Dear CR, I think it might make sense for cyber-rights to get involved in this effort. Thoughts? -rkm @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ Date: Mon, 12 Feb 1996 Sender: •••@••.••• (Marty Tennant) Subject: Action Alert - Organization Needed!! Now that the shock, disbelief, anger and other emotions are subsiding, and the legal challenges are progressing, I must agree with various commentators that it is time to get on with the business at hand - namely business. The only way for a power grab of the recent magnitude to be challenged, is by an equally powerful grab of power in return. This will require active FCC, Congressional and business challenges to the established structure. I, for one, will be meeting with the National Federation of Independent Business in Washington this week to discuss the anti-small business language in the new law. They are already prepared to bring this issue up in small business committees in the House and Senate. IMO, NFIB is the best lobbying arm for small business in the Nation. I will also be meeting with the FCC to discuss a long standing proceeding that has been waiting on the telecom bill before a ruling was handed down. This proceeding, Docket 91-346, "In the Matter Concerning Intelligent Networks" is, IMO, the last best hope for small business equal access and interconnection until the "Market Entry Barrier Proceeding" is conducted by the FCC. I am doing this because I have personal economic stakes in the telecommunications business. I have analyzed the law and have made myself aware of the current regulatory climate and expected actions. Although I am disturbed by the current structure that has allowed this to happen, I am not resigned to a collective fate of playing a second rate role in the future as the law would have me do. The most important thing that small telecommunications businesses, small Internet Access Providers, small computer sales and service companies, and BBS operators can do at this point is to ORGANIZE. We must all recognize the powerful position we are in by virtue of our technical savvy. We are already on the leading edge of technology, and we have a superior collective ability to solve customer problems and answer technical questions. Compare this to your typical telephone company business office service rep, who has enough problems just taking an order for plain old telephone service. I have a vision that requires organizing businesses in all fifty states. It will require legal and technical experts and a broadbased source of funding to make it work. It will require active and individual monitoring of state public utility commissions, with involvement there and before the FCC. The Net would be used to its full advantage for business and organizing purposes. Emerging technologies that scare the daylights out of the big boys will be analyzed, monitored and recommended for appropriate future deployment. Resale provisions in the law and current regulations will be leveraged to give small companies the access and interconnection capability required to be full players in the new environment. Existing organizations that represent the above mentioned small businesses will need to be contacted, with an eye towards close cooperation or consolidation. Failing that, a new, more responsive organizing entity will need to be established, that will lead the way towards full participation in the future economic, social, technical, legal and regulatory environment. These are large tasks that will require funding, committment and a dedication towards achieving goals for the collective good. The ability to focus on a vision, while continuing to struggle for its establishment, is nothing less than has been achieved when past social and economic struggles required the same. We are now in a situation where our actions, and the collective power that they yield, can influence the course of the future. I therefore propose the following: STEP #1. Identify the current business organizations that represent small telecommunications companies, small Internet Service Providers, computer sales and service companies, and BBS operators. STEP #2. Convene a cyber-meeting of the heads of these organizations to discuss the approach outlined above. This meeting will determine the next course of action. I would like to open this whole discussion to debate, and see if there is support for this approach. If individuals are aware of existing organizations that fit the bill in step #1, please come forward so we can contact them and start this discussion. I look forward to the replies to this post. If I have left any business entities out of my list above, please identify yourself and we will include you and your business organization too. The time for action and organization is now! Marty Tennant President - Low Tech Designs, Inc. 405 Poinsett Rd. Myrtle Beach, SC 29577 803 497-2898 voice 803 497-0822 fax Email: •••@••.••• @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ ~=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=~=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=~--~=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=~=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=~ Posted by Richard K. Moore - •••@••.••• - Wexford, Ireland Cyber-Rights: http://www.cpsr.org/cpsr/nii/cyber-rights/ Cyberlib temporarily unavailable Materials may be reposted in their entirety for non-commercial use. ~=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=~=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=~--~=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=~=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=~
