Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version VT1.00C 11/1/84; site vortex.UUCP
Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!allegra!mit-eddie!genrad!decvax!vortex!lauren
From: lauren@vortex.UUCP (Lauren Weinstein)
Newsgroups: net.news,net.news.stargate,net.general,net.misc
Subject: Re: A hopefully *calm*, *rational*, and *brief* overview of stargate.
Message-ID: <524@vortex.UUCP>
Date: Sat, 26-Jan-85 21:47:46 EST
Article-I.D.: vortex.524
Posted: Sat Jan 26 21:47:46 1985
Date-Received: Tue, 29-Jan-85 06:46:01 EST
References: <293@vax2.fluke.UUCP>
Organization: Vortex Technology, Los Angeles
Lines: 40
Xref: watmath net.news:3073 net.news.stargate:102 net.general:4242 net.misc:7363

Very brief.  Moriarity's overview was slightly incorrect in serveral 
points, but gave an overall flavor of what has been happening and is 
appreciated.  In particular, the issues of moderation and user
authentication are not just my opinion, but relate to other
issues as well, including complex issues of law, questions regarding
what people would WANT to see (and pay for) in a satellite
delivered service, resource allocation of the (non-infinite)
satellite bandwidth, and numerous other factors.  These are
all in the midst of detailed discussions at this time.

The project doesn't involve WTBS directly, but rather the satellite
carrier that uplinks WTBS to the satellite.  WTBS does not have
any direct control over what is sent in their vertical interval;
that is determined by the satellite carrier who essentially
"owns" the satellite vertical interval of WTBS.

Some of the satellite people came to Dallas for the Stargate demo (which
was successful by the way) to discuss these matters.

The project funding has come mainly from Usenix, with the satellite
time being donated right now by the carrier.  Bell Communications
Research and Fortune Systems have both donated moral support
and equipment to the experiment.  Nobody has made any money
on the experiment--everything has been done through volunteer labor.

I strongly urge interested parties to read the archives of
net.news and net.news.stargate for full details.  Various details
are evolving and changing even now, but those groups have
openly been discussing these matters all along (net.news.stargate
is fairly new--prior to its creation discussion was in net.news).
You might also want to read my first paper on the subject in the
Usenix Utah conference proceedings of six months ago, and my update (after
I had named the project "Stargate") in the just released Dallas proceedings.

The mass of netnews on the subject and the proceedings spell
out everything in great detail.

Thanks much.

--Lauren--