[ih] IETF as a Pentagon thing

[Dave Crocker]

At 11:43 AM 10/29/2001 -0500, Craig Partridge wrote:
>What was more interesting was that when the NSFNET community needed a
>forum in which to discuss engineering aspects of IP networks, the IETF
>(which, like all Internet task forces at the time was a closed group)
>decided to open its doors to all comers.  That happened sometime in 1987


For what it is worth:

The IETF, itself, was definitely not wide open until 1987.  In 1987, I was 
working for Ungermann-Bass and we were developing a PC card with TCP/IP on 
it.  I asked to attend an IETF meeting and that caused an uproar, since I 
was "commercial".  The only commercial companies in the community, up to 
that point, had an ARPA (or at least US government) contractual 
relationship. Ungermann-Bass did not.

The debate ensued for awhile, until Bob Braden spoke up and pointed out 
that I had been around the community for a long time.  That seemed to stop 
further debate.  However the effect of letting me in was, of course, to let 
any and all other commercial vendors in.

d/


----------
Dave Crocker  <mailto:dcrocker at brandenburg.com>
Brandenburg InternetWorking  <http://www.brandenburg.com>
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