Press release from the Iternet Society of New Zealand

Path: kcbbs!waikato!auckland.ac.nz!ak.netlink.co.nz!comp.vuw.ac.nz!cathode
From: bcj0@comms.moc.govt.nz (Colin Jackson)
Newsgroups: nz.org.isocnz
Subject: XTRA and Voyager dispute damages the Internet
Date: Wed, 09 Oct 96 21:03:21 GMT
Organization: Ministry of Commerce
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Keywords: XTRA Voyager dispute
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The Society has issued the following press release.

======================

XTRA and Voyager dispute damages the Internet

The Internet Society of New Zealand (ISOCNZ) and the Internet Service 
Providers' Association (ISPANZ) today said that the actions taken by  XTRA and 
Voyager in the course of their commercial dispute were disrupting New Zealand 
Internet users and damaging the usefulness of the Internet.

Both XTRA and Voyager have violated netiquette, which is the code of unwritten 
rules by which the Internet operates.  Voyager sent direct e-mail to a large 
number of XTRA customers soliciting their business, and XTRA have retaliated 
by closing off e-mail access by Voyager customers to XTRA customers.

ISOCNZ acting chair, Jim Higgins, has been mediating between the parties and 
has negotiated a reduction in the extent of the break in access.  XTRA 
originally prevented all their customers from communicating with Voyager 
customers or accessing Voyager based web sites and Voyager customers from 
accessing XTRA based facilities.  XTRA has since permitted Web access between 
the sites but still prevents e-mail sent by Voyager customers from reaching 
XTRA customers.

Arguments between ISPs over acceptable commercial practice are one thing, says 
Higgins, but damaging your customers’ interests to pursue your own agenda, as 
XTRA has done, is completely wrong.  Internationally, the blocking of Internet 
transmissions for purely commercial reasons is regarded as a totally 
unacceptable practice.

ISOCNZ is currently co-ordinating development of a Code of Practice for ISPs.  
This code will require ISPs not to do anything which might damage the 
Internet.  Until now, XTRA has been an enthusiastic participant.

ISOCNZ has formally asked XTRA to remove the e-mail blocks they have imposed 
forthwith.

Information: ISOCNZ: Jim Higgins, 472 9949 or 394 2911

Code of Practice: John Vorstermans, 025 432 987


Colin Jackson