Richard Sexton wrote about public computer networks:
> Prove it.
Here's the discussion of why Usenet was a public network:
>From Chapter 10 "Netizens: On the History and Impact of
Usenet and the Internet" http://www.columbia.edu/~rh120/
-----
Usenet as a Public Computer Users Network
While the ARPANET was subject to the regulations and
policies set by the U.S. Defense Communications Agency (DCA)
during this period, Usenet was considered a public computer users
network. Policies were proposed, and then were subject to
discussion by the Usenet community.
For example, in October, 1981, Horton proposed the following
statement of policy for Usenet:
USENET is a public access network. Any User is allowed to
post to any newsgroup (unless abuses start to be a problem).
All users are to be given access to all newsgroups except
that private newsgroups can be created which are protected.
In particular, all users must have access to the net and fa
newsgroups, and to local public newsgroups such as general
[net.general].
He continued:
"The USENET map is also public at all times, and so any site
which is on USENET is expected to make public the fact that
they are on USENET, their USENET connections (e.g. their sys
file), and the name, address, phone number and electronic
address of the contact for that site for the USENET
directory.(27)
Ronda
