5 expanded posts ยท every known parent and child
> From: Duncan Frissell <frissell@panix.com> > > And another thing. I'm sick and tired of moaning about cost. Services > are virtually free today and prices can go nowhere but down. There are > homeless people on the streets of NY with Internet accounts. Got a list of their names? --Dave.
dmandl@lehman.com (David Mandl) wrote: > > From: Duncan Frissell <frissell@panix.com> > > > > And another thing. I'm sick and tired of moaning about cost. Services > > are virtually free today and prices can go nowhere but down. There are > > homeless people on the streets of NY with Internet accounts. > > Got a list of their names? I doubt it. If you're not enrolled at a major university, or employed at a computer-related company, and don't subscribe to an expensive online service, getting an internet account is NOT easy or cheap. Services like netcom are expanding, but I seriously doubt a homeless person could get an internet address. Check out almost any BBS network (other than fido) and every other week, some jerk will ask when they'll get connected to the internet. And every time, five sysops respond "Fine. We'd love to. Would you mind telling us how the hell we could connect to the internet???"
> > Got a list of their names?
>
> I doubt it. If you're not enrolled at a major university, or employed
> at a computer-related company, and don't subscribe to an expensive
> online service, getting an internet account is NOT easy or cheap.
> Services like netcom are expanding, but I seriously doubt a homeless
> person could get an internet address. Check out almost any BBS network
> (other than fido) and every other week, some jerk will ask when they'll
> get connected to the internet. And every time, five sysops respond
> "Fine. We'd love to. Would you mind telling us how the hell we could
> connect to the internet???"
This is beginning to kill me! This guy comes from the cmu.edu domain
and obviously has never tried to get an account on a system outside of
his institution. Much less on one of the "expensive on-line
services", as he put it.
Here's some news! Currently the Delphi service offers full Internet
connectivity (e-mail, FTP, Telnet, Gopher, News) for $20 a month for
20 hours of access. Delphi can be accessed through SprintNet which
means that most metropolitan areas will have a local dial in point.
In the near future America On Line has stated that in the near future
they too will go full connectivity, they charge $9.95 a month for 4
hours worth of access. AOL currently has e-mail available. That's
just two of the services that can be accessed from just about any city
of any real size in the states.
Now, let's talk about those sysops that want to get connected to the
Interet. Here in Waco, Texas (a city of about 150,000 people...
250,000 people if you count all the outlying cities) to get a 56K
dedicated Internet connection would cost something like...
$ 3000.00 Router
$ 1500.00 CSU/DSU
$ 600.00 Local Loop Termination/Installation
---------
$ 5100.00 One-time costs.
$ 75.00 Regional Network membership fee
$ 250.00 Local Loop Charge
---------
$ 325.00 Monthly costs.
These figures are ballpark, and some are gueses based on experience in
dealing with the regional networks here in Texas. I know several
sysops here that would easily spend $5000.00 on their board in one
shot, and could easily spend the $300.00 a month for the connection.
On top of all that, it is a proven fact that people will *pay* for
Internet connectivity.
These costs are based on a dedicated 56K connection. A 14.4 or 19.2K
SLIP connection would probably be *much* less!
And, as Duncan and so many others are so fond of pointing out. If the
gummint would get out of the way and let competition happen for the
local loop these prices would drop dramatically.
--
Pat Hykkonen ** N5NPL ** pat@tstc.edu ** CNSA -- (817) 867-4831
Disclaimer: This product may cause irritability in some users. In cases of
allergic reaction, delete and consult a physician immediately.> This is beginning to kill me! This guy comes from the cmu.edu > domain and obviously has never tried to get an account on a > system outside of his institution. Much less on one of the > "expensive on-line services", as he put it. ha ha ... BTW: I did get an internet mail address not in the cmu.edu domain. > Here's some news! Currently the Delphi service offers full > Internet connectivity (e-mail, FTP, Telnet, Gopher, News) > for $20 a month for 20 hours of access. Delphi can be accessed > through SprintNet which means that most metropolitan areas > will have a local dial in point. In the near future America > On Line has stated that in the near future they too will go > full connectivity, they charge $9.95 a month for 4 hours > worth of access. AOL currently has e-mail available. That's > just two of the services that can be accessed from just about > any city of any real size in the states. True. But I could just as well set up my own BBS for about the same price. > Now, let's talk about those sysops that want to get connected > to the Interet. Here in Waco, Texas (a city of about 150,000 > people... 250,000 people if you count all the outlying cities) > to get a 56K dedicated Internet connection would cost > something like... > > $ 3000.00 Router > $ 1500.00 CSU/DSU > $ 600.00 Local Loop Termination/Installation > --------- > $ 5100.00 One-time costs. > > $ 75.00 Regional Network membership fee > $ 250.00 Local Loop Charge > --------- > $ 325.00 Monthly costs. > > These figures are ballpark, and some are gueses based on > experience in dealing with the regional networks here > in Texas. I know several sysops here that would easily > spend $5000.00 on their board in one shot, and could > easily spend the $300.00 a month for the connection. > On top of all that, it is a proven fact that people will > *pay* for Internet connectivity. Yes, I know there are sysops who could afford this, but the vast majority couldn't. I know it's certainly over my budget. > These costs are based on a dedicated 56K connection. > A 14.4 or 19.2K SLIP connection would probably be > *much* less! > > And, as Duncan and so many others are so fond of > pointing out. If the gummint would get out of the > way and let competition happen for the > local loop these prices would drop dramatically. Of course... Isn't this what cypherpunks have been wishing for all along?
Matthew J Ghio says: > If you're not enrolled at a major university, or employed > at a computer-related company, and don't subscribe to an expensive > online service, getting an internet account is NOT easy or cheap. To most of the nations population, which lives in cities, it costs under $25 a month total variable cost including phone costs. It is likely far more expensive in rural areas. Perry