reasons why it is so important that there BE an NPTN and why it's important for community networks to affiliate. Standing alone you can be picked-off and harassed into submission on any number of fronts--not because you are in the wrong but because you simply do not have the resources to defend yourself. There is indeed something to be said for the notion of "strength in numbers" and NPTN represents that strength.

THE COOPERATIVE MODEL

In many ways all this is reminiscent of a hundred years ago when the free public library movement was gaining momentum. The people who were most in opposition were a handful of commercial bookstore operators. They argued that they would be "ruined" if public libraries were allowed to take hold, and that spending governmental funds represented unfair competition with them. Who would ever BUY a book, they argued, if you could get it from the library for FREE?

I suspect everyone reading this document knows what actually happened--a synergy formed. Public libraries introduced books, reading, and in some cases literacy itself to whole classes of people who would otherwise not have been exposed. These people then became customers of commercial bookstores, which made for a very healthy publishing industry, which allowed the libraries to offer an incredibly rich and diverse mixture of materials to their patrons, who then went out and purchased even more books.

It is EXACTLY that kind of synergy we would like to see form between commercial providers of Internet and information-based services, and the Free-Nets. We seek a cooperative model, not a conflict-based one.

How can this occur? In many ways, the answer to this question is limited only by the creativity of the people involved. To cite some current examples:

* In some areas commercial companies are, in whole or in

part, funding the development of local Free-Net systems-- because they understand the importance of systematically developing a customer-base for the future.

* In other areas, commercial systems are purchasing NPTN

cybercasting services which not only provides their system with some of the finest online content available anywhere in the world, but helps to support the work of NPTN in developing further systems.

* We are currently actively working with several

commercial companies on models which provide both free local Free-Net services and "on-ramp" services for which a fee could be charged. The Free-Net provides a critical mass of potential customers, the on-ramp provides the revenue stream necessary to operate the Free-Net in perpetuity.

As mentioned above, our goal is cooperation with the commercial world and we think that can be attained. But we will not tolerate ANY of our affiliates or organizing committees being legally harassed by anyone.

NPTN was there long before most of the commercial world knew there was a "there" there. We believe that calls for cooperation and support--not conflict.

Tom Grundner President, NPTN 10/17/94

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Tom Grundner President, National Public Telecomputing Network Office Address: 34555 Chagrin Blvd. Moreland Hills, Ohio 44022 Mail Address: P.O. Box 1987 Cleveland, Ohio 44106 e.Mail: tmg@nptn.org Telephone: 216-247-5800 Fax: 216-247-3328

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Peter F. Harter, Executive Director & General Counsel National Public Telecomputing Network (NPTN) P.O. Box 1987, Cleveland, Ohio 44106-0187 E-mail: pfh@nptn.org Voice: 216/247-5800 Fax: 216/247-3328

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"Free-Net" is a servicemark of NPTN registered in the U.S. and Canada. ```

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