<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN">
<html>
<head>
<meta content="text/html;charset=ISO-8859-1" http-equiv="Content-Type">
</head>
<body bgcolor="#ffffff" text="#000000">
<small><font face="Verdana">I don't think that's the point Barney<br>
<br>
Let me lay out my train of thought for this posting in addition to the
voluminous emails I have received this morning.<br>
<br>
Internet 2 ( I2 )and National LambdaRail</font></small><b> </b><small><font
face="Verdana">( LMDR ) have a fundamentally different business
model, based on the fact that I2 uses and leases its systems whereas
LMDR wants to OWN everything end to end with someone else paying the
tab.. The latter model doesn't even have a real business plan (what
university or government idea does?) and no idea of final cost, except
that its going to be huge $$$. I2/Abilene is following the electrical
power "honest broker" infrastructure model of different entities
controlling production, transmission and end supply to create
impartiality and prevent an end to end monopoly, especially important
as open access joins the ultra high bandwidth arena. LMDR wants to
create an absolute monopoly from end to end. The commercial companies
spotted this immediately and have been hammering at LMDR about the fact
that they could end up sitting on a trillion-dollar asset -- all
created under the feel good mantra of great research funded with public
and private donated dollars. <br>
<br>
When LMDR tried to swallow I2 last year part of the different attitudes
of both boards was the primary fact that it seemed LMDR was creating an
absolute monopoly and it was obvious to many sources that I have talked
to that LMDR was even then closely involved with commercial entities
who could make a pile of money out of this. Now we know it was
Darkstrand. I2 found this absolutely repellent to the very nature of
the system and so balked. Thats why the takeover failed. (If anyone has
any more details please post them.) Even go look at their websites and
tell me which one really understands the web at todays lowly level and
who knows where its headed (<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.internet2.edu/">http://www.internet2.edu/</a> and
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.nlr.net/">http://www.nlr.net/</a>). I2's tagline "Member FOCUSED, member led" says it
all. LMDR can now say with a straight face "Using YOUR donated money to
benefit our directors and shareholders."<br>
<br>
Some of the mail I have received this morning makes me out to be a
Luddite / LMDR bigot, and for those who know me is laughable. No, I
simply do not like to see my tax and donation dollars extracted under
false pretenses.</font></small><br>
<br>
<small><font face="Verdana">Back in about 2001, I served as senior
technology adviser to the Association of Commerce and Industry (ACI)
in Albuquerque. Why me? Well, read here <a
class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.ideapete.com/who.html">http://www.ideapete.com/who.html</a>.
Frankly, i was trusted and potential tech fund raisers were not. LMDR
local CIRT / UNM sponsors were trying to raise money for the local
service connections including the gigabit pop at 505 Marquette and its
connection to UNM CIRT, lobbying (mostly unsuccessfully) at all levels
including state. No one at ACI really understood what LMDR was and how
it impacted
business and the economy, and so I was detailed to sort out all
the technobabble being thrown around and enlighten ACI members. At the
time much had been made of the fact that if business got behind
the project, there would be huge benefits to industry and we (the
business
community) would be a primary cost efficient benefit user, and massive
educational, health benefits would accrue, and on and on. Lots and lots
of blue sky thinking and very little
application outline and real rubber-meets-the-road clearly defined
objectives or clarity. I even heard from one senior CIRT/LMDR source
and he knows who he is ,when questioned about financial cost planning "
Heck this is too exciting to put a price tag on it, its only money " I
hope his mortgage company feels the same way.<br>
<br>
ACI delivered what we had been asked for and actively and successfully
lobbied for funds. Even then, we pointed out that "You (UNM / CIRT /
LMDR local) have
made some huge assumptions but have not developed any clear plans for
deployment and application or prudent financial need. We (ACI) can
really help you to do that." In many
of the conversations over the years with research departments who were
the nominally targeted end users asking what
do you really need now and what will you need in the future, ( called
usability engineering ) it became very apparent that, with the massive
transformation in data originating from the evolution from
API-local-machine to API-application-cloud -worldwide, a whole
different model of information distribution was evolving and many
departments were, bluntly, even questioning the need for CIRT with its
system control, uber-boss mentality and the need for another expensive
centralized fat pipe system. I, and </font></small><small><font
face="Verdana">some financial experts at our top local banks and audit
companies, </font></small><small><font face="Verdana"> also thought
that </font></small><small><font face="Verdana">the financing that
would be required </font></small><small><font face="Verdana">for LMDR
to
really work had been grossly underestimated -- purposely -- and, again,
they had a plan with no cost basis except for expensive VERY expensive.
LMDR is in need of LOTS of money because its basic premise and plan was
totally non realistic. </font></small><small><font face="Verdana">Supercomputers
now are being outperformed worldwide by very different
initiatives (such as Beowulf clusters) for faster smaller
more flexible systems (Google api's) so that, to the researchers' joy,
a
heck of a lot more budget dollars are going directly to the project
bottom line. </font></small><br>
<small><font face="Verdana"><br>
I2 got real industrial strength financial planning support from the
get-go. hence their very different model. After the ACI successfully
lobbied for the first basic capital support, and
even contributed, we were basically told to F*#@ off. Seven years
later, I still do not see any evidence that any application needs
analysis, business plan, realistic cost analysis even exists at UNM -
CIRT - LMDR ( local or national ) even the blue sky buzzwords have not
changed.<br>
<br>
Again, what are the main problems with the LMDR initiative: Well, it's
been used as a huge fund raising tool by multiple people in this state
and nationwide (some involved in fraud, like Sandoval Broadband) who,
frankly, could
not not tell the difference between an Ethernet connection and a light
bulb socket.
