Cooks note

[David Farber <farber () central cis upenn edu>]

At 21:23 10/13/93 -0400, David Farber wrote:
> [ As usual, opinions pro and con to the position taken by the following are
> welcome. Also, as usual, the position taken below does not necessarily
> reflect mine. Many of the things I report I strongly disagree with but I
> respect Voltaire's comment .. DJF]
>
> From: cook () path net (Gordon Cook)
> Date: Thu, 14 Oct 1993 00:41:38 GMT
> Subject:  for int people


...




I have been accused by Gordon of waffleing with the above disclaimer. To a
large degree  I am. Whenever I publish something with such a strong
position I feel with my "editors" hat on, I must say the above. All I
publish I dont agree with
but often I feel they presented their opinions forcefully and that they and
you are entitled to see their position (and others) so as to be able to
form your own opinion.


Gordon Cook raised several potentially valid arguments against what the NSF
has undertaken in the re-solicitation. These points have been raised during
the pre-solicitation and often on other network lists. 


I believe it would be useful and proper for the NSF to answer the
specific substantive issues that Gordon has raised in the document. As
most of you know, I have known Steve Wolff for many years and I strongly
believe he is doing what he believes is right for the sciences and the
nation. Others may not be as confident of that as I am. 


I would like to hear Steve comment or send me a previous comment of the
primary issue of Cooks statement which is that the 155 megabit service is
commercially available within the window of the solicitation and thus can
be procurred on the open market. 


If what is mainly  being done --   to procure it via the cooperative
agreements in order to lower the price for the field via cost sharing and
to increase the industrial/science collaboration, then lets say so once and
for all and end this seeemingly endless discussion (or at least move it to
a different venue of discussion).


Dave


Editor IP