Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Path: utzoo!mnetor!uunet!husc6!mit-eddie!ll-xn!ames!ucbcad!ucbvax!orchid.waterloo.EDU!imprint
From: imprint@orchid.waterloo.EDU (U of Waterloo Student Newspaper)
Newsgroups: comp.society.futures
Subject: Re:  UUCP to RUSSIA
Message-ID: <8710222033.AA02730@orchid.uucp>
Date: Thu, 22-Oct-87 16:33:19 EST
Article-I.D.: orchid.8710222033.AA02730
Posted: Thu Oct 22 16:33:19 1987
Date-Received: Sun, 25-Oct-87 10:10:21 EST
Sender: daemon@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU
Organization: The ARPA Internet
Lines: 28

Yeah -- it all gets very interesting. There is a MoscPC node -- at least
potentially. AT one point the USSR embassy in Ottawa actually suggested
linking their Olivetti PC clone to my BBS by modem. From the embassy,
of course, data transmission to Moscow is a snap. I still don't know
why, but after some weeks of discussion, (and me sending them a few
disks of freeware to accomplish it) they seemed to cool off on the idea.

Who knows how decisions get made over there. The point is, given the
political will on their side (and ours too, I suppose) there is not
a technical problem in accomplishing it. You don't need Unix to run mail
and news, and as for any hypothetical ban on MS-DOS, what's to stop Joe
Embassy Secretary from walking into any of a dozen computer stores in
Ottawa, laying down his 25 rubles, and taking a copy home?

Obviously, if they are using PC clones in their office they have
MS-DOS!

Anyway, it's become clear to me that if we want to see this happen, the
needed work is political more than technical. We need to convince some-
one in the politbureau that it is a good idea.

There are a couple of people I have some contacts with who have actually
met with Gorbachev, and have some access and credibility in the Moscow
circles. I'm preparing to bounce the idea off them.

This could get interesting.

Doug