Connectivity Providers Database

From: Olivier MJ Crepin-Leblond <o.crepin-leblond@ic.ac.uk> To: Randy Bush <randy@psg.com>, Steven Huter <sghuter@psg.com> Date: Tue, 9 Jan 1996 18:37:23 +0000 I've recently received a message from Dennis Fitch <theagency@earthlink.net> I'll quote the following explanation from his message: >I am working with a www site in the U.S. called "HomeFront" >(www.worldshop.com/HomeFront). Its primary purpose is to provide a >common ground for connections between U.S. troops stationed with the >peace keeping forces in Bosnia-Herzegovina and their friends and >families at home. Obviously it could be (and we would welcome it) used >by British and French forces and their families as well. > >At the moment, the main problem is internet connectivity. There appears >to be none in the region. I've been in contact with ZaMir Transnational >Network and we're working on store and forward email. We're also >attempting to facilitate a VSAT link in the Tuzla area. Now ZaMir Transnational Network is ZAMIR-TZ.ZTN.APC.ORG . The press release is as follows: --- Forwarded mail from Dennis Fitch <theagency@earthlink.net> The Agency/ECN Inc. 4370 Tujunga Ave., 2nd Floor Studio City, CA 91604 (818) 769-9537 fax (818) 769-9723 Press Release OPERATION HOME FRONT DEBUTS INTERNET AND EMAIL SERVICES TO REACH TROOPS IN BOSNIA Worldshop Inc., ECN and gina Develop Free Virtual Community for Troops in Bosnia-Includes Online Entertainment and Chat Rooms with Soldiers (LOS ANGELES, CA)-Operation Home Front, an Internet site which offers free email services to keep in touch with the troops in Bosnia will debut tomorrow on the World Wide Web. Created by Worldshop, Inc., with the support of Entertainment Communications Network (ECN) and the global internet news agency (gina), Operation Home Front will offer free online services such as email and real-time private chat rooms for friends, family and interested people to stay in contact with the US and UN peacekeeping troops in Bosnia. "This is just the right thing to do," stated Richard Houskamp, CEO of Worldshop, Inc. "It is our combined hope that Home Front will be an information and communications resource for military families and a means for a grateful public to express their support for the men and women in uniform." Operation Home Front is a private, non-commercial service creating a "virtual USO" for the 20,000 troops from the United States expected to reach both Bosnia and Croatia by Christmas time. Home Front provides several pages of information including private and public chat rooms for US troops and a NATO division chat room where UN troops can communicate with each other, email services (including free postcard .gifs) and links to other applicable sites. Both troops abroad and users in the United States can register one of two ways: with an existing email address or with none at all. Worldshop, Inc. has created "Home Front" with a system to regulate, send, receive and store email for troops and others not in possession of a current email account. If users do possess email accounts, the system will forward all messages to their chosen email address, as long as users register when first logging onto the site. Although the United States Government and the Pentagon cannot currently supporting the delivery of email to the troops, Operation Home Front is developing several alternative ways to get messages of hope and love to those in Bosnia. In addition, cyber-cafes around the US, Canada and Europe will offer terminals for Operation Homefront users, as well as many local American libraries which currently provide interactive kiosks with free Internet access. Several UseNet groups and students with email accounts in the Eastern European region have expressed commitments to provide free access to the Internet through their systems and have even offered to print the electronic mail and hand deliver it to the forces. Operation Home Front additionally will feature a special section titled "Grateful Nations" where the companies, organizations and individuals who have volunteered their time, talents, services or provided financial support for Operation Home Front are recognized. Volunteers will host/sysop chat rooms and message forums as well as provide additional content and provide online help alongside "Home Front" staff. Future plans for "Home Front" include the "Home Front Theater." According to Richard Houskamp, president of Worldshop, the theater is "designed to host live celebrity events, complete with the capability of transmitting pictures, sound and even live video. "When the troops are ready, ECN will seek celebrities from the entertainment and sports worlds to host online 'talk shows,' allowing soldiers and celebs to interact," said ECN President, Rich Rygg. Operation Home Front will make its debut on the Web, tomorrow, December 19, 1995. The Internet address for the "Home Front" is: www.worldshop.com/HomeFront. Mosaic, Netcruiser and Netscape browsers fully support all of "Home Fronts" features and access to the site is also available through online services Prodigy, America Online, CompuServe and Worldshop. For additional information please contact: Worldshop, Inc., 3665 29th Street, Grand Rapids, MI 49512. Phone: (800) 530-9055 ( Within the US), (616) 957-0555 (Outside the US). Email: homefront@worldshop.com. ECN, Inc., 4370 Tujunga Avenue, Studio City, CA 91604. Phone: (818) 752-1440. Email: ecn.ohf@natpe.compuserve.com agency.df@NATPE.compuserve.com --- End of forwarded message from Dennis Fitch <theagency@earthlink.net> The situation, as it stands on 1996.01.09 is as follows (quoted from Dennis Fitch's most recent message): >Unfortunately, things are not progressing as quickly as we would like >regarding connections in Bosnia. We have been in touch with ZaMir >Transnational Network (ZTN) and are attempting to work out an >operational arrangement with ZaMir Tuzla. They are willing to accept >email messages for soldiers, but at the moment have no way of completing >the last leg... getting them to the soldiers. We are exploring contributions >to establish a VSAT link and the equipment which >could be used by ZaMir Tuzla. They are looking into the possibility of >establishing a "storefront" operation to which soldiers could come to >send and receive mail. I will keep you informed as developments occur. We'll be kept posted on the situation as it develops. -- Olivier M.J. Crepin-Leblond, Digital Comms. Section, Elec. Eng. Department Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, London SW7 2BT, UK <foobar@ic.ac.uk> Mobile (GMT): +44 (0)956 84 111 3 <foobar@gih.com>