final material on IIA . Again would you send your credit card?

[David Farber <farber@central.cis.upenn.edu>]

>Forwarded by Gleason Sackman - InterNIC net-happenings moderator
>()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()
>
>---------- Text of forwarded message ----------
>From: merrill@ccmail.dsgmcl.saic.com (Kevin Merrill)
>Newsgroups: alt.bbs.internet
>Subject: ! ! ! IIA FAQ ! ! !
>Date: Tue, 18 Jan 1994 17:23:14 GMT
>
>        While logged into IIA's host this morning, I received an e-mail
>from the IIA staff (I've been asking lots of questions) asking If I would
>post their FAQ to the news groups where IIA debate has been going on. They
>claim that they have been have difficulty posting _anything_ to news groups
>and that they have tried repeatedly. Regardless,......here is what they gave
>me to post,............
>****************************************************************************
>
>Date: Tue, 18 Jan 1994 10:20:55 -0500
>From: IIA Development Team <staff@mary.iia.org>
>
>----------------------------------------------------------------------
>                         IIA   FAQ
>----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>Q: Who is the IIA?
>
>The International Internet Association is an organization of
>engineers and computer and network enthusiasts dedicated to the free
>flow of information without regard to position or affiliation.  In
>keeping with that concept, we are working diligently to ensure that
>all aspects of our society, be they individual, corporate, social,
>educational, intellectual, virtual, or correctional, have the
>opportunity to take part in the world of tomorrow, which we believe
>will be online.  The IIA is simply an organization that wants to do
>its part in shaping the future of the human race by providing net
>access for all...
>
>
>Q: If you're a non-profit association, what is your source of funding?
>How do you pay for the services you provide?
>
>We wheel and we deal, with elbow grease and motivation.  We leverage
>public image, information, and dreams to inspire people and companies
>to support our organization.  Currently, the majority of IIA funding
>comes from private contributions.  We are a not-for-profit association
>incorporated in the District of Columbia Nov. 18, 1993, and have a
>federal 501(c)(3) non profit application pending which will enable us
>to receive tax deductible donations.  We also have and will continue
>to solicit support from commercial organizations for technical assistance
>
>
>Q: How many people work for the IIA?
>
>5 Billion.  They just don't know it.  We hope to increase that by 10%
>over the next two years.
>
>
>Q: Why does the IIA require a credit card number before providing
>service, and why does this "non-profit" organization charge for
>calls via their 800 number?
>
>One of the missions of the IIA is to provide Internet connectivity
>nationwide.  In order to do so we are putting together the requisite
>equipment and network and telecommunication resources to support a
>national user base.  Unfortunately, we are not yet in the position to
>provide local phone coverage for the entire nation.  As it is our
>interest to support users who do not have commercially available
>alternatives, we have implemented a system to ensure universal
>flat-rate access to our service.  Our system provides 800 access 24
>hours a day seven days a week from any point in the Domestic
>U.S. including Alaska, Hawaii, and U.S. Territories at the rate of 20
>cents a minute.  Though this may not be the least expensive option for
>users in major markets who are already being served by local
>providers, this system will provide users in previously ignored and
>forgotten markets equal access to the Internet.
>
>In order to provide this service we have contracted a U.S. long
>distance provider to supply 800 access.  Over the course of the next
>year the IIA will be reducing the cost of 800 access through a two
>tiered approach.  We will be monitoring our traffic patterns and begin
>placing local access nodes across the country.  Second, we will
>continue to negotiate with our telecomm providers to reduce the cost
>of access.  In addition, you can now, and will always be able to, dial
>directly into our nodes, and never will have to pay any access charges.
>You have to ask yourself the philosophical question.  Would you prefer
>to pay AT&T or support the online future??
>
>The IIA has not ever nor will they in the future charge anything for Internet
>Service.  We make a small royalty off of 800 time, which helps us to
>pay our bills.  What we really need is the support of the organizations we
>work with to make universal free Internet access a reality.
>
>
>Q:  But I don't *want* to use the 800 number...  Why do I have
>to give my credit card?
>
>Unfortunately, our system is currently unable to restrict access to
>the 800 number to specific accounts.  Anyone who has an account is
>able to log on through the 800 number.  As soon as we are able to fix
>this, we will be able to drop our credit card number requirement.
