From: tcmay@netcom.com (Timothy C. May)
Date: Thu, 19 Jan 95 16:56:16 PST
To: jcorgan@scruznet.com (Johnathan Corgan)
Subject: Re: The Remailer Crisis
In-Reply-To: <Chameleon.4.01.950119132643.jcorgan@jcorgan.sj.scruznet.com>
Message-ID: <199501200054.QAA11075@netcom21.netcom.com>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain


Johnathan Corgan wrote:

> I am currently using ISDN from my home in San Jose.  You're right in 
> that the startup costs are the barrier--even a cheap single B channel 
> (56K) terminal adapter for use with a serial port will run $300-$400
> dollars.  The telco charges are minimal in my area; $25 monthly for
> the line itself (115 Kbps async bandwidth).  Connect charges are free 
> for non peak usage, and $0.60/hour for peak usage time (0800 to 1700) 
> Mon-Fri.

Well, let's do the math. Since the remailer has to be connected at all
times, of course, this implies $162 a month in connect charges, over
and above the other charges. Or $187 a month including the line
charge. Or $2244 a year. 

This makes a "cheap Linux box" almost a moot point. This is a lot more
than I'm willing to pay to run a remailer.

(I can imagine workarounds that involve connecting at regular
intervals to pick up mail....assuming it "accumulates" somewhere (?),
but the goal of a remailer "on the Net" is what I'm after.)

> A remailer in this scenario would need to have their MX record point to
> their ISP, and process mail via POP (incoming) and SMTP (outgoing).  
> It would be straightforward to implement a timed or demand dial scenario 
> (say, every fifteen minutes) to accomplish this.  While not the ideal 
> (continuous internet connection with pure SMTP based mail transport), it
> would suffice for a moderately loaded remailer, I'd imagine.
> 
> Of course, this involves the mail subsystem of your ISP, partially
> defeating the purpose of having ubiquitous anonymous remailer "instances"
> whose operation is outside the control of an ISP.  Still, it would be
> a good start.

I agree that it's something to look at.

--Tim May



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