ENA UPDATE
by Lisa Kimball


This month the wires have been buzzing with discussions on
almost every network about the FCC's proposed rulemaking on
access fees charged to value added networks by local phone
companies. This discussion has demonstrated a number of things:

- telecommunications policy issues are VERY complex and involve
a large cast of players and interest groups.

- there are significant differences of opinion about which position
is in the best interests of computer networkers and people in
related businesses (and whether these intersts are the same).

- few people feel confident that they have enough hard information
about the consequences of the proposal to be effective in
representing their opinion to policy makers.

ENA members have been active participants in these
discussions. In this issue of NETWEAVER, we are bringing you
articles with several different viewpoints - a newsbriefing
from Resources for Communication, a letter from the President
of Telenet which stands to be affected significantly by any
changes, and excerpts from a discussion led by attorney Sam
Simon who represents a coalition of public interest groups.
Everyone is encouraged to explore this issue and contribute
YOUR ideas about how it should be resolved.

Access fees aren't the only thing networkers are concerned
about these days. The bicentennial of The Constitution is
reminding us that electronic communications technology raises
new questions related to publication and media law. In this
issue, we present a two-part article on implications for
copyright law by a member of the staff of the Congressional
Office of Technology Assessment. We expect this to be the
first of many articles on themes related to how this new media
will change the way we think about writing, publishing, and
broadcasting.

Online systems are only part of this picture. Desktop
publishing not only makes everyone into a publisher - it's
revolutionizing office technology. Our lead article this month
will get *you* started!

Enjoy! And remember - we want to hear about what's going on on
your home network. You are invited to submit articles and
article ideas to the porter who brings you Netweaver!