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Netizens-Digest Volume 1 Number 355
Netizens-Digest Friday, March 3 2000 Volume 01 : Number 355
Netizens Association Discussion List Digest
In this issue:
[netz] Three different views about becoming an ICANN Member
[netz] The State of the Net in Hungary
[netz] Brief intro from John Horvath
[netz] Now Law in California: Over time pay after 8 hours of work
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Date: Sun, 27 Feb 2000 12:54:21 -0500 (EST)
From: Ronda Hauben <ronda@panix.com>
Subject: [netz] Three different views about becoming an ICANN Member
ICANN has announced that it is opening membership.
It would be good to discuss whether or not it is a good
idea to become a member considering that members will
have no real say in what happens and that they are
only to supposedly elect people who elect the people
who do choose certain candidates for the Board of
Directiors.
The current issue of the Amateur Computerist, 9.2 has
several articles about the problems with ICANN.
It's online at http://www.ais.org/~jrh/acn/ACN9-2
Ronda
Following are several different views about the ICANN membership
announcement:
>http://www.slashdot.org/ -- Slashdot has the following story:
>Join ICANN and Make Your Voice Heard
>The Internet Posted by Roblimo on Sunday February 27, @10:00AM
> from the taking-the-net-into-the-future dept.
>GuNgA-DiN writes, "ICANN (The Internet Corporation for Assigned
>Names and Numbers) announced at large memberships available to the
>public."Yes, it's true - and it's free. Instead of leaving Internet
>policy decisions to AOL and other biggies, you can now help select "at
>large" ICANN board members and generally help make Internet
>policy. Will individual ICANN members like you and me get heard as
>loudly as the corporates? Hard to say, but worth a try. It's more
voice than we've had in the past, anyway.
> ( Read More... | 26 of 27 comments )
- --------------------------------------------------------------------
>From IFWP_LIST V1 #741
(http://lists.ifwp.org/ )
>Date: Fri, 25 Feb 2000 23:31:10 -0500
>From: Michael Sondow <msondow@iciiu.org>
>Subject: [IFWP] ICANN Launches Membership Web Site for Individual Internet User
>s and Other Riff-Raff
>icann/Ogilvie wrote:
>>
>> ICANN Launches Membership Web Site for Individual Internet Users
>And other Riff-Raff.
>> Marina del Rey, CA, USA, (25 February 2000) The Internet Corporation for
>> Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) announces the launch of its At Large
>> Membership web site.
>>
>> After considerable public input
>from a couple of bribed goons
>> the ICANN Board has developed this program
>> as a new way for Internet users from all over the globe
>but especially in Southern California
>> to participate
>> directly in the ICANN process and help ensure the smooth coordination of the
>> Internet's technical infrastructure
>by helping defray the Board's travel expenses and assisting the USG
>in pulling off the scam of the century.
>> Individuals can begin registering today
>> to become ICANN members at http://www.icann.org. <http://members.icann.org>
>and end up paying for it the rest of your life.
>> The At Large Membership of ICANN will give individual members of Internet
>> communities worldwide a voice in the selection of Directors to the ICANN
>> Board
>but not a vote.
>> By becoming an ICANN member, individuals will have an opportunity to
>> become part of the ICANN "bottom-up" approach to making policy concerning
>> Internet Names and Addresses,
>which means "You put out your bottom, and we'll put something up
>it".
>> ICANN members will be able to receive regular
>> news, updates and announcements about ICANN activities and policy
>> initiatives
>and will be invited to waste their time submitting comments that
>will never be read.
>> The basic requirements for applying to become an ICANN At Large member are:
>1) Being gullible;
>2) Having time to waste;
>3) Being willing to make a fool of yourself;
>4) Having some scratch to pay our bills.
>> Thanks to a grant from the Markle Foundation
>that came from the CIA,
>> the initial launch of ICANN's
>> At Large Membership program has been funded without the need for membership
>> dues,
>and if you insist, we'll pay YOU to join.
>> The ICANN Board will consider and adopt further policy about composition and
>> structure of the At Large Membership, and to establish rules for the
>> nomination and election of candidates for the At Large Council, at the
>> Board's next meeting,
>behind closed doors on March 8, followed by a bottom-up announcement
>of their decision,
>> to be held March 9-10.
>> It is hoped that the target
>> goal of 5000 members can be reached in the next few weeks -
>even though, despite Markle's dirty money, we haven't got enough to
>buy off that many people -
>> in order to move
>> forward
>bottom first
>> with the At Large Elections later this year,
>at which you will have the chance to vote for the ICANN Girl.
