Thirteen-member advocacy group the Global Internet Project (http://www.gip.org/, CI No 3,278) has called for action on problems facing the net’s infrastructure as it continues to grow. Far from representing the interests of internet users, however, the group is tackling the issues they believe prevent them from competing effectively and exercising their God-given right of access to the wallets of consumers. This is not so surprising given the membership list. GIP is an alphabet of multinationals, with AT&T, British Telecom, Deutsche Telekom, EDS, Fujitsu, GTE Internetworking, IBM, MCI, NEC, Netscape, Oracle, Sun and Visa on its books. The Project’s priorities are most evident in the four obstacles it identifies as the most immediate threats to the unlimited expansion of the internet. These are: the failure of software companies to publish open interfaces to all layers of their systems; unreasonable charges being levied for interconnection on the local loop; inadequate provision for backbone interconnection between major data carriers; and inadequate investment in server infrastructure. Of course the implied villains here are Microsoft and the regional Bell operating companies (RBOCs), noted hard bargainers which are conspicuous by their absence from GIP’s otherwise representative membership. Speaking at the World Congress on Information Technology at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia, IBM vice president of internet products John Patrick presented the GIP’s proposed framework for change. The framework demands action on infrastructure, governance, security, privacy, content and commerce. To this end, the GIP has volunteered to host a summit for stakeholders from both the private and the not-for-profit sectors. However since the summit’s stated aim is to exploit opportunities on the internet, it seems likely that content will take a back seat to commerce as the not-for-profits play second string to the deeply serious monetary interests now behind the net.