>Once again, if you don't use the 800 number, you will never see a
>charge on your bill.  Really!  Cross our hearts and hope to die!
>Hopefully, the absence of posts about fraudulent charges will provide
>*some* evidence of our honesty...
>
>
>Q: Why do you have a DC address when you appear to operate out of NJ?
>Why is your official address just a PO Box?
>
>Originally it was planned that we would launch our operations from the
>nations capital.  Several of our founding members live in that region
>and the symbolism is very strong.  Unfortunately the reality of the
>swamp by the Potomac is that they have one of the least capable
>telecommunications infrastructures in the nation.  Our attempts to make
>the IIA function from a technical standpoint were so frought with
>problems that we ultimately decided to work instead from our research
>facility in New Jersey.  We still do a great deal of our
>administrative work out of Washington D.C., and will maintain
>operations in that area.  In any case, Washington D.C. has already
>been shown to foster ineffective and inefficient large organizations.
>We plan to play a role in making a new bastion of democracy in the
>minds and keyboards of the Internet.
>
>
>Q: Why is the address listed on the net for IIA a residential house in NJ?
>
>We maintain several technical facilities.  One is in Highland park,
>NJ.  On the Internet, and in the world of the IIA, it is not necessary
>to place every resource within geographical proximity of each other.
>As the Internet becomes more prevalent (our goal!), the model of the
>IIA will no longer seem strange.  We neither have the funds nor the
>desire to put up a schnazzy glass-faced office buildings.  Think to
>yourself exactly how much space does several strands of fiber and a
>few Sparc-10's take up?  Well, the answer is really not that much, and
>especially not when you have a few motivated engineers who don't have
>any funds to spare.  The real address of the IIA is on the net, and
>that's always where you'll find us if you want to look.
>
>
>Q: Why are you providing local access in NJ, but not in DC?
>When are you going to proide local access in DC?
>
>You have free libraries, an unbelievable metro (compliments of
>taxpayers), parks, 17 independent enforcement agencies, parades,
>marches, fireworks, standard of living, Library of Congress, etc..
>Please be patient!
>
>
>Q: Why is there no "real people" to answer calls at the "IIA", just
> an automated voice system?  Why hasn't the IIA responded sooner to
> the massive amount of net criticism??
>
>We get a call every 68 seconds on average, and just as many direct
>electronic requests.  If anyone is interested we would be willing to
>forward our number to your home and our mail to your account.  We are
>up all night several nights a week, many of us work full-time jobs and
>still put 8 or 10 hours into the IIA at night.  We eat lousy food from
>a corner deli, don't see our families, and spend Christmas Eve (true
>story) answering electronic requests.  Have a little patience.  Rome
>wasn't built in a day..
>
>
>Q: I sent in a request for an account but never heard from them?
>Why does it take so long to get an account?
>They seem to have announced their service a long time ago.  Where
>is it?  Are they having staffing or technical difficulties?
>
>Unanswered requests: If anyone has sent a request and not heard we
>apologize.  Two possibilities.
> 1: We screwed up and lost it.  Early on we were still
>perfecting our administrative systems and mistakes were made.  You
>have our sincere apology.  If you contact us via fax we will rectify
>this as quickly as possible.
> 2: We have it.  We will process it as soon as possible.  We
>are getting a whole lot better at this.
>
>
>Q: What is the connection between IIA and IDT, which contacted potential
> users in Europe?
>
>IDT asked us if they could provide foreign access to the IIA through
>the International Call-Back system they invented.  Since this is an
>organization which has members who have been very supportive of us, we
>allowed them to serve in this capacity.  Additionally IDT has served
>invaluably in the capacity of advisor to the IIA in our dealings with
>domestic telecomm companies.  Finally, this is not an exclusive
>arrangement.  If anyone else has a clever way to get to the IIA, we are
>all ears.
>
>
>In Summary:
>
>You achieve in proportion to what you attempt.  The International
>Internet Association is just one organization of thousands on a tiny
>world zipping around in a forgotten corner of the universe.  Much is
>happening on this world, some good, some bad -- yet there is so much
>more that can be done on this world that it makes us all want to cry
>in frustration.  However, we intend to press on in our attempt to make
>the the world a better place through Internet connectivity.
>God willing we hope you will join us.
>
>
>Maximillian D. Robbins, Executive Director, International Internet Association
>David S. Miller, Chief Technical Officer, International Internet Association
>