taylor@hplabs.hp.com (Dave Taylor) (08/31/88)
This letter is from the Feedback section of the BITNET publication NetMonth,
August 1988 edition, edited by Chris Condon. The topic is that of the USSR
Academy of Sciences having requested a connection to the EARN network for
their computers ...
From: Hank Nussbacher <HANK@BARILVM.BITNET>
Subject: More on Russia and networking...
Some comments on David Hibler's July editorial: First, let me
correct you on one point. The Soviet Union has requested
connection to the network but not to BITNET - rather to EARN.
If you are in favor of open communication paths then perhaps
the United States and people within BITNET should stop using
geocentricism when assuming that all networks revolve around
them. True, many do, but the fact that Russia (and Hungary and
Bulgaria) have requested EARN membership and not BITNET
membership should say something to you.
The major problem of connecting all these communist countries
to the network is not a security fear. It is the US Dept of
Commerce that forbids it. Whenever any country buys a
supercomputer from the United States (Cray or ETA for example)
they are required to sign a very stringent agreement with the
US Dept of Commerce that that supercomputer will not be made in
any way shape or form available to communist countries - which
includes via electronic methods. The US Dept of Commerce
realized that one way around the trade ban would be for a non-
aligned nation to order a Cray XMP/48 and install an M1 (2Mb)
line to Moscow. True, the computer never made it over the
border, but its computing power would be sent over the border.
So, all EARN sites (as well as many Canadian sites) that have a
super computer connected directly or indirectly to BITNET or
EARN would have to *renegotiate* their contract with the US
Dept of Commerce. Feelers are being made in that direction,
but the game is just in the early innings so it is too early to
tell if the US Dept of Commerce will relent and alter the
supercomputer licences already issued.
EARN has been working over the past year on accepting various
new countries to their network. Voting was concluded last year
for four new countries and their ratification was formally
approved:
Algeria - University of Annaba
Cyprus - University of Cyprus
Luxembourg - CEPS/INSTEAD
Yugoslavia - UNESCO International Centre
Last month two new countries have been ratified as valid for
EARN and they are:
Morocco - EMI
India - Tata Institute
Currently, EARN is discussing requests from 3 eastern countries
to join EARN, principal among them is the USSR:
Hungary
USSR - USSR Academy of Sciences
Bulgaria
There are various legal problems with this and it may be some
time before a formal decision is reached.
Just thought I'd let you all know how things are currently
rather than the usual speculation and philosophy behind this
topic.
Hank Nussbacher