Date: Sat, 26 June 1993 11:12:19 CDT From: CuD Moderators Subject: File 1--Squelching the Rumor of the CuD ftp Sites We have received a number of queries in the past few days regarding the future of the /cud directory and files on the CuD ftp site at ftp.eff.org. The rumors focused on three basic "facts:" 1) The EFF has removed all PHRACKS because of complaints from teleco and other corporations; 2) The /pub/cud directory will be removed because it does not coincide with the EFF mandate; 3) The EFF continues to sell out by distancing itself from its original constituency. These RUMORS are FALSE! HERE ARE THE FACTS: 1) PHRACK will be removed for economic reasons. Mitch Kapor explains the drain on EFF's limited resources in the following post, but the bottom line is that the EFF pays $1,000 a month to make it available to the public. 2) The /pub/cud directory *WILL NOT* be removed. We try to place research articles, theses/dissertations, and other material there as we obtain them, and the E-'Zines and other documents provide an excellent resource for scholars, journalists, and students. 3) The EFF has not sold out. As soon as the rumors began flying in, John Perry Barlow and Mitch Kapor immediately wrote, expressing considerable concern over the unfounded rumors. Both recognize the value of the CuD and Comp-Academic-Freedom archives on the eff.org system, and providing public access to documents not readily available elsewhere is a continuation of the EFF goal of making on-line information available to the public. Removing PHRACKS is not a decision they made lightly, but reducing the costs by removing one 'Zine readily available elsewhere (it is our understanding the the CuD shadow sites will continue to carry them) simply assures that other, less-available documents will continue to be provided. There are a few points to keep in mind on this issue: 1) The EFF is under no obligation to provide an ftp site for CuD. They do it because they feel it provides a number of different points of view on cyberspace issues. As Mitch points out below, the files in the /pub/cud directory impose a significant usage burden on the site and this burden is not free. In a sense, the EFF is paying to provide net-folk with a service that is unavailable elsewhere. Perhaps we have all been taking EFF's donation of its system for public ftp services for granted. While not a highly visible activity, it nonetheless remains a critically important one. Now is the time to thank them for their generosity. The CuD editors receive numerous compliments from those who have found the files in the cud/pub directory useful. It is EFF, as well as the shadow sites (and, of course, the Brendan Kehoe and the other archmeisters listed in the CuD masthead) who deserve the credit. The generosity of those who provide the space and those who fill it and keep it well-maintained make the nets a friendlier and more productive space. We also appreciate the support of those who wrote expressing support in case the rumors were true. All of us, from Mitch and John to the archmeisters and CuD editors are involved in enhancing information flow out of a sense of voluntaristic service, and the occasional expressions of support are about the only compensation we receive. We can more tangibly support the archives by supporting EFF. The most obvious way to support them is to join at the relatively low cost of $20 a year for students or low income, or $40 for regular membership. In addition to the EFF newsletter, EFF members occasionally receive "surprises," such as the first issue of Wired and other goodies. Joining is one way of thanking them for offering their system for an extensive ftp archive for a growing body of documents. So, if you use the ftp site, consider sending a few bucks. Whether you agree with all of their policies or not, we're certain that there is little disagreement that it's not fair that they provide us all with a valuable service while we simply leech from it. You can send your sub to: Electronic Frontier Foundation 1001 G Street, N.W. Suite 950 East Washington, DC 20001 202/347-5400 voice 202/393-5509 fax EFF's e-mail address is: eff@eff.org Downloaded From P-80 International Information Systems 304-744-2253