Yesterday’s garage shop is today’s billion-dollar enterprise. Policies for the NPN should therefore not only accommodate existing information industry interests, but anticipate and promote the next generation of entrepreneurs.
Predictor: Kapor, Mitchell
Prediction, in context:In a September 1991 submission to the Network Working Group’s Request for Comments (Request for Comments 1259), Mitchell Kapor, co-founder of the Electronic Frontier Foundation, writes: ”In the early stages of development of an industry, low barriers to entry stimulate competition … The winners will be widely emulated in the next generation of products, which will in turn generate a more refined form of marketplace feedback. In this fashion, early chaos evolves quickly a set of high-demand products and product categories. This process of market-mediated innovation is best catalyzed by creating an environment in which it is inexpensive and easy for entrepreneurs to develop products … It is worthwhile to note that not a single major PC software company today dates from the mainframe era. Yesterday’s garage shop is today’s billion-dollar enterprise. Policies for the NPN [National Public Network] should therefore not only accommodate existing information industry interests, but anticipate and promote the next generation of entrepreneurs.”
Biography:Mitchell Kapor founded the Lotus Development Corporation and also founded the Electronic Frontier Foundation with WELL (Whole Earth ‘Lectronic Link) members John Perry Barlow and John Gilmore in 1990 in direct response to a threat to free speech. He was an outspoken supporter of open access to the Internet, and was asked to speak in many venues about the issue, including Congressional hearings. (Pioneer/Originator.)
Date of prediction: September 1, 1991
Topic of prediction: Information Infrastructure
Subtopic: Role of Govt./Industry
Name of publication: Requests For Comments
Title, headline, chapter name: Building the Open Road: The NREN As Test-Bed for the National Public Network
Quote Type: Direct quote
Page number or URL of document at time of study:
http://www.eff.org/Publications/Mitch_Kapor/nren_npn_nii_kapor_eff.rfc
This data was logged into the Elon/Pew Predictions Database by: Anderson, Janna Quitney