CommonSense and the future of Internet.

["Koen D'Hondt" <ripley xs4all nl>]

Hi,

the attached press release seems pretty much off topic for gnome-list or
gmd, but I think it's worth reading. Most of you probably have very
strong opinions about what the Internet is, represents and should be,
but we should all be very much aware that governments around the world
are very eager to regulate the Internet, and (obviously), what
governments want very much disagrees with what we as individuals want.

Maybe I haven't been keeping up with current events, but in the past
years I haven't seen any public, worldwide, debate on the future of
Internet and the role any government should have in it. Now we can
debate about the fact that governments should or should not interfere
with the Internet, but that is not the issue. They are already doing it
and they will only be doing it more.

The Common Sense initiative by PSInet seems to me as it will be the
first debate that actually enables us to think along with companies and
the government and at least enables us to give our own personal views
about the whole Internet issue.

Feel free to forward this message to appropriate newsgroups or mailing
lists.

If you feel this message is really offtopic, please accept my apologies
for wasting your time.

As a final remark: I am an employee of PSInet, but I'm posting this as
an individual.

Koen D'Hondt
-- 
XmHTML author and maintainer
ripley@xs4all.nl                          http://www.xs4all.nl/~ripley


> FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
> 
> Media Contact:  Analyst Contact:
> Michael P. Binko        Kelli Harrington Nemer
> 703/904-4285    703/904-4100ext.1245
> binkom@psi.com  harringtonk@psi.com
> 
> 
> PSINet INTRODUCES "COMMON SENSE" 
> 
> A Web-Based Public Forum for the 
> Open Discussion of Internet Issues 
> 
> 
> HERNDON, VA, December 9, 1998 - PSINet Inc. (NASDAQ: PSIX), the first and
> largest independent commercial Internet Service Provider (ISP), today
> announced it will create an open, Web-based forum for the discussion of
> critical public policy issues affecting the development of the Internet.
> The forum, entitled "Common Sense," is introduced in an open letter from
> William L. Schrader, chairman and chief executive officer of PSINet Inc.,
> appearing today on http://www.psinet.com -- PSINet's public Web site.  The
> Common Sense Web forum, which will include the open forum discussion
> capabilities and PSINet's core policy principles, will be available to the
> public in the first quarter of 1999.
> 
> "Governments around the globe are addressing public policy issues that have
> a direct impact on the Internet," said Schrader.  "These policy choices
> will determine whether citizens ride the crest of the wave of electronic
> communication and commerce, or remain stranded in the backwaters.  We
> invite all interested parties to contribute their perspectives by
> participating in our Common Sense discussions."
> 
> PSINet's Internet policies are being introduced to the public to foster
> open discussions and to address feedback related to remarks delivered by
> Schrader on December 2, 1998 at the first meeting of Virginia Governor Jim
> Gilmore's Commission on Information Technology in Williamsburg, Virginia.
> Comments from Schrader touched on government approaches to electronic
> freedom of speech, privacy, encryption, spamming, and telecom deregulation.
>  As an Internet pioneer organization for more than a decade, PSINet
> believes that these topics deserve the full attention of lawmakers,
> Internet users, and citizens throughout the world.
> 
> "If we expect the Internet to fulfill the promises of increased
> productivity, open communication, and enhanced education among active
> participants in an interactive global community, we cannot shirk our
> responsibility to contribute vigorously to the discussion about its
> future," said Schrader.
> 
> Headquartered in Herndon, VA, PSINet is a global facilities-based Internet
> Protocol (IP) data communications carrier focused on the business
> marketplace.  As the first and largest independent commercial Internet
> service provider in the world, PSINet offers a broad set of high-speed
> corporate LAN connectivity services supporting managed security and
> guaranteed Internet, intranet, electronic commerce, Web hosting services,
> and services for other carriers and ISPs.  PSINet operates an international
> state-of-the-art frame relay and ATM-based, IP-optimized network consisting
> of more than 500 points of presence (POPs) around the world serving primary
> markets in Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Japan, the
> Netherlands, Republic of Korea, Switzerland, the United States, and the
> United Kingdom.  General PSINet information can be obtained by e-mail at
> info@psi.com, or by accessing the Web site at http://www.psinet.com. 
>