========================================================================= ________________ _______________ _______________ /_______________/\ /_______________\ /\______________\ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ \ ||||||||||||||||| / //////////////// \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\/ ||||||||||||||||| / //////////////// \\\\\\_______/\ ||||||_______\ / //////_____\ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ \ |||||||||||||| / ///////////// \\\\\\\\\\\\\/____ |||||||||||||| / ///////////// \\\\\___________/\ ||||| / //// \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ \ ||||| / //// \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\/ ||||| \//// ========================================================================= EFFector Online Volume 6 No. 8 12/28/1993 editors@eff.org A Publication of the Electronic Frontier Foundation ISSN 1062-9424 In This Issue: Gore Endorses EFF's Open Platform Approach EFF Announces Call for Nominations, 3rd Annual Pioneer Awards NCO High Performance Computing & Communications NII Gopher/Web Server Smart Valley CommerceNet Consortium Wins Superhighway Grant What You Can Do --==--==--==-<>-==--==--==-- Subject: Gore Endorses EFF's Open Platform Approach 12/21/93 Washington -- Vice President Al Gore announced at the National Press Club today a long-term White House telecommunications policy initiative that incorporates the major elements of the Electronic Frontier Foundation's Open Platform policy recommendations. The Vice President's speech, which credited EFF co-founder Mitchell Kapor for articulating the need for an "open platform" information infrastructure, outlined five policy principles for the National Information Infrastructure (NII). Kapor said that he is "honored" by the reference in Gore's speech. "I'm awfully happy that the Open Platform is right in the middle of the Administration's infrastructure strategy, and that they see Open Platform and open access as just as important as competition. "President Clinton and Vice President Gore deserve great credit for being the first Administration in over a decade to offer a comprehensive approach to telecommunications policy," Kapor said. "I am looking forward to working with the White House and the Congress to help see this thing through." EFF executive director Jerry Berman said Tuesday his organization is "extremely pleased that the Administration has affirmed that neither all- out competition, nor stifling regulation, will bring the promise of information access to all Americans." In the three years since EFF's founding, Berman said, the organization has labored to raise these issues in the public-policy arena and to promote the Open Platform approach. EFF's Open Platform policy to support universal access to the digital information infrastructure is included in the telecommunications bill recently introduced by Rep. Ed Markey (D-MA), Rep. Jack Fields (R-TX), and Rep. Rick Boucher (D-VA). The first principle, Gore said, is to "encourage private investment." The Vice President said this principle involves "steering a course between a kind of computer-age Scylla and Charybdis -- between the shoals of suffocating regulation on one side, and the rocks of unfettered monopolies on the other. "Both stifle competition and innovation," Gore said. The second principle, he said is to "promote and protect competition." The vice President said the government "should prevent unfair cross-subsidies and act to avoid information bottlenecks that would limit consumer choice, or limit the ability of new informaiotn providers to reach their customers." The third principle, Gore said, is to "provide open access to the network." Gore defined this principle in terms very similar to those of EFF's own policy statements on Open Platform services. "Suppose I want to set up a service that provides 24 hours a day of David Letterman reruns," he said. "I don't own my own netowrk, so I need to buy access to someone else's. I should be able to do so by paying the same rates as my neighbor, who wants to broadcast kick-boxing matches." EFF's Open Platform Proposal, released in November of this year, all recognizes the importance of access to a diversity of information sources. The proposal states: "If new network services are deployed with adequate up-stream capacity, and allow peer-to-peer communication, then each user of the network can be both an information consumer and publisher. Network architecture which is truly peer-to-peer can help produce in digital media the kind of information diversity that only exists today only in the print media." Said Gore: "Without provisions for open access, the companies that own the networks could use their control of the networks to ensure that their customers only have access to their programming. We've already seen cases where cable company owners have used their monopoly control of their networks to exclude programming that competes with their own." Gore also cited with approval EFF co-founder Mitchell Kapor's analogy of an "open platform" infrastructure to the open architecture of the IBM PC. "We need to ensure the NII, just like the PC is open and accessible to everyone with a good idea who has a product they want to sell," he said. The fourth principle, said the Vice President, is "to avoid creating a society of information 'haves' and 'have nots.'" Gore said the United States will "still need a regulatory safety net to make sure almost everyone can benefit." The fifth and final principle, he said, is that "we want to encourage flexibility." Gore said the legislative package to be offered by the White House must have the kind of flexibility that the Communications Act of 1934 had, in order to deal with technological changes that no one can yet anticipate. Berman said Gore's speech also helps define how the Administration plans to handle the transition, following the breakup of the Bell System, between a world of telecommunications monopolies and a world in which there is meaningful competition among