/LMAR=0/XLINE=3/FONT#0=BAXL30/FONT#1=BAXM30/FONT#2=BASB30/FONT#3=SUB/FONT#4=SUP/FONT#5=BASL35/FONT#6=NGR25/FONT#7=MATH30/FONT#8=FIX25/FONT#9=GRKB30



␈↓ α∧␈↓α␈↓ ¬.Comments on Licklider's paper.

␈↓ α∧␈↓␈↓ αTLicklider␈α⊂is␈α⊂right␈α⊂that␈α⊂the␈α⊂new␈α⊂technologies␈α⊂of␈α⊂computers,␈α⊂communication␈α⊂and␈α∂databases
␈↓ α∧␈↓provide␈αgreat␈αopportunities␈αto␈αimprove␈αgovernment␈αand␈αits␈αinteraction␈αwith␈αother␈αinstitutions␈αand
␈↓ α∧␈↓with␈α↔individuals.␈α⊗ His␈α↔proposed␈α⊗vehicle␈α↔is␈α⊗a␈α↔government␈α⊗organized␈α↔␈↓↓"Multinet"␈↓␈α⊗combining
␈↓ α∧␈↓communication,␈αdata␈αbases,␈α
transaction␈αmonitoring,␈αand␈α
computation.␈α Unfortunately,␈αthe␈α
␈↓↓Multinet␈↓
␈↓ α∧␈↓idea␈α∞misses␈α
major␈α∞opportunities␈α∞to␈α
benefit␈α∞citizens␈α
that␈α∞can␈α∞be␈α
implemented␈α∞much␈α∞more␈α
quickly
␈↓ α∧␈↓than␈α∞␈↓↓Multinet␈↓,␈α
and␈α∞the␈α
proposals␈α∞overemphasize␈α
government,␈α∞require␈α
co-ordination␈α∞of␈α
activities
␈↓ α∧␈↓that␈α∂can␈α∂better␈α∂be␈α∂developed␈α∂separately,␈α∂create␈α∂unnecessary␈α∂and␈α∂harmful␈α∂monopolies,␈α∂and␈α∞stifle
␈↓ α∧␈↓individual and business initiative.  I also disagree with some of its technological judgments.

␈↓ α∧␈↓␈↓ αTLicklider␈αseems␈α
to␈αenvisage␈αgovernment␈α
as␈αembodying␈αthe␈α
collective␈αwisdom␈αof␈α
society␈αand
␈↓ α∧␈↓setting␈αup␈αinstitutions␈αand␈αlaws␈αthat␈αonce␈α␈↓↓"cast␈αinto␈αboth␈αlegislation␈αand␈αsoftware,␈α...␈αmay␈αcome␈αto
␈↓ α∧␈↓↓be␈αregarded␈αthe␈α
same␈αway␈αas␈α
physical␈αlaws␈αare␈α
regarded␈αnow:␈αirresistable,␈α
inviolable,␈αinescapable,
␈↓ α∧␈↓↓part␈α
of␈α
nature,␈α
invariably␈αenforced,␈α
not␈α
the␈α
kind␈αof␈α
thing␈α
one␈α
complains␈αabout"␈↓.␈α
 For␈α
good␈α
or␈αill,
␈↓ α∧␈↓government␈α∂plays␈α∂quite␈α∞a␈α∂different␈α∂role␈α∂in␈α∞every␈α∂society␈α∂in␈α∂the␈α∞world.␈α∂ Influencing␈α∂law␈α∂and␈α∞its
␈↓ α∧␈↓interpretation␈α∞is␈α∂a␈α∞major␈α∞means␈α∂of␈α∞struggle␈α∂for␈α∞group␈α∞advantage␈α∂and␈α∞individual␈α∂wealth,␈α∞power
␈↓ α∧␈↓and␈α
prestige.␈α
 Therefore,␈αgovernment␈α
law␈α
is␈αunlikely␈α
to␈α
resemble␈αnatural␈α
law␈α
in␈α
impartiality␈αand
␈↓ α∧␈↓constancy in the forseeable future.