Thats now being turned on its head into a commercially directed profit
center<br>
<br>
I also expect to see many of the LMDR board members nationwide suddenly
appear on commercial boards (Darkstrand) making another ton of money,
which would lead one to suspect the fix was in from the start.<br>
<br>
Under the circumstances, I think it would be prudent to freeze all
future government (at all levels, including university associated
grants) investment in LMDR until its board and Darkstrand come
absolutely clean with its business plan (audited, and including real
applications not buzzwords) and show us who really benefits (again,
audited) and what they did with all the money. Or let Goggle buy them
out and fire everyone who played this game.<br>
<br>
This is the entire future of the US we are talking about, and looking
at the pattern evolving : LMDR with UNM / CIRT as its local agent
thinks it's the next AT&T<br>
<br>
Barney, how about posting a clear UNM / CIRT / LMDR business plan
initiative that is web active iterate (If you post PDFs and
PowerPoints, you have proved my point) online so everyone can see who's
what and where and who REALLY benefits (in real terms, not hyper)? <br>
<br>
I also see that the I2 project site at UNM is 404. Does that mean what
I think it does?<br>
<br>
For Clarity , I am not a member nor do I have any financial interest in
either I2 or LMDR.<br>
<br>
</font></small><small><font face="Verdana">For all those on the list
intent on sending and spreading vitriol about me: " Bring it on! I was
raised in Mugabe country." And if you want to debate this and post the
debate on Youtube, let's go.</font></small><br>
<small><font face="Verdana"><br>
</font></small>( : ( : pete<br>
<br>
<div class="moz-signature">
<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; ">
<meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document">
<meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 11">
<meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 11">
<link rel="File-List"
href="Peter%20Baston%20Signature_files/filelist.xml">
<title>Peter Baston</title>
<o:SmartTagType
namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"
name="address">
<o:SmartTagType
namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="Street"><o:SmartTagType
namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="place">
<o:SmartTagType
namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="City"><o:SmartTagType
namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="State">
<o:SmartTagType
namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"
name="PostalCode"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Author>ideapete</o:Author>
<o:LastAuthor>ideapete</o:LastAuthor>
<o:Revision>2</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>3</o:TotalTime>
<o:Created>2007-07-27T22:44:00Z</o:Created>
<o:LastSaved>2007-07-27T22:44:00Z</o:LastSaved>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>42</o:Words>
<o:Characters>241</o:Characters>
<o:Company>IDEAS</o:Company>
<o:Lines>2</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>1</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>282</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>11.8132</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><object
classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id=ieooui></object>
<style>
st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) }
</style>
<![endif]-->
<style>
<!--
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-parent:"";
margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{color:blue;
text-decoration:underline;
text-underline:single;}
a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed
{color:#606420;
text-decoration:underline;
text-underline:single;}
@page Section1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in;
mso-header-margin:.5in;
mso-footer-margin:.5in;
mso-paper-source:0;}
div.Section1
{page:Section1;}
-->
</style><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ansi-language:#0400;
mso-fareast-language:#0400;
mso-bidi-language:#0400;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
</o:SmartTagType></o:SmartTagType></o:SmartTagType></o:SmartTagType></o:SmartTagType></o:SmartTagType>
<div class="Section1">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; color: maroon;">Peter
Baston</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><strong><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; color: maroon;">IDEAS</span></strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; color: maroon;"><a
href="http://www.ideapete.com/"><em><span style="font-family: Arial;">www.ideapete.com</span></em></a></span></p>
<br>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
</div>
</div>
<br>
<br>
Arthur Maccabe wrote:
<blockquote cite="mid:0A29080A-8FCC-4EE4-BA85-11734B384316@unm.edu"
type="cite"><br>
Darkstrand's deal with NRL is that they will maintain part of the
infrastructure and provide an infusion of money to extend NLR's assets
in exchange for being able to sell excess bandwidth to commercial
entities. The partnership makes sense in that the universities that
bought into NLR are not in a position to market the assets and, in wake
of the failed I2 merger, NLR was in need of money for expansion and for
maintenance. The assets that we own are still owned by the members of
NLR.
<br>
<br>
I2 may currently have a better business model than NLR; however, I2's
business model has improved quite bit since the inception of NLR.
Moreover, NLR continues to offer services that I2 cannot offer and,
until recently, I2's governance model was fundamentally broken.
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
On Jun 22, 2008, at 10:41 PM, peter wrote:
<br>
<br>
<blockquote type="cite">Ho boy, now a company is going to charge
companies for using Lamdarail after the same companies spent years
ponying up and raising money to build it.
<br>
<br>
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-thu-darkstrand-fiber-optic-njun05,0,4884560.story">http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-thu-darkstrand-fiber-optic-njun05,0,4884560.story</a>
<br>
<br>
Internet 2 / Abilene was and is a far better business model
<br>
<br>
I haven't seen this sort of chicanery since ATT tried to bury packet
switching and Ethernet
<br>
<br>
Proves my point LMDR was an academic money raising scheme from the
beginning
<br>
<br>
Who's going to be the first brave person to ask LMDR committee "what
they did with all the money ? "
<br>
<br>
I also hear that Level 3 "PASSED" on the deal having a "BETTER" option,
something is seriously wrong here
<br>
<br>
( : ( : pete
<br>
-- <br>
Peter Baston
<br>
IDEAS
<br>
<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="http://www.ideapete.com">www.ideapete.com</a>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
_______________________________________________
<br>
1st-mile-nm mailing list
<br>
<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:1st-mile-nm@mailman.dcn.org">1st-mile-nm@mailman.dcn.org</a>
<br>
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www2.dcn.org/mailman/listinfo/1st-mile-nm">http://www2.dcn.org/mailman/listinfo/1st-mile-nm</a>
<br>
</blockquote>
<br>
</blockquote>
</body>
</html>