>> ABOUT ICANN
>
>> The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) is a
>> non-profit, international corporation formed in September 1998 to
>defraud the planet.
>> Specifically,
>> ICANN is assuming responsibility for
>givng IBM, MCI, and AT&T whatever they don't already own.
>> CONTACT
>
>> Pam Brewster
>Spinmeister, at
>> alexanderogilvy.com
>AKA The devil's Disciple
============================================================
>Michael Sondow I.C.I.I.U. http://www.iciiu.org
>Tel. (718)846-7482 Fax: (603)754-8927
============================================================
- ------------------------------
>Date: Sat, 26 Feb 2000 01:20:12 -0500 (EST)
>From: "!Dr. Joe Baptista" <baptista@pccf.net>
>Subject: [IFWP] ICANN At Large Membership (fwd)
>Look at this. When you join - you still have to wait to be approved ;-0
>I wonder what that means. Maybe it's like a priest thing, ester has to
>bless each membership by slobbering over it.
>Regards
>Joe
>- ---------- Forwarded message ----------
>Date: Fri, 25 Feb 2000 21:24:57 -0800
>From: newmember@icann.org
>To: baptista@vrx.net
>Subject: ICANN At Large Membership
>ICANN At LARGE MEMBER ACTIVATION ..SAVE THIS EMAIL!
>Congratulations, your new ICANN At Large Member account
>has been created. There is just one more piece of
>information you will need to activate your account:
>your unique pin number.
>Once your application has been approved, ICANN will mail
>your PIN number to your physical address.
>Accessing your At Large membership account will be easy!
>Just use your web browser (Netscape Navigator 3.0 or greater,
>Internet Explorer 3.0 or greater) to go to ICANN
>At Large:
> https://members.icann.org/activate.html (Secure Server)
> or
> http://members.icann.org/activate.html (Unsecure Server)
>To activate your account, you will enter your At Large Membership
>number, Password, and Pin. Use the following
>information:
><censored>
>Save this e-mail for your records. Thank you for joining
>At Large. If you have any questions, please e-mail us
>at: support@members.icann.org.
>------------------------------
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 2 Mar 2000 10:23:30 -0500 (EST)
From: jrh@umcc.ais.org (Jay Hauben)
Subject: [netz] The State of the Net in Hungary
The State of the Net in Hungary
by John Horvath
As the seconds tick the time out for the second millennium, Hungary is
still playing catch-up on the long and winding infobahn. High telephone
charges coupled with metered rates for local calls make domestic access
still a luxury for many. In addition, the country's digital
infrastructure is still inadequate to handle large volumes of traffic
and high bandwidth applications.
Yet despite these and many other shortcomings, Hungary has made some
progress over the past few years. The Internet has finally broken out
from its isolation as a seedy and potential dangerous place for
youngsters and society at large. Indeed, even the extreme fringes of the
political spectrum now have a presence on the Internet.
The Internet as a source of mass media has gained ground in the past
year, albeit still very slowly. Conventional media -- radio, television,
and print -- have increasingly made references to the "new" media. In
fact, many have their own online presence. Shows dealing specifically
with the Internet have also been on the rise.
As for e-commerce, although still in its embryonic stages, it has
started to become more prominent. This year saw a big boost for the
commercial Internet as the country's largest savings bank, OTP, launched
an array of online services. This has taken place in conjunction with
the rise of other business activities, like ordering a pizza online. As
a result, advertising is beginning to spill over from "cyberspace". Many
advertisements placed within traditional venues now include a web site
or email address.
Coupled with all these advances, there has been an exponential rise in
native language content. This is directly related to the growth in user
demographics which, although still well below the European average, not
to mention North America and Japan, has risen substantially. The latest
demographic figures from IDC show that there are 650,000 Internet users
in Hungary and this is expected to increase by almost 30 percent in the
next three years. Much of this can be attributed to the government's
effort at wiring the schools to the Internet. Known as Sulinet, the
program has introduced many students, teachers, and administrators to
the world of computers and networking, and has offered them an
opportunity to go online that they otherwise would not have had.
There have also been several private sector initiatives at broadening
the user base. Cable access has made its appearance, providing more
reliable service and higher bandwidth. Not only this, but with cable
threatening the ISP position of the country's leading telecom provider,
MATAV, the access market has become more competitive, to the benefit of
consumers.
