Some comments on the Info-Topics

[Jonathan Stanton <jonathan@blaze.cs.jhu.edu>]

	First, I see a few problems with several of the topics which have 
been proposed so far which I would like to point out.  One is that 
several of the resolutions have been very small-for example a resolution 
that says the Feds should restrict content of Internet traffic, or a 
comparison of content restrictions with the First Amendment.  Although I 
find this an interesting area of discussion it is only "ONE" area of 
discussion in a very broad topic area, and as a resolution I think it 
would be lacking in really different cases to run.( unless it was to 
degenerate into picking a specific site/message and claiming it should 
have been censored which I think we would all find boring.)  A second 
example is William Rand's suggestions of promoting development of AI or 
VR tech.  I find theses VERY interresting areas, but I think they should 
be cases within a resolution not the entire resolution.

	Second, there are several topics proposed which are not really 
contraversial.
	Third, I agree with the person(sorry I forgot your name) who said 
"regulation" topics are both standard wording and boring and not great 
topics.  I think this is important because many regulation resolutions 
will just turn into Gov regs bad/good and will ignore the Comm-network 
issues which are much more current and interesting.
	Finally, I would like to remind everyone, that as a CS grad 
student and someone who has (I hope) a clue about modern networks and 
computerized communication, that these issues and fields are NOT as deep 
and old as most of the issues we debate.  Military and political police 
has been around for thousands of years and in modern forms for over 80, 
Environmental issues have been around at least since the late 60's early 
70's which is 35 years.  35 years ago computers filled entire rooms, used 
punch-cards and had less processing power then most hand held calculators, 
and networks didn't exist.  I encourage everyone to be careful about 
wording and look at how broad words really are, for most single concepts 
have only a few years of thought put into them and so with the amount of 
research debaters do will be quickly exhausted.  So try to pick 
fundmental, but broad areas of contraversy for resolutions.

	Now, enough commentary.  Here are a few of my suggestions for 
those who have read this far.
(Caveat, the exact wording of these has not been given a lot of thought, 
these are a more a list of important issues and ideas then final resolutions)

Resolved: that the Federal government should guarantee equitable access 
to communication networks.
--This might not just be the internet, but also phone networks, cellular, 
satellite, cable.  Because all of these are becoming integrated today.

Resolved: that communication networks should be internationalized.
--This is a different sort of policy resolution, give it some thought.  
the idea here is that the Internet is somewhat international, should we 
look for global solutions to communication or allow a fractionalized 
nationalized policy framework like we have today.

Resolved: that the Federal government should reform telecommunication 
laws to increase competition.
--Or any of many variants.   The important issue is that current changes 
being discussed NOW on capital hill WILL determine the future of computer 
networks, phones, and a large portion of our entertainment industry and 
economy by changing these laws.

Resolved: that the federal government should deregulate cryptographic 
technology.
--you can change deregulate to change, or standardize or some other verb, 
but there are many issues involved in cryptography such as import/export 
liscense, international competition, privacy, etc.

Resolved: that the Federal Government should encourage use of 
communication networks for political purposes.
--This includes use of the internet for NGO's independent parties, direct 
democracy, political info made available on the net, etc.

Hope this all helped.  Hope to see some of you soon, I'm entering 
withdrawal...

Jonathan Stanton
CS grad at Johns Hopkins
ex Cornell University
sometimes assistant to Towson State

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