Re: AARNet charges - IMPORTANT!!

Alister Air (acair@nospam.wattle.itd.uts.edu.au)
Wed, 14 Dec 1994 18:10:20 +1100 (EST)

On Wed, 14 Dec 1994, Joshua Pitcher wrote:

>But times have changed. Commercial companies now use the net for profit-
>related purposes, as do many users. So the question must be asked - why should
>they make money out of a service that is being provided for free?

I have no problems with companies paying for AARNet, especially because
they use the information gained to get more profits. In fact, companies
have been paying for their AARNet usage, and more than Unis pay.

> The many good charitable people who set up the net must be getting pretty
> pissed off that these peaple are using their free system for profit. I think
> it is only fair that if people are using the net for profit or recreational
> purposes, then they should pay for it.

I agree about the profit bit, but the recreational I'm not so sure of.
We've had people say that during their "recreational" usage of the
Internet, they've learnt more than they were "taught". I'm one of those
people.

>The point was made elsewhere in this thread that academic work should be
>excempted from charges. I agree fully. And this is what we should be lobbying
>the AVCC about. But to argue that I have the right to watch the Rolling
>Stones concert for free is just not fair to the service providers.

YES. I agree. And again, urge people to e-mail our VC with their
concerns. vc@nospam.uts.edu.au It's not that big, but I feel that it is
important.

> Cheers and a merry Xmas!!

Same to you and everyone. I'm glad this issue has got people posting. I
hope some of those letters go the vc's way... :)

> -------------------------------------------------------------------
> : Joshua Pitcher: jpitcher@nospam.acacia.itd.uts.edu.au :
> : jpitcher@nospam.ftoomsh.socs.uts.edu.au :
> : vk2kjd@nospam.vk2xsb.ampr.org :
> : PO Box 253 Pymble 2073 :
> -------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>

Best wishes, have a safe and happy new year.

Alister Air

"Be careful of that nasty drop down to the Right..."
"So if you see a strange door to your Left,
Just drop your things and run for it!"

- Things of Stone and Wood - "Wildflowers"