␈↓ α∧␈↓␈↓ αTA␈α∞consumer␈α∞is␈α∞better␈α∞served␈α∞when␈α∞manufacturers␈α∞compete␈α∞for␈α∞his␈α∞dollar␈α∞than␈α∞when␈α∞their
␈↓ α∧␈↓lawyers␈α
compete␈α
for␈α
the␈α
favor␈α
of␈α
Congressmen,␈α
regulators,␈α
or␈α
judges␈α
trying␈α
to␈α
act␈α
on␈α
his␈α
behalf.
␈↓ α∧␈↓Unfortunately,␈αsome␈αservices␈αare␈αnatural␈αmonopolies␈αand␈αrequire␈αregulation.␈α When␈αa␈αcomplex␈αof
␈↓ α∧␈↓new␈α
technologies␈αbecomes␈α
available,␈α
it␈αis␈α
important␈αto␈α
distinguish␈α
what␈αare␈α
the␈αnatural␈α
monopolies
␈↓ α∧␈↓and what can be provided by competing servers.  The ␈↓↓Multinet␈↓ proposal them all together.

␈↓ α∧␈↓␈↓ αTThus␈α⊃communication␈α∩of␈α⊃raw␈α∩information␈α⊃may␈α∩remain␈α⊃a␈α∩natural␈α⊃monopoly,␈α∩but␈α⊃devices
␈↓ α∧␈↓connected␈α∞to␈α∞the␈α∞communication␈α
network␈α∞are␈α∞not.␈α∞ The␈α
operation␈α∞of␈α∞particular␈α∞public␈α
databases
␈↓ α∧␈↓such␈α∂as␈α∂a␈α∂national␈α∂library,␈α∂the␈α∂airline␈α∂guide␈α∂or␈α∂a␈α∂national␈α∂telephone␈α∂directory␈α∂seem␈α∂to␈α∂be␈α∂new
␈↓ α∧␈↓natural␈α
monopolies,␈αalthough␈α
different␈αdatabases␈α
can␈αhave␈α
different␈αproprietors,␈α
and␈α
methods␈αof
␈↓ α∧␈↓accessing␈αthe␈α
database␈αcan␈α
sometimes␈αcompete.␈α
 Computation␈αservices␈α
and␈αmuch␈α
so-called␈αvalue-
␈↓ α∧␈↓added communication are not natural monopolies.

␈↓ α∧␈↓␈↓ αTHere are some detailed comments:

␈↓ α∧␈↓␈↓ αT1.␈α∂The␈α⊂stated␈α∂assumption␈α∂about␈α⊂programation␈α∂that␈α⊂␈↓↓"unless␈α∂it␈α∂is␈α⊂wisely␈α∂planned␈α⊂and␈α∂well
␈↓ α∧␈↓↓executed,␈αit␈αwill␈αbe␈α
disastrous␈αin␈αthe␈αlong␈α
run"␈↓␈αis␈αunsupported␈αby␈α
any␈αexample␈αof␈αwhat␈αbad␈α
things
␈↓ α∧␈↓will␈α⊂happen␈α⊂if␈α⊂data-processing␈α⊂and␈α⊂communication␈α⊂continue␈α⊂unplanned.␈α⊂ To␈α⊂be␈α⊂a␈α⊂bit␈α⊂rude,␈α∂it
␈↓ α∧␈↓sounds␈α∂like␈α∂self-serving␈α∂nonsense␈α∂on␈α∂behalf␈α⊂of␈α∂the␈α∂"public␈α∂policy␈α∂community"␈α∂and␈α⊂people␈α∂who
␈↓ α∧␈↓want␈αthe␈α
authority␈αto␈α
regulate.␈α Certainly␈α
Licklider's␈α␈↓↓Scenario␈α
1␈↓␈αcan't␈α
be␈αcalled␈α
a␈αdisaster.␈α
 It␈αjust
␈↓ α∧␈↓depicts␈α∩some␈α∩opportunities␈α∩missed␈α∩if␈α∩the␈α∩government␈α∩doesn't␈α∩take␈α∩them.␈α∩ Since␈α⊃co-ordination
␈↓ α∧␈↓requires␈αthe␈α
authority␈αto␈αforbid␈α
independent␈αinitiative␈α
in␈αthe␈αarea␈α
to␈αbe␈α
co-ordinated,␈αstatements
␈↓ α∧␈↓that co-ordination is required must be very well justified.

