nettime: Fees Imposed on IP numbers by InternNIC[Fwd: Urgent! AOP Alert 97:03]

[Wolfgang Staehle <wolfgang {AT} thing.net> (by way of mf {AT} MediaFilter.org (MediaFilter))]

> >>From aop {AT} cris.com Wed Jan 15 19:50:24 1997
> >Errors-To: <aop {AT} cris.com>
> >Comments: Authenticated sender is <aop {AT} pop3.cris.com>
> >From: "aop {AT} cris.com" <aop {AT} cris.com>
> >Organization: AOP
> >To: "AOP Members"<aop {AT} cris.com>
> >Date: Wed, 15 Jan 1997 17:14:44 -0500
> >X-Distribution: Bulk
> >Subject: Urgent!  AOP Alert 97:03
> >Reply-to: aop {AT} cris.com
> >Priority: normal
> >
> >=============================================================
> >AOP Alert                         Wednesday, January 15, 1997
> >=============================================================
> >
> >The following is a legislative alert from the Association of
> >Online Professionals, the leading association of Internet
> >Service Providers and other professionals who manage online
> >services.
> >
> >Please give it the widest possible distribution:
> >
> >=============================================================
> >AOP Opposes Network Solutions ARIN Proposal
> >=============================================================
> >
> >This week, Network Solutions, Inc. proposed the formation of a
> >new entity that would charge ISPs from $2,500 to $20,000 per year for
> >registration of Internet IP addresses.  This fee would be in addition
> >to fees already charged for registration of domain names.
> >
> >Under the proposal, an American Registry for Internet Numbers would be
> >created as a non-profit entity to collect the fees and assign the
> >addresses.  The new entity would replace the government- sponsored
> >InterNIC IP group.  Companies who wish to participate in policy-making
> >as members of the group would pay an additional $1,000 per year.
> >
> >Information regarding the proposal may be found at
> >http://www.arin.net.
> >
> >The Association of Online Professionals has serious concerns about the
> >proposal, and urges all North American Internet service providers and
> >their subscribers to oppose the measure until these concerns are
> >addressed:
> >
> >**  There is no indication in the proposal as to why the fees are
> >    needed.
> >
> >**  The proposed non-profit has no published goals, mission or other
> >    information beyond its structure and fees.
> >
> >**  The fee structure will cost the industry millions of dollars,
> >    yet there is no information as to how the money will be spent or
> >    how it will benefit the Internet.
> >
> >**  The assertions that the fees would not affect subscribers are
> >    incorrect, as these fees would have to be passed on to consumers.
> >
> >**  The assertions that ISPs can afford the fees as a cost of
> >    doing business reflects a poor understanding of the current
> >    economics of Internet access services.  The proposed fee structure
> >    would have a devastating effect on small ISPs as well as non-
> >    profit, hobbyist and public access providers.
> >
> >**  It is unclear under what authority Network Solutions would impose
> >    the fees.  The Internet exists as a public resource, and as such
> >    should not be subjected to the arbitrary control of any small
> >    group of individuals or entities.
> >
> >AOP has generally supported efforts to bring organization and
> >structure to the Internet, including the imposition of fees to cover
> >the cost of assigning and maintaining domain names.
> >
> >However, AOP cannot support the current proposal until more
> >information is provided and a meaningful dialogue established to
> >ensure that the proposal is more than an attempt to wrest control of
> >the Internet for a select group of self-proclaimed authorities.
> >
> >Please do the following immediately:
> >
> >1)  Contact InterNIC with a request that the proposal not be
> >implemented.
> >    Send the comments to naipr {AT} internic.net.
> >
> >2)  Urge your subscribers and business associates to reject the
> >proposal.
> >
> >
> >AOP will make every effort to obtain answers to the questions raised,
> >and will strive for meaningful conversations with Network Solutions on
> >these issues.  If you have comments that would help us build a
> >consensus for these discussions, please direct them to exec {AT} aop.org.
> >
> >======================================================================
> >Dave McClure                       (703) 924-9692   (703) 924-9594 Fax
> >Executive Director                 (703) 264-1750 BBS   Telnet aop.org
> >Assn of Online Professionals       http://www.aop.org     info {AT} aop.org
> >======================================================================
> >


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