content and communications providers. "This speech shows that part of the White House's definition of 'managed transition' is that all citizens will have access to digital-network open platform." --------- Contacts: Jerry Berman, Executive Director, Internet: Daniel J. Weitzner, Senior Staff Counsel, Internet: v: 202-347-5400 f: 202-393-5509 --==--==--==-<>-==--==--==-- Subject: EFF Announces Call for Nominations, 3rd Annual Pioneer Awards THE THIRD ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL EFF PIONEER AWARDS: CALL FOR NOMINATIONS Deadline: January 20, 1994 In every field of human endeavor, there are those dedicated to expanding knowledge, freedom, efficiency and utility. Along the electronic frontier, this is especially true. To recognize this, the Electronic Frontier Foundation has established the Pioneer Awards for deserving individuals and organizations. The Pioneer Awards are international and nominations are open to all. In March of 1992, the first EFF Pioneer Awards were given in Washington D.C. The winners were: Douglas C. Engelbart, Robert Kahn, Jim Warren, Tom Jennings, and Andrzej Smereczynski. The second Pioneer Awards, which were given in San Francisco at the Computers, Freedom, and Privacy conference in 1993, were awarded to Paul Baran, Vinton Cerf, Ward Christensen, Dave Hughes and the USENET software developers, represented by the software's originators Tom Truscott and Jim Ellis. The Third Annual Pioneer Awards will be given in Chicago, Illinois at the 4th Conference on Computers, Freedom, and Privacy in March of 1994. All valid nominations will be reviewed by a panel of impartial judges chosen for their knowledge of computer-based communications and the technical, legal, and social issues involved in networking. There are no specific categories for the Pioneer Awards, but the following guidelines apply: 1) The nominees must have made a substantial contribution to the health, growth, accessibility, or freedom of computer-based communications. 2) The contribution may be technical, social, economic or cultural. 3) Nominations may be of individuals, systems, or organizations in the private or public sectors. 4) Nominations are open to all, and you may nominate more than one recipient. You may nominate yourself or your organization. 5) All nominations, to be valid, must contain your reasons, however brief, on why you are nominating the individual or organization, along with a means of contacting the nominee, and your own contact number. No anonymous nominations will be allowed. 6) Every person or organization, with the single exception of EFF staff members, are eligible for Pioneer Awards. 7) Persons or representatives of organizations receiving a Pioneer Award will be invited to attend the ceremony at the Foundation's expense. You may nominate as many as you wish, but please use one form per nomination. You may return the forms to us via email, postal mail, or fax at the appropriate address or number listed on the form below Just tell us the name of the nominee, the phone number or email address at which the nominee can be reached, and, most important, why you feel the nominee deserves the award. You may attach supporting documentation. Please include your own name, address, and phone number. We're looking for the Pioneers of the Electronic Frontier that have made and are making a difference. Thanks for helping us find them, The Electronic Frontier Foundation -------EFF Pioneer Awards Nomination Form------ Please return to the Electronic Frontier Foundation via email to: pioneer@eff.org via surface mail to: EFF, Attn: Pioneer Awards 1001 G St. NW Suite 950 East Washington, DC 20001 via FAX to +1 202 393 5509 Nominee: Title: Company/Organization: Contact number or email address: Reason for nomination: Your name and contact information: Extra documentation attached: DEADLINE: ALL NOMINATIONS MUST BE RECEIVED BY THE ELECTRONIC FRONTIER FOUNDATION BY MIDNIGHT, EASTERN STANDARD TIME U.S., JANUARY 20, 1994. --==--==--==-<>-==--==--==-- Subject: NCO High Performance Computing & Communications NII Gopher/Web Server The National Coordination Office for High Performance Computing and Communications (HPCC) is pleased to announce World Wide Web and Gopher servers. These servers contain a variety of HPCC-related information including the FY 1994 "Blue Book" entitled: "High Performance Computing and Communications: Toward a National Information Infrastructure". HPCC-related reports, information about grants and research contracts, and legislative material are also included. Links have been made to additional HPCC-related information sources including servers at other government agencies with HPCC activities. The URL's to the Web and Gopher servers are: http://www.hpcc.gov gopher://gopher.hpcc.gov For Gopher clients, the link to the Gopher server is as follows: Name=National Coordination Office for HPCC (NCO/HPCC) Gopher Type=1 Port=70 Path= Host=gopher.hpcc.gov Please direct questions/comments to wwwadmin@hpcc.gov or gopheradmin@hpcc.gov --==--==--==-<>-==--==--==-- Subject: Smart Valley CommerceNet Consortium Wins Superhighway Grant MENLO PARK, Calif., November 24, 1993 -- Smart Valley, Inc. (SVI) and Enterprise Integration Technologies (EIT) today announced their receipt of a Federal Government grant for CommerceNet, an $8 million project designed to help Silicon Valley businesses make commercial use of the coming "Information Superhighway." Half of the funds for CommerceNet will be provided by the Federal grant made under the government's "Technology Reinvestment Program" (TRP) which is sponsored by the Defense Department's Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA), the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), the National Science Foundation (NSF) and other government agencies. Matching funds will be provided by the State of California and participating companies. CommerceNet's goal is to make public computer networks, such as the Internet, "industrial strength" for business use. CommerceNet will address issues including