Never mind, I think I found my answer about asymetric settlement policies between Internet providers. ================================== Date: Tue, 29 Sep 92 23:29:33 -0400 From: rick@uunet.uu.net (Rick Adams) To: p00136@psilink.com, com-priv@psi.com

There is no settlement fee in the CIX agreement. This works well if there is no significant net flow between any two networks in CIX. Does this assumption hold up in fact?

Which assumption? Or the implied and erroneous assumption that if the trafic flow is asymmetric settlements are encessary? Given no transit traffic, there is no need for settlements. You have one of two cases: 1) both ends of the connection are by the same provider. If so, then settling with yourself is obviously ludicrous. 2) Each end of the connection is by a different provider. Now, since each end of the connection is supplied by a provider who is presumably reasonably compensated for that provision, why is any "settlement" necessary. Each customer is already paying for his half circuit. Why do you need to charge more? Most settlement proposals are a very thinly disguised "tax" and have nothing to do with actual costs or anything else for that matter. Of course some of the taxes are enticing as a group of representatives get to decide how best to spend the tax "for the comon good". However, its still a tax. ---rick p.s. The IRS just collects settlements that go into the Federal Infrastrucutre pool where it is reallocated for the common good...