At 1:01 AM 5/20/96 -0400, E. ALLEN SMITH wrote:

From: IN%"frantz@netcom.com" 17-MAY-1996 15:56:36.35

...

Perhaps what is needed is a non-profit, charitable 501c foundation to encourage anonymous communication. Those who support the idea could make tax deductible contributions which would be used for grants, public education etc. etc. to encourage anonymous communication. It could be called, "The Federalist Foundation" because the Federalist Papers were published anonymously.

Hmm... I wonder if it would be good for this Foundation to itself operate some for-pay remailers, in order to make some money from sources besides contributions? Possible disadvantages: A. It could get sued, and thus lose funds B. If its prices were set too low, it could wind up driving other remailers out of the market (combination of low price with likelihood to still be there), and thus become a vulnerable point.

In general, I think this foundation should limit itself to: (1) Supporting the creation of techniques for anonymous communication (e.g remailers, nym servers etc.) This could include grants for theoretical work and grants for the production of out-of-the-box public domain systems. (2) Public education on the need and value of anonymous communication. (3) Demonstration projects to help create a market where none exists. Whenever there is a market, the foundation, like governments, should not participate as a competitor. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Bill Frantz | The CDA means | Periwinkle -- Computer Consulting (408)356-8506 | lost jobs and | 16345 Englewood Ave. frantz@netcom.com | dead teenagers | Los Gatos, CA 95032, USA