> I think thats a pretty fair call, I'm quite happy to pay for a movie or to
> see a band and I even pay for software every now and again!
>
> As and engineering student, I can safely say that 99.98224532143% (sorry I've
> got a Pentium :-) of my activity on the net has nothing to do with my course.
> In fact, the only coursework I do on the net in _occasionally_ mail my thesis
> supervisor. So as much as I enjoy the service for free, If any charging
> scheme is to be implemented, I think a user pays system is the way to go.
>
> I do not wish to pay a general levy if I'm just using email while Joe Bloggs
> is on IRC and Mosaic 6 hours a day. Nor would I mind paying a couple of doll
ars
> to dowmload the latest Linux version if need be.
>
> In short, there's no such thing as a free lunch. If the uni wears the
> additional cost of 'timed' net access, we will pay for it one way or another.
> I'd rather it be user pays.
>
> -------------------------------------------------------------------
> : Joshua Pitcher: jpitcher@nospam.acacia.itd.uts.edu.au :
> : jpitcher@nospam.ftoomsh.socs.uts.edu.au :
> : vk2kjd@nospam.vk2xsb.ampr.org :
> : PO Box 253 Pymble 2073 :
> -------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> P.S. Will this alterating of net charges cost the university more?
> (just an afterthought)?
That's quite well put. Notice that volume charging won't apply to any
transactions that occur within AARNet itself; or in fact those that go
_out_ the International link.
The problems will be (off the top of my head) :
1. Will charging back to students be equitable.
2. Will resources be restricted beyond an appropriate level; ie. it
may occur that a general restriction to various services is
instituted when clearly they could be given a free reign.
3. Will AARNet itself attempt to "make up" for the losses in
certain ways; such as providing local mirrors and services and
the like.
I actually just thought of a darn good business opportunity. I'll set
up my machine here on the Net, it'll accept and redistribute incoming
mailing lists and newsgroups from the US. It will mean that for all
that subscribe, there is only one traversal of the International link.
Costs for you will be cheaper, I will bill you via my ecash setup and
make some money for myself doing it.
Maybe I'll have to say goodbye to some of my mailing lists soon ?
mg.
-- Matthew Gream (sw/hw engineer) <M.Gream@nospam.uts.edu.au> (02) 821-2043