␈↓ α∧␈↓␈↓ αTI␈α
suppose␈α
the␈α
statement,␈α
␈↓↓"recognizing␈αthe␈α
potential␈α
significance␈α
of␈α
computer␈αcommunication,
␈↓ α∧␈↓↓the␈α∂government␈α∂organizes␈α∂all␈α∂the␈α∂capabilities␈α⊂of␈α∂the␈α∂society␈α∂to␈α∂develop␈α∂and␈α∂exploit␈α⊂networking␈α∂in
␈↓ α∧␈↓↓socially␈αas␈α
well␈αas␈α
economically␈αproductive␈α
dimensions"␈↓␈αis␈α
not␈αintended␈α
to␈αbe␈α
taken␈αliterally.␈α
 No-one


␈↓ α∧␈↓␈↓ ε|1␈↓ ∧



␈↓ α∧␈↓has␈αshown␈αthat␈αnetworking␈αhas␈αpotentials␈αjustifying␈αgovernment␈αpowers␈αthat␈αwere␈αhardly␈αasserted
␈↓ α∧␈↓even␈αduring␈αWorld␈αWar␈αII.␈α Licklider␈αshould␈αsay␈αprecisely␈αwhat␈αpowers␈αhe␈αwants␈αthe␈αgovernment
␈↓ α∧␈↓to have, making explicit the cost to society of giving the goverment such power.

␈↓ α∧␈↓␈↓ αT2.␈α
We␈α
have␈αin␈α
Scenario␈α
2,␈α
␈↓↓"The␈αMultinet␈α
has␈α
supplanted␈α
the␈αpostal␈α
system␈α
for␈α
letters,␈αthe
␈↓ α∧␈↓↓dial␈αtelephone␈α
system␈αfor␈α
conversations␈αand␈α
teleconferences,␈αstand-alone␈α
batch␈αprocessing␈αand␈α
time-
␈↓ α∧␈↓↓sharing␈α
systems␈α
for␈α
computation,␈α
and␈αmost␈α
filing␈α
cabinets,␈α
microfilm␈α
repositories,␈αdocument␈α
rooms,
␈↓ α∧␈↓↓and␈αlibraries␈αfor␈αinformation␈αstorage␈αand␈αretrieval"␈↓.␈α Some␈αactivities,␈αlike␈αtelephone␈α
communication,
␈↓ α∧␈↓are␈α⊃natural␈α⊃monopolies,␈α⊃and␈α⊃others,␈α⊃like␈α⊃providing␈α⊃computation␈α⊃services,␈α⊃are␈α⊃not.␈α⊃ Experience
␈↓ α∧␈↓seems␈α∂to␈α∂show␈α∂that␈α⊂when␈α∂an␈α∂activity␈α∂is␈α⊂a␈α∂natural␈α∂monopoly,␈α∂it␈α⊂is␈α∂better␈α∂operated␈α∂as␈α⊂a␈α∂private
␈↓ α∧␈↓monopoly␈αregulated␈αby␈αthe␈αgovernment.␈α Government␈αmonopoly␈αis␈αworse␈αand␈αso␈αis␈α
a␈αgovernment
␈↓ α∧␈↓regulated␈αcartel␈α(like␈αthe␈αairlines␈αor␈αinterstate␈α
commerce).␈α The␈αreason␈αwhy␈αthe␈αlatter␈αtwo␈αwork␈α
out
␈↓ α∧␈↓badly is again political struggle for advantage rewarding the best lawyers and the best politicians.

