Re: AARNet charges - IMPORTANT!!

Joshua Pitcher (jpitcher@nospam.acacia.itd.uts.edu.au)
Wed, 14 Dec 94 18:01:54 EST

>
> I feel compelled to post again regarding the possible charges to AARNet
> being borne by students, and especially to the words "user-pays" being
> mentioned.
>
...
>
> My position is that the wondrous service known as "the Internet" should
> be able to be accessed by anyone. Should access be blocked due to
> financial constraints? And what happens when necessary coursework can
> not be completed due to the fact that a student could not afford to do
> it? It is already expensive enough to come to Uni, and I would not like
> to see more charges tacked on.
>
...
> Please think about this.
>
> Alister Air
>
>
I find it hard to say this without sounding condescending (and I do not
intend to be) but in an ideal world the internet would be free, run by people
with academic pursuits and interents for the good of all. And years back,
when the net was a specialist pointyhead sort-of a thing, this was the case...

But times have changed. Commercial companies now use the net for profit-
related purposes, as do many users. So the question must be asked - why should
they make money out of a service that is being provided for free?

The many good charitable people who set up the net must be getting pretty
pissed off that these peaple are using their free system for profit. I think
it is only fair that if people are using the net for profit or recreational
purposes, then they should pay for it.

The point was made elsewhere in this thread that academic work should be
excempted from charges. I agree fully. And this is what we should be lobbying
the AVCC about. But to argue that I have the right to watch the Rolling
Stones concert for free is just not fair to the service providers.

Cheers and a merry Xmas!!

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