low-cost, high-speed Internet access using newly deployed technology such as Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) services and multimedia software. CommerceNet will support a range of commercial network applications such as on-line catalogs, product data exchange and engineering collaboration. It will also offer outreach services such as technical assistance to small- and medium-size businesses that want to access public networks. The CommerceNet consortium is sponsored by Smart Valley, Inc. and the State of California's Trade and Commerce Agency. Enterprise Integration Technologies, a local high-tech company specializing in electronic commerce, will lead the effort. Joining forces on the project are two organizations associated with Stanford University: WestREN, the operator of the Bay Area Regional Research Network (BARRNet), and Stanford's new Center for Information Technology (CIT). There are more than 20 industrial participants including Apple Computer, Hewlett-Packard, Lockheed, National Semiconductor, Pacific Bell, and Sun Microsystems. "The funding of CommerceNet is the first major success for Smart Valley," said Dr. Harry Saal, president of Smart Valley. "Putting our business community on-line will be a great competitive edge for our region and the national economy." "CommerceNet will enable local companies to take advantage of a revolutionary new medium. Awareness of the Internet's potential is growing among the business community, but there are still many obstacles to its use -- we're going to work with local users and with network and information providers to eliminate the barriers," said Allan Schiffman, EIT's chief technical officer. Smart Valley, Inc. is a nonprofit organization chartered to create a regional electronic community by developing an advanced information infrastructure and the collective ability to use it. Smart Valley's mission is to facilitate the construction of a pervasive, high-speed communications system and information services that will benefit all sectors of the community: education, healthcare, local government, business and the home. Smart Valley, Inc. is affiliated with Joint Venture: Silicon Valley, a broad based grass roots coalition of initiatives begun in 1992. Enterprise Integration Technologies (EIT) is a three-year old, Palo Alto-based R&D and consulting company specializing in information technology for electronic commerce, collaborative engineering and agile manufacturing. EIT is a recognized leader in software and services that promote commercial use of the Internet. EIT's clients include government agencies, aerospace and electronics companies and publishing firms. Contacts: Allan Schiffman Enterprise Integration Technologies Phone: (415) 617-8000 Fax: (415) 617-1516 Internet: ams@eit.com Geoff Kerr Cunningham Communication, Inc. Phone: (408) 764-0746 Fax: (408) 982-0403 MCI Mail: 621-8412 --==--==--==-<>-==--==--==-- Subject: What You Can Do "Society has recognized over time that certain kinds of scientific inquiry can endanger society as a whole and has applied either directly, or through scientific/ethical constraints, restrictions on the kind and amount of research that can be done in those areas." -- Adm. Bobby R. Inman (then CIA Dep. Dir.) in a February, 1982 article for _Aviation_Week_and_Space_Technology_ on why cryptographic research should be limited to government scientists. Full text of this article is available for anonymous ftp from ftp.eff.org as pub/EFF/Policy/Crypto/inman.article. The Electronic Frontier Foundation believes that individuals have the right to protect their private communications by any method they choose - without government interference. The Administration is currently making decisions that will affect your ability to communicate in the future? Who's protecting your interests? The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) is working with legislators to make sure that principles guaranteeing free speech, privacy and affordable service to consumers are written into new communications legislation. Rep. Edward Markey (D-MA) has already incorporated much of EFF's Open Platform vision into his NII proposal (H.R. 3626). But the fight is not yet won. The only way to make sure that future networks will serve *you* is to become involved. Join EFF and receive regular updates on what's happening and action alerts when immediate action becomes critical. Blind trust in the system won't help you. Take control of your future. EFF is a respected voice for the rights of users of online technologies. We feel that the best way to protect your online rights is to be fully informed and to make your opinions heard. EFF members are informed, and are making a difference. Join EFF today! -------- 8< ------- cut here ------- 8< -------- This form came from from EFFector Online ================================================ MEMBERSHIP IN THE ELECTRONIC FRONTIER FOUNDATION ================================================ Print out and mail to: Membership Coordinator Electronic Frontier Foundation 1001 G Street, NW, Suite 950 East, Washington, DC 20001 I wish to become a member of the Electronic Frontier Foundation. I enclose: $__________ Regular membership -- $40 $__________ Student membership -- $20 Special Contribution I wish to make an additional tax-deductible donation in the amount of $__________ to further support the activities of EFF and to broaden participation in the organization. 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The Electronic Frontier Foundation is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organization supported by contributions from individual members, corporations and private foundations. Donations are tax-deductible. INTERNET CONTACT ADDRESSES Membership & donations: membership@eff.org Legal services: ssteele@eff.org Hardcopy publications: pubs@eff.org Online publications, conferences, & other resources: mech@eff.org Technical questions/problems, access to mailing lists: eff@eff.org General EFF, legal, or policy questions: ask@eff.org