␈↓ α∧␈↓␈↓ αTSeveral␈α∂recent␈α⊂events␈α∂raise␈α⊂fears␈α∂of␈α⊂the␈α∂cartelization␈α⊂of␈α∂computation␈α⊂and␈α∂communication.
␈↓ α∧␈↓First,␈α⊂At&T␈α⊂turned␈α⊂over␈α⊂the␈α⊂␈↓↓Teletype␈↓␈α⊃network␈α⊂to␈α⊂Western␈α⊂Union␈α⊂and␈α⊂agreed␈α⊂not␈α⊃to␈α⊂compete.
␈↓ α∧␈↓Second,␈αIBM␈αsettled␈αthe␈αCDC␈αanti-trust␈αsuit␈αby␈αby␈αgiving␈αCDC␈αthe␈αService␈αBureau␈αCorporation
␈↓ α∧␈↓and␈α∞agreeing␈α∞not␈α∞to␈α
compete␈α∞in␈α∞the␈α∞area.␈α∞ Third,␈α
the␈α∞Government's␈α∞anti-trust␈α∞suit␈α∞against␈α
IBM
␈↓ α∧␈↓may␈α∪result␈α∩in␈α∪a␈α∩non-competitive␈α∪division␈α∪of␈α∩the␈α∪computer␈α∩business.␈α∪ Fourth,␈α∪the␈α∩specialized
␈↓ α∧␈↓communication␈α
carriers␈α
are␈α
trying␈α
to␈α
persuade␈α
the␈α
government␈α
to␈α
protect␈α
them␈α
from␈α
competition
␈↓ α∧␈↓by␈α∞regulating␈α∞the␈α∞services␈α∞AT&T␈α∞and␈α∞others␈α∞may␈α
offer.␈α∞ Worse␈α∞than␈α∞all␈α∞the␈α∞above␈α∞was␈α∞a␈α
␈↓↓New
␈↓ α∧␈↓↓York␈αTimes␈↓␈αeditorial␈α
proposing␈αto␈αgive␈αelectronic␈α
mail␈αto␈αthe␈αPostal␈α
Service.␈α Electronic␈αmail␈αis␈α
not
␈↓ α∧␈↓a␈α
natural␈α
monopoly␈αat␈α
all,␈α
because␈αa␈α
mail␈α
terminal␈α
is␈αan␈α
ordinary␈α
product.␈α A␈α
terminal␈α
that␈αdials␈α
a
␈↓ α∧␈↓recipient's␈αsimilar␈αterminal␈αcan␈αbe␈αmarketed␈αtoday␈αat␈αless␈αthan␈α$1000,␈αthe␈αcost␈αof␈αa␈αlocal␈αtelephone
␈↓ α∧␈↓call␈α
is␈α
already␈α
less␈α
than␈α
that␈α
of␈α
a␈α
stamp,␈αand␈α
the␈α
cost␈α
of␈α
a␈α
coast-to-coast␈α
call␈α
after␈α
11pm␈α
is␈α21␈α
cents.
␈↓ α∧␈↓If␈αthe␈αPostal␈αService␈αachieves␈αits␈αgoal␈αof␈αa␈α35␈αcent␈αcharge␈αby␈α1985␈αfor␈αa␈αfirst␈αclass␈αletter,␈αthey␈αwill
␈↓ α∧␈↓be␈α∩wiped␈α∩out␈α∩by␈α∩$500␈α∩terminals.␈α∪ Of␈α∩course,␈α∩through␈α∩the␈α∩wonders␈α∩of␈α∪government␈α∩planning,
␈↓ α∧␈↓individuals␈α⊂may␈α⊂be␈α⊂forbidden␈α⊂to␈α⊂communicate␈α∂in␈α⊂this␈α⊂way.␈α⊂ Moreover,␈α⊂electronic␈α⊂mail␈α⊂is␈α∂most
␈↓ α∧␈↓useful␈α⊃in␈α⊂connection␈α⊃with␈α⊂other␈α⊃services␈α⊂performed␈α⊃by␈α⊂the␈α⊃same␈α⊂computer,␈α⊃and␈α⊃these␈α⊂services
␈↓ α∧␈↓depend on the particular circumstances of the individual or organization.

␈↓ α∧␈↓␈↓ αTThe␈α∂article␈α∞suggests␈α∂that␈α∂home␈α∞computers␈α∂require␈α∂government␈α∞"fostering".␈α∂ Notice␈α∂that␈α∞as
␈↓ α∧␈↓soon␈α⊂as␈α⊂cheap␈α⊂microprocessors␈α⊂made␈α⊂it␈α⊂possible,␈α⊂a␈α⊂private␈α⊂home␈α⊂computer␈α⊂industry␈α⊂arose␈α∂that
␈↓ α∧␈↓offers␈α
dozens␈α
of␈αproducts␈α
through␈α
hundreds␈α
of␈αstores␈α
and␈α
supports␈α
more␈αthan␈α
five␈α
magazines␈α-␈α
all
␈↓ α∧␈↓before Government even contemplated fostering it.