In addition to this, the post office has been busy establishing
"telepost" offices in various communities. In conjunction with usual
postal services, these offices enable people to use computers and the
Internet, providing them with email and a host of other services. A
total of 17 such offices are presently scattered throughout the country,
with plans to open another 30 offices next year.
Although the progress the country has made over the year to bring the
Internet to the average citizen is noteworthy, it is still far too early
to proclaim that the Internet revolution has "taken off" in Hungary. On
the contrary, the country still faces many challenges. Unless these are
addressed, the potential of the Internet will be stagnant.
One of the major problems still faced, not only by Hungary but other
countries of Central and Eastern Europe, is that the area is still being
used a dumping ground for redundant technology. The new computer system
at OTP, for example, which was purchased and implemented in the
mid-nineties, is outdated by at least a decade.
This impediment of redundant technology, due either to ignorance or
economic considerations, is not limited to merely Hungarian enterprises,
however. A Dutch bank operating in Hungary, which last year implemented
a new retail card system, only found out at the beginning of this year
that its new system was not Y2K compliant.
On the commercial side of things, although the presence of the Internet
is obvious in advertising and marketing strategies, Hungarian companies
(especially SMEs) still are unable to see the advertising potential nor
fully grasp the dynamics of online advertising. On the other hand, those
that do are often behind the times, perpetually caught in a cycle of
playing catch-up with western trends. For instance, although many
companies have now begun to make a shift toward the Internet, the new
trend in the US is to actually "flee the dot-com". As Keith Dawson
writes in his weekly log, Tasty Bits from the Technology Front (see
<http://tbtf.com/blog/1999-11-07.html> as well as
<http://interactive.wsj.com/articles/SB942276734846706339.htm> and
<http://www.msnbc.com/news/333919.asp>), "focus groups are beginning to
show that average folks don't remember the companies, don't like the
ads, and resent the everpresent image of the greedy twenty-something
zillionaire."
Meanwhile, telework remains a remote and wishful concept. Despite
increased traffic congestion and pollution in most of Hungary's major
cities, especially Budapest, it's not economically feasible to have
people work from home, given the poor state of the telecommunications
infrastructure -- not to mention the cost. Moreover, most Hungarians
still work along lines of an industrial and agrarian economy, as opposed
to a knowledge-based one.
As for e-commerce, while making a grandiose appearance, it's caught in
an awkward predicament. To be sure, e-commerce in Hungary will grow but,
if present trends continue, its influence will be limited. The main
reason is that many are wary of initiating a system for serious online
transactions. Even non-monetary transactions, such as booking and
reservation services, are not widely available. This is because there
lingers a fear and mistrust of online services. For instance, while the
ability to order and pay by credit card over the telephone has
relatively a long and established tradition elsewhere -- notably the US
and Canada -- it's still a concept very much alien to the Hungarian
economy.
A less than extensive user base is an additional problem. Hungary
remains one of the most expensive places in Europe for Internet use.
Although the increase in the number of users may look impressive, it
still represents less than 7 percent of the population, with only 14
percent of all PCs in Hungary connected to the Internet.
While efforts have been made to get more people online, access is still
hindered by high telecommunication charges. This also goes for cable,
which costs about a quarter of an average Hungarian's salary. A study
commissioned by the OECD confirmed that high connection fees coupled
with the high cost of local telephone calls is impeding the uptake of
the Internet in Hungary. Unfortunately, this situation looks set to
worsen, with a 20-40% rise in telephone charges expected in the new
year.
Alternative efforts to entice more people online, such as the post
office's telepost offices, are not only expensive but also suffer from
inconsistent and lopsided development. In the Galga valley, for example,
a region about 40 km east of Budapest, a small village has a telepost
office while neighbouring towns and villages, which are larger and more
strategically located, don't.
As for the social aspect of computer networking, here, too, formidable
challenges and obstacles exist. While the Sulinet program may have
succeeded to a certain extent in introducing many to the medium,
students and teachers are, nevertheless, not encouraged to understand
the medium, but are taught to simply use it. Similarly, for the
community of users as a whole, the concept of a "net community" is
lacking somewhat. Most know nothing about ICANN, no less have an
understanding nor even interest about any of the issues surrounding the
future of the Internet.
Another challenge faced by Hungarians embracing the Internet is the view
of computer-mediated communications as an alternative source for
information. Unfortunately, the Internet is still regarded as a
supplement to conventional media, a view that is being reinforced by
radio, television, and print.
