> >Brian Caouette and I have been discussing the possibility of AVCNet > >obtaining a 56K leased line Internet feed to be shared among the > >member BBS systems. While this has been discussed as a possibility > >several times in the last 2 years, I told Brian that the present Board > >had expressed the sentiment that AVCNet doesn't want to get into the > >service provider business at this time. I suggested to Brian, and he > >agreed, that we move the discussion to this list. > > > >Would others care to comment? Why not? I see AVCNet as a vehicle which we have set up to meet the needs of our members and to promote electronic communications in the L/A area. If we can act as a pass-through agency to allow Brian and others to meet their individual objectives--as long as they move us closer towards the greater group goals--then I think we should perform that function. We probably should adopt a mission statement before heading out in this or any other new directions, but I would encourage Brian and other interested parties to begin collecting cost figures and other information to allow them to move forward when the Board is ready (which should be by the fall). I apologize for not posting the mission statement which the AVCNet steering committee adopted a year ago, but I have been unable to locate it in electronic format. We're going to get it re-keyed this week and posted to the list to begin a discussion. Back to a shared lease line--the Lewiston Public Library will need direct Internet access by the fall of 1996 and we will go the most cost-effective route. In doing some rough exploration this Spring, I was under the impression that the best way to go for any of us would be to individually contract with MaineStreet or some other service provider, unless an individual BBS or agency needed a full 56k line, in which case purchasing directly from Sprintnet might work best. In any case, with the flexibility of access options offered by the local service providers, there didn't seem to be a big cost break in sharing a separate 56k line and then dealing with the hardware and leased local lines to mesh it all together. Now, I don't claim to be an expert in this area, so I'ld love to hear others thoughts along with the hardware and budget needed to bring it all off. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Rick Speer rspeer@LPL.avcnet.org Lewiston Public Library 105 Park Street Voice: (207) 784-0135 Lewiston, Maine 04240 Fax: (207) 784-2959 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
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