BD: Re: SCN: "Free-Nets" in Los Angeles Times

[patrick]

I was unaware of access under $100 in Seattle, besides the 'free'
ones with ads.

And I'm not advocating SCN do it, although if it could get to that
level, it would be great.

IF, and a big IF, SCN were to consider going 'commercial' at a low
cost to users, while still having the free text-based dial-up access,
it would have to decide what infrastructure and fees would be needed.

Paying customers having PPP, would be subsidizing those who can't
afford it at all and have to stick to a text-based dial-up like is
presently available.

I'm sure a pricing structure could be met if SCN were to keep itself
a small shop like Eskimo.com, which is run by one guy out of his
house.

There are many successful online companies that are doing well, even
after the dotcom crash because they are realistic and keep costs
down, not becoming cash flushed beomoths who build the storefront
first and think the customers will come. Many of these companies are
still around because they operate like they did before things went
crazy with the surge of online commerce or internet companies.

As you said, there are companies that are providing low-cost service.
It would be nice if we could list these on our website.

While we are at it, seattlewireless.net looks promising. This would
truly be free service to many who have a wi-fi or Apple AirPort card
in their computers.

Patrick

--- Steve Guest <steveg at scn.org> wrote:
> Patrick
> Agreed - low cost affordable internet access would be great.  In
> fact,in
> the WA area we are lucky we still have a few options for free
> service.
> They are going fast.  The options are NetZero/Juno which have a 10
> hour
> per month free but you must click some ads to stay alive.  Then we
> have
> dotnow, address, massmednet and qualguard offering variations on
> the free
> service theme.  Then finally we have NoCharge which is still here
> in WA
> alive and kicking, but all its other operations seem to have shut
> down for
> one reason or another.  Lastly nopay, who were the other free WA
> ISP, seem
> to have stopped their free service without an announcement.  The
> web site
> is there, but nothing about the access.
> 
> If you want better service we have accesscheap at $60 a year and 17
> others
> at under $100 a year.  The challenge is that we, SCN, should not be
> seen
> to push one service over any other.  Apart from the possible
> liability
> issues, we cannot and must guarentee thrid party connections.
> 
> It depends what you are willing to put up with.  Most of these have
> banner
> or pop ads, no matter what the fee size and structure.
> 
> Steve
> 
> On Fri, 21 Dec 2001, patrick wrote:
> 
> > I think the point I had was low-cost internet service. Affordable
> > internet service.
> >
> > Not that I think SCN should go there. If it did, that would be
> nice,
> > but that would be a long way off anyway.
> >
> > It would be nice if Seattle had a non-profit internet service. In
> the
> > sense that it was paid for by the local community, users, and not
> > developed to make lots of money.
> >
> > Affordable internet service is an issue, not computers. Computers
> aer
> > cheap, free, but service to the internet is not free, nor is it
> > cheap.
> >
> > Unless you go to the library and use it for free.
> >
> > Having internet service for $104 a year would really put it
> within
> > the reach of a lot of people. Currently, at $20 a month, it's a
> bit
> > expensive.
> >
> > Patrick
> <snip>
> 
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