Meanwhile, the old habit of regarding the Internet as a cesspool of
anarchy and perversity die hard. Earlier in the year, a report on
hackers was aired on Hungarian television. Instead of presenting a
comprehensive view into this sub-culture, with an additional follow-up
into Hungary's unique hacker culture, the report turned out to be
nothing more than a shoddy play on Eric Raymond's dichotomy of hackers
and crackers (see "Homesteading the Noonesphere"), the simplified
conclusion being that one group (hackers) is benevolent (they are people
who try to find weaknesses in systems) while the other (crackers) are
nothing more than a malevolent bunch of people.
To this extent, a 3-5 person special group within the police will be
established in the new year to deal with "illegal" activities on the
Internet. According to media reports, the main purpose of this
department is to scan Hungarian sites for pedophilia and bomb-making
information which, according to authorities and the media, are the two
most "dangerous" types of content to be had. However, as with all such
seemingly noble efforts to protect the public from harm, the objectives
are vague enough to be used as a means for silencing social discontent
and political dissent.
Despite these shortcomings, the future is not entirely hopeless; nor
will it be entirely mundane. One thing to watch for is the possible rise
of Linux in Hungary. The government had already squandered a chance when
it had decided on Unix for the Sulinet program. Not that it mattered
much, for Hungary still has a vibrant hacker underground. (Admittedly,
the efforts of the Business Software Alliance have not gone unnoticed
either, as many first time users and administrators in public
institutions take the threats of the software police seriously.)
With the anticipated release of a Hungarian version of Star Office some
time at the beginning of the new millennium, it remains to be seen how
Linux will affect the digital landscape in Hungary. As Linux
applications become more compatible with commercial (i.e. Microsoft)
products, cash-strapped institutions and administrators may seize the
opportunities offered by free software.
On the other hand, Microsoft's slick and subtle media campaigns over the
past year (Bill Gates is regarded by many users in Hungary as one of the
main forces behind the Internet) has done much to cement their level of
support. At the same time, Linux's unfamiliar and relatively less
user-friendly interface are obstacles which still need to be overcome.
Other systems, meanwhile, such as BeOS or FreeBSD, are not only
insignificant in number but are also unavailable in the local language.
For Hungary, the irony of the whole situation is that although the
country boasts some of the best talent in the field of computer
programming and mathematics, it's not reflected within the general
population. Instead of bringing Hungary up to speed on the "infobahn",
this level of talent has either added to the country's brain drain
syndrome or has taken part in the construction of the multi-tier
"information society" which has emerged. Only time will tell if this is
a temporary enigma or will turn out to be a chronic handicap.
- -----------------------
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 2 Mar 2000 13:04:22 -0500 (EST)
From: jrh@umcc.ais.org (Jay Hauben)
Subject: [netz] Brief intro from John Horvath
Hi,
The following brief introduction should have appeared above the article
from John Horvath you received earlier.
> I thought this might be of interest to those who are not aware of what
> life is like outside the mainstream.
> John
> The State of the Net in Hungary
> by John Horvath
Jay
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 3 Mar 2000 11:19:17 -0500 (EST)
From: jrh@umcc.ais.org (Jay Hauben)
Subject: [netz] Now Law in California: Over time pay after 8 hours of work
A little good news for a change.
>Reply-To: <jelyon@jelyon.com>
>From: "John Lyon" <jelyon@jelyon.com>
>To: <farber@cis.upenn.edu>
>Subject: Hi, OT Law; Bye, Tech Boom?
>Date: Thu, 2 Mar 2000 17:17:17 -0600
>X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook CWS, Build 9.0.2416 (9.0.2910.0)
>
>This may be of interest to IPers. Full article avail. at:
>
> http://www.wired.com/news/politics/0,1283,34692,00.html
>
>Hi, OT Law; Bye, Tech Boom?
>Reuters
>7:45 a.m. 2.Mar.2000 PST
>SAN FRANCISCO -- A new law requiring California companies to pay hourly-wage
>employees overtime went into effect on Wednesday, amid fears that it could
>have a chilling effect on the boom in Silicon Valley, which relies heavily
>on highly paid, temporary computer programmers.
>
>The new law, AB 60, passed last year, calls for non-salaried workers who are
>paid on an hourly basis to receive overtime after working eight hours a day,
>instead of 40 hours a week.
------------------------------
End of Netizens-Digest V1 #355
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