Describes a vision of the NREN (National Research and Education Network) as a set of public interest user organizations existing within the framework of the larger National Information Infrastructure to provide public information services that are the responsibility of government. The role of the private commercial sector is also discussed.…

Introduces an extension of the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) for closed multiparty conferences; the extension expands SIP for discovery of participant identities in a conference, and ensures that each participant is notified before a new participant joins. Verifies this extension by applying it to two SIP conference models. Concludes with an…

In peer-to-peer systems, the lack of dedicated links between constituent computers presents a major challenge. Discusses the problems of distributed database operation with reference to an example. Presents two statistical selection algorithms-one for the intranet with broadcast/multicast facilities, the other for Internet without…

Explains the passing of the information age and discusses its successor and the paradigm for the immediate future; i.e., the communication age. The importance of the communication age to elementary and secondary education is outlined, and the emerging wide-bandwidth Internet technology is discussed. (Author/LRW)

Discusses the development and impact of broadband ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network) on global telecommunications and society. Issues covered include regulatory policies, ownership and control, content regulation, home access, rural versus urban access, pricing, user groups, barriers, and privacy. The need for greater public involvement is…

Describes the proposed Blacksburg Electronic Village project, a prototype community telecommunications network which delivers network services to an entire Virginia town. Possible educational, business and professional, civic, and quality of life uses are suggested. The importance of concentrating on applications and user services instead of…

Users of telecommunications networks are concerned about privacy, and desire anonymous access, while some organizations are concerned about how this anonymous access might be abused. Proposes a solution for revocable anonymous access to the Internet. Presents some legal background and motivation for such a solution. Indicates some difficulties and…

Examines the relationship between a society's communication technology and Marshall McLuhan's concerns for human cognition, and between the technology and the ways that humans organize their societies. It is suggested that appropriate development of global electronic networks could have a positive effect on individual and organizational abilities…

Discusses the importance of developing a national communications and information infrastructure to meet short-term needs. The Electronic Frontier Foundation's Open Platform Proposal, based on ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network) is described, and recommendations for public policy criteria for evaluating infrastructure proposals are included.…

Explains the need for quality educational technology in elementary and secondary schools, describes the potential that telecommunications network technology holds for revitalizing American education, and outlines major federal programs that provide policy guidance and funding assistance relating to the National Information Infrastructure. A list…

Discusses prototype information infrastructure projects in northern California's Silicon Valley. The strategies of the public and private telecommunications carriers vying for backbone services and industries developing end-user infrastructure technologies via office networks, set-top box networks, Internet multimedia, and "smart homes"…