On 14 Jan 2003, Vijay Gill wrote:
Avi Freedman <freedman@freedman.net> writes:
Perhaps the Feds (and maybe states) could use their purchasing power to effect change. Short of that, or regulation, the I don't see how the serious issues we have with the 'net will get resolved.
People do. I've been beating this particular horse for a while now, and we are starting to deploy the capex hammer. I suggest others start to do the same. See my presentation at the eugene nanog.
I can see how purchasing power may motivate a vendor (and maybe lots of individual vendors) to fix their own problems, develop better products, or be more responsive. I'm trying to envision an RFP that awards business to one or a few network operators, but requires that they interoperate effectively with other operators who don't win any of the business. I've only got a state-level purchasing perspective, but I don't see it happening at any level. Is spending really an effective hammer (or gun) to make people work together if they aren't otherwise motivated to? Behavior related to the '96 Telecom Act doesn't inspire confidence. Can technical solutions be an effective band-aid for a complex poli-socio-economic problem like this? Pete.