␈↓ α∧␈↓␈↓ αT3.␈α
The␈αarticle␈α
shares␈αthe␈α
common␈αsystem␈α
programmer's␈αself-important␈α
obsession␈αwith␈α
secrecy
␈↓ α∧␈↓and␈α∞privacy␈α∂and␈α∞exaggerates␈α∂the␈α∞possibilities␈α∞for␈α∂crime␈α∞and␈α∂other␈α∞misbehavior␈α∂that␈α∞inadequate
␈↓ α∧␈↓secrecy␈αcreates.␈α It␈αalso␈αputs␈αthe␈αemphasis␈αon␈αpreventing␈αmore␈αand␈αmore␈αtenuous␈αevils␈αrather␈αthan
␈↓ α∧␈↓on␈α∩how␈α∩to␈α∩do␈α∩positive␈α∩good.␈α∪ Thus␈α∩the␈α∩Multics␈α∩effort␈α∩produced␈α∩a␈α∪non-cost-effective␈α∩system
␈↓ α∧␈↓because of its obsession with security.

␈↓ α∧␈↓␈↓ αT4.␈α∪Packet␈α∪switching␈α∪is␈α∩a␈α∪worthwhile␈α∪technology,␈α∪and␈α∩ARPA␈α∪deserves␈α∪much␈α∪credit␈α∩for
␈↓ α∧␈↓developing␈α
it,␈α∞but␈α
ARPA's␈α∞natural␈α
tendency␈α∞to␈α
overestimate␈α∞what␈α
it␈α∞has␈α
sponsored␈α∞has␈α
led␈α∞to␈α
a
␈↓ α∧␈↓neglect␈αof␈αpossibilities␈αfor␈αusing␈αthe␈αalready␈αubiquitous␈αdial␈αnetwork.␈α Elsewhere␈αI␈αhave␈αproposed
␈↓ α∧␈↓that␈α
much␈α∞useful␈α
computer-computer␈α∞communication,␈α
including␈α
messages,␈α∞file␈α
transfer␈α∞and␈α
login
␈↓ α∧␈↓capabilities␈αof␈αARPAnet␈αcan␈αbe␈αachieved␈αfor␈α
a␈αfew␈αthousand␈αdollars␈αcapital␈αcost␈αif␈αARPAnet␈α
like
␈↓ α∧␈↓protocols for using a telephone dialer are developed.  This proposal is called ␈↓↓Dialnet␈↓.

␈↓ α∧␈↓␈↓ ε|2␈↓ ∧



␈↓ α∧␈↓␈↓ αT5.␈α∞The␈α
greatest␈α∞opportunities␈α
for␈α∞improvement␈α∞in␈α
government␈α∞that␈α
computers␈α∞permit␈α∞is␈α
to
␈↓ α∧␈↓make government more accessible to citizens.  Here are some proposals:

␈↓ α∧␈↓␈↓ β$5.1.␈α
Every␈αgovernment␈α
document␈αthat␈α
is␈α
required␈αby␈α
the␈α␈↓↓Freedom␈α
of␈α
Information␈αAct␈↓
␈↓ α∧␈↓to␈α∂be␈α∞publically␈α∂accessible␈α∞should␈α∂be␈α∞kept␈α∂in␈α∞computer␈α∂files␈α∞accessible␈α∂nationwide␈α∂by␈α∞telephone.
␈↓ α∧␈↓This␈α⊃includes␈α⊃the␈α⊃Federal␈α⊃Register,␈α⊃the␈α⊃Congressional␈α⊃Record,␈α⊃the␈α⊃files␈α⊃on␈α⊃the␈α⊃status␈α⊃of␈α⊂bills
␈↓ α∧␈↓(already␈α
kept␈α
by␈α∞Congress␈α
for␈α
its␈α
own␈α∞use␈α
in␈α
computers),␈α
court␈α∞decisions␈α
and␈α
the␈α
status␈α∞of␈α
court
␈↓ α∧␈↓cases,␈α∂environmental␈α∂impact␈α∂statements,␈α∂and␈α∞other␈α∂rationalizations␈α∂of␈α∂government␈α∂decisions␈α∞and
␈↓ α∧␈↓regulations.␈α∀ ␈↓αImplementation␈α∃of␈α∀this␈α∃should␈α∀begin␈α∀right␈α∃away,␈↓␈α∀because␈α∃organizations␈α∀and
␈↓ α∧␈↓individuals␈αcan␈αacquire␈αcomputer␈αterminals␈αmuch␈αfaster␈αthan␈αthe␈αGovernment␈αcan␈αcreate␈αthe␈α
data
␈↓ α∧␈↓bases.

