John, I am responding to your note to Al Weis regarding the exchange of commercial traffic between ANS and NEARnet. The short answer to your question is no, ANS will not accept commercial (CO) traffic generated by an attached network under the Connectivity Agreement. There is a Gateway agreement that can be signed whereby ANS and the attached network exchange CO traffic. The thread of your question implies that the infrastructure of NEARnet and that of ANSnet are symmetrical. Providing national backbone services as well as direct attachments and gateways positions ANSnet within a different economic and operational structure. The scale of our operational and other commitments does not allow ANSnet to provide transit services in exchange for the delivery of CO traffic being accepted by NEARnet. The regional does get something in return for accepting the ANS CO traffic in the form of added value to the regional's members who presumably may want access to and benefit from the CO services available. This added value means more members and more revenue. If you need any additional information, please give me a call. Al Hoover (914) 789-5300
Here is my question from last week, to which I have not heard a definitive answer. I think the list has some inquiring minds that want to know its answer from you.
OK, so NEARnet would agree to accept commercial traffic from ANS, does ANS agree to accept commercial traffic from NEARnet under the same terms and conditions? As I read it, a regional agrees to use its infrastructure as a distribution mechanism for ANS and gets nothing in return.
Thanks in advance for your clarification.
Sincerely,
John M. Rugo NEARnet Business Manager Bolt Beranek and Newman