ACC00RRB@UNCCVM.BITNET (Robert R. Blackmun) (02/28/90)
AMEN to Steven Goldstein's call for diplomacy and pragmatism. Bitnet exists because a small number of poeple originally had that attitude, and grew very rapidly because others apparently adopted the same attitude. One thing that I *would* like to emphasize from Steven's note -- he used the word "subsidy" and "subsidize" twice. We must all realize that the current NSFNet/NREN effort is just that, and like all subsidies, the intent is to encourage decisions in a particular direction. We must make decisions in light of such subsidies, but should have all of the facts, including future costs and benefits when the subsidies disappear (as they must) available. Bitnet, of course, has been "subsidized" by a number of major institutions which pay for backbone links that benefit all members (as well as by an IBM grant the established Bitnic). In looking at any restructuring proposal, one of the issues will certainly have to be how the implicit existing subsidies are resolved.