STC'S Electronic Bulletin Board

[Greg Kushmerek <gkushmer -at- JADE -dot- TUFTS -dot- EDU>]

>   From:         David Hamilton <david -at- URSUS -dot- COM>

>   Greg writes:

>  > Cost is a very BIG factor.  For the STC to have a full Internet connection
>  > would cost $1000 per month.  The other option is that they find
>  > a local service provider, such as the World operates here in Boston,
>  > and get an account.  Nevertheless, STC members want FTP and possibly
>  > Telnet access.

>   I'm sure that most STC members would prefer to own Porches and/or
>   BMWs, but many of us have found it necessary to purchase vehicles
>   which provide the essential functions at a cost we can afford.  I'm
>   sure that there are some that have held off purchasing a vehicle until
>   they can afford a BMW on which to learn driving, but most feel that
>   this approach is simply not practical.

I'm not sure to what it is that you refer.  Do you mean that a bulletin
board for the STC would be enough for a start?   I agree that it would
be great for a start.

>   > An account on a provider would not fit STC's needs except _maybe_ to
>   > run a bulletin board (if the sysop allowed it).  But even then, it
>   > would compete with this list (unless it dealt exclusively with something
>   > like job announcements).

>   This is not necessarily true.  There are several service providers
>   that provide FTP access to directories maintained by the subscriber,
>   in addition to the normal email and USENET news services.  At the very
>   least, this would allow the STC to participate in this mailing list
>   directly.  This service level is available for as little as $25/month.
>   Some of these service providers can also provide TELNET access.

But is there a local service provider?  Otherwise the STC has to face
long distance calls to a location that has one.  Those alone would
be enough to jack the cost way up.

Moreover, those $25/hr that I've heard of usually come with something
like 20hours of use.  After that, there are further costs for time.

>> So now we're back to the cost for a full line.  Well, after the installation
>  > and consultation fees, as well as the startup investment costs, the STC
>  > would then need to hire a system administrator.  All this costs even
>  > more $$$$.

>   Of course it would cost more to use that approach.  If a person
>   chooses to purchase a luxury vehicle, it costs much more for routine
>   service.

But I'm not talking about a T1 here.  I'm speaking of something like
a 56 kps service.  After that there are options like UUCP which are
a lot cheaper, but not all mailers like the taste of UUCP mailers.  Even
if the STC decided to go with that option, service would be very slow
were people on the internet community to take advantage of the service.  My
experience with UUCP solutions is that they work fine when running a
small list of 40-60 people.  But Internet lists need a lot more bandwidth
to get mail out to everyone within a reasonable amount of time.

I'm not talking luxury so much as reasonable service.

>   > The only other option is for a host to "donate" the line.  I don't
>   > know who in Virginia would do that.  I suppose that the host provider
>   > could be anywhere in the US, but, then again, they need that immediate
>   > access to the net which I don't think is readily available in their
>   > part of the country.

>   I don't buy that argument.  If I can't afford a BMW, my only other
>   option to for someone to donate one to me?  This ignores all of the
>   other options available.

A T3 is a BMW.  A 56 kps is more like a used Toyota.  UUCP is a used
Hyundai.  The World, UUNET, and (I think) MCSNET donate system services
and accounts to libraries and underfunded concerns right now.  There
are other services designed to help out small concerns, but not all
of these have a gateway to the Internet.  Moreover, I doubt that something
like one of the above would see the STC as a worthy recipient of
the largesse.

There are, however, system administrators who convince universities to
let sponsor organizations on the Internet.

>   If the STC chooses to do so, it can have Internet email access set up
>   for its members within days, at a very low monthly cost.  The value of
>   this connection would soon prove itself to the membership.  For
>   slightly greater cost, FTP access to STC files can be provided.  Using
>   FTPmail, or some other service, these files can be available to
>   members with email access but not FTP access.  I suggest that the
>   benefits to the membership from this level of service is so far beyond
>   the current systems and services, that the difference would be clearly
>   and unmistakably apparent.  I further suggest that the resultant
>   increase in membership would finance expansion to full Internet
>   access.

I'm not convinced.  Don't get me wrong -- I'd love to see it -- but I think
it might be more expensive than you might believe.  Sure, anyone can
log into world.std.com and establish an account within five minutes
for $25 a month, but for the Richmond office to do that requires someone
on-line during business hours.  Long distance is not cheap.

Even if STC were to use 14.4 modems, they'd still have to sort through
messages which eats up time.  And does the STC even have a 14.4 modem
now?  That's more money right there.

Assume that they were able to create a viable system for Internet access
using remote or local providers.  I can't see how Internet access and
materials available via ftp would make that much of a difference
in the membership.  And even if that did, do you know the amount of dues
that goes into a general expansion fund?  Or do you know if dues are
evenly sliced among member services?  How many new members would
increase the STC treasury by that much?  I mean, with each new member,
the STC also has a degree of cost involved.  I don't know what that
cost is, but I think it would be a good idea to know.

David, if you know of some definitive pricing schemes, then perhaps
you would be better off drawing up a proposal and mailing it to
the STC?  If you do, could I have a copy as a point of reference?  This
type of material interests me.

Thanks,

--gk

Greg Kushmerek                          "They [Australians] don't spell 'beer'
Sr. Researcher/Development              with four X's out of ignorance. . .And
Tufts University                        light beer is a creation of the Prince
Medford, MA                             of Darkness."
gkushmer -at- jade -dot- tufts -dot- edu                         -Morse, Thames Valley C.I.D.-