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On Thu, 09 Jan 92 08:39:30 -0500, jrugo@nic.near.net said:

I believe, however, that cost of providing service is not the only issue to be considered. I believe that a most important parameter in the equation is the number of connections a network brings. As we already have access to the NSFnet, what you are offering NEARnet is access to Dialog. What you want is access to 115 of New England's premier research and educational institutions.

Certainly ANS wants access to those "115 New England premier research and educational institutions." But ANS also intends to find institution #116 and sign them up to directly connect to ANSnet as CO+RE customers! Given that ANS plans to actively compete with NEARnet and other regionals for the same end customers, how long will ANS and NEARnet (in this specific example) be able to maintain an amicable business relationship? Makes you think, doesn't it? I don't know the answer to that question, but I'm very glad that John Rugo posted his message. Not only does his message prove to me that my regional's business manager is actively doing his job by asking the right questions, but maybe his message will help other regionals ask some of the right questions as well. Manavendra K. Thakur Internet: thakur@zerkalo.harvard.edu Systems Programmer, High Energy Division BITNET: thakur@cfa.BITNET Harvard-Smithsonian Center for DECNET: CFA::thakur Astrophysics UUCP: ...!uunet!mit-eddie!thakur