␈↓ α∧␈↓␈↓ β$5.2.␈α⊂Licklider␈α⊂proposes␈α∂to␈α⊂improve␈α⊂the␈α∂Government's␈α⊂ability␈α⊂to␈α⊂extract␈α∂information
␈↓ α∧␈↓from␈α∞businesses␈α∞and␈α∞individuals␈α∞by␈α∞putting␈α∞monitoring␈α∞functions␈α∞in␈α∞␈↓↓Multinet␈↓.␈α∞ I␈α∞think␈α∞this␈α∞has
␈↓ α∧␈↓great␈α≠beneficial␈α≠possibilities␈α≠provided␈α≤the␈α≠information␈α≠is␈α≠not␈α≠abused,␈α≤and␈α≠burdensome
␈↓ α∧␈↓requirements␈α∞of␈α∞keeping␈α∞information␈α∞in␈α∞the␈α
government's␈α∞preferred␈α∞form␈α∞are␈α∞not␈α∞imposed.␈α
 But
␈↓ α∧␈↓how␈α∃about␈α∀not␈α∃allowing␈α∀the␈α∃Government␈α∀to␈α∃require␈α∀an␈α∃individual␈α∀or␈α∃business␈α∃to␈α∀furnish
␈↓ α∧␈↓information the Government already has in its files?

␈↓ α∧␈↓␈↓ β$5.3.␈α
A␈αmuch␈α
greater␈α
long␈αrange␈α
opportunity␈αis␈α
much␈α
harder␈αto␈α
realize.␈α
 Every␈αpolicy
␈↓ α∧␈↓generating␈α∀and␈α∀regulation␈α∪generating␈α∀organization␈α∀should␈α∪keep␈α∀active␈α∀a␈α∀question␈α∪answering
␈↓ α∧␈↓program␈α∂about␈α∞the␈α∂content␈α∞and␈α∂rationale␈α∂of␈α∞its␈α∂policies.␈α∞ The␈α∂object␈α∞is␈α∂to␈α∂answer␈α∞automatically
␈↓ α∧␈↓those␈αquestions␈αthat␈αcan␈αbe␈αso␈αanswered␈α
automatically␈αand␈αtherefore␈αmake␈αthe␈αpolicy␈αmakers␈α
more
␈↓ α∧␈↓accessible␈αto␈α
people␈αwith␈αquestions␈α
that␈αcan't.␈α Each␈α
person␈αresponsible␈αfor␈α
policies␈αshould␈αspend␈α
a
␈↓ α∧␈↓few␈αpercent␈αof␈αhis␈αtime␈αdealing␈αwith␈αthe␈αquestions␈αnot␈αanswered␈αautomatically.␈α ␈↓↓The␈αultimate␈αgoal
␈↓ α∧␈↓↓would␈α
be␈α
that␈α
a␈α
person␈α
confronted␈α
with␈α
a␈α
regulation␈α
whose␈α
application␈α
is␈α
unjust␈α
in␈α
his␈α
particular
␈↓ α∧␈↓↓case␈α∂should␈α∂always␈α∂be␈α∂able␈α∂to␈α∂reach␈α∂a␈α∞person␈α∂with␈α∂the␈α∂authority␈α∂to␈α∂make␈α∂an␈α∂exception.␈↓␈α∂The␈α∞full
␈↓ α∧␈↓achievement of this goal will require major advances in artificial intelligence.





















␈↓ α∧␈↓␈↓ ε|3␈↓ ∧