🚀 go-pugleaf

Gentle Usenet Reader:

Well, our club of prospective members has grown to 28 users currently on the
Internet from 15 last week.  There are also 4 users at remote sites who have
provided valuable feedback and have been included on an information only mail
list.  If the current trend of doubling response continues in this coming week,
the next mailing will be suggesting a tentative date for the first meeting!  We
are considering getting an article about the Co-op #1 into "Toronto Computes"
to get the word out to people who don't check the newsgroups.

Please help to spread the word to people who don't have Internet access but
have expressed an interest in the Information Superhighway.  Feel free to
post this file on BBS's or e-mail them to other friends on the Internet
who might be interested in becoming members.

          Art Stretton (PEO Internet Consultant)
     and  Rocco Racioppo (PEO Chapter Liaison)

-----------------------------  8<  cut here  8<  ------------------------------
-----------------------------  8<  for CO-OP.6  8<  ---------------------------
DISCLAIMER: This proposal is the sole responsibility of the authors
     Rocco Racioppo, P.Eng. and Art Stretton, Ph.D. at peo@ecf.utoronto.ca
     The PEO has not yet provided its official endorsement of this concept.

*******************************************************************************
*                                                                             *
* PROPOSAL FOR NEW KIND OF ACCESS TO INTERNET IN 416/905 AREA (METRO TORONTO) *
* FORMING A GROUP OF PRIVATE CITIZENS IN A CO-OPERATIVE INTERNET VENTURE      *
*                                                                             *
*******************************************************************************

WHO:   Anyone who wants potentially *limitless* access to the Internet and is
       fed up with paying too much for too little service.  Anyone who wants
       the prestige of a personal Internet mail address for under C$10/month.

WHAT:  A cost effective *PRIVATE* non-profit collective to own the hardware
       (say 64+MB RAM, 40+GB Storage) and the software for SLIP access to the
       Internet.  Membership to be limited to the first 1500 founding members.

WHERE: Location in Toronto to be determined based on minimizing total cost,
       primarily operating costs such as high speed communications.

WHEN:  Up and running by the end of the year 1994.  First meeting in August?

WHY:   Frustrations with incomplete USENet access; existing systems loaded
       to point of futility; systems like Freenets and employer networks with
       no personal resources available; lack of privacy from superuser(s),
       Internet addicts who want full access from anywhere as good as at work.
       Busy signals? How does a 28.8kB modem for every 15 members sound?
       Overbilled? Preliminary costing shows $10/month instead of $5/hour.

HOW:   A meeting will be set up when the response tally reaches 200 e-mail
       replies from individuals ready to put a maximum of $300 into the
       collective fund ... more members = less expenses.  Monthly operating
       expenses should not exceed $10/month.  Meeting site probably to be
       located at a central site like U of T.

MAIL:  peo@ecf.utoronto.ca  (Professional Engineers of Ontario)
       Art Stretton         (PEO Internet Consultant)
       Rocco Racioppo       (PEO Chapter Liaison)

       Send us your name and postal address if you want more information:
         FAQ.6    - Frequently Asked Questions about Internet Co-op #1
         BUDGET.4 - Capital and Operating Expense Estimate
         BYLAWS.4 - Proposed By-Laws for Internet Co-op #1
         ACCESS.1 - Listing of Service and Fees by Toronto Internet Suppliers

FOLLOWUP:  The tally on responses will be posted weekly in can.infohighway..
           Depending on the number of responses and amount of mail received,
           a timely response to individual queries cannot be guaranteed, but,
           all official responses will be sent feedback once they are received.

NOTE:  Please feel free to spread the word to friends and co-workers not
       currently on the Internet, particularly Professional Engineers.
       Training on using the Internet and how to find files will be available.

DISCLAIMER: This proposal is the sole responsibility of the authors
(again)         Rocco Racioppo, P.Eng. and Art Stretton, Ph.D.
       The PEO has not yet provided its official endorsement of this concept.
-----------------------------  8<  end of file  8<  ---------------------------
---------------------------  8<  end of message  8<  --------------------------
-- 
Rocco Racioppo, P.Eng. 
PEO - Professional Engineers Ontario
1155 Yonge Street, Toronto, Ontario M4T 2Y5
Tel. 416 961 1288 ext 369 - Fax 416 961 1499