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The local-loop bypass issue - where businesses with heavy local communication requirements establish their own exchange networks, bypassing the local telephone company - is well known and has major implications for local telephone operating companies (LOCs). Although cost is usually the primary reason in any bypass decision, other factors including specific service requirements play a significant role. This article describes the special service needs of electricity supply industries (ESIs) and some of the reasons for their desire to reduce their reliance on LOCs. The authors suggest that because of increasing competitive pressures, the information and communication needs of the ESIs will grow substantially, further reinforcing the desire for independent metropolitan area communication networks. A prototype of such a network, NetComm, is described.

This paper briefly reviews the distributed communication network concept in which each station is connected to all adjacent stations rather than to a few switching points, as in a centralized system. The payoff for a distributed configuration in terms of survivability in the cases of enemy attack directed against nodes, links or combinations of nodes and links is demonstrated. A comparison is made between diversity of assignment and perfect switching in distributed networks, and the feasibility of using low-cost unreliable communication links, even links so unreliable as to be unusable in present type networks, to form highly reliable networks is discussed. The requirements for a future all-digital data distributed network which provides common user service for a wide range of users having different requirements is considered. The use of a standard format message block permits building relatively simple switching mechanisms using an adaptive store-and-forward routing policy to handle all forms of digital data including digital voice. This network rapidly responds to changes in the network status. Recent history of measured network traffic is used to modify path selection. Simulation results are shown to indicate that highly efficient routing can be performed by local control without the necessity for any central, and therefore vulnerable, control point.

The report discusses fabrication of high technology electronics equipment, particularly digitally based systems, by specifying, designing and fabricating equipments on a fully automated basis. A hypothetical universal machine is proposed, operating under computer netted control, combining developments in the automated design, numerical control, and integrated circuit packaging fields. The intended results include computer-engraved PC boards, computer modified equipment, automatic testing, engineering design change drawings, computer repair and maintenance, and computer-made, fully assembled printed circuits at remote locations.

The report discusses technical and economic feasibility of widespread computer-netting technology to aid DOD procurement effectiveness, and describes procurement automation system development, the software and hardware required, and provides a hardware configuration. Next steps are logically detailed in a procurement automation system. Cost-benefit analysis and a survey of procurement automation systems presently in use is provided. It is indicated that savings in excess of $1 billion per year might be achievable in the future.

Since we do not know of any completely workable solutions to the problems we have considered, we shall settle for a few general observations: 1) The public availability of socially useful computer communications services is and has been held back by legal battles that are now under way between the potential suppliers. 2) No simple resolution of these issues in the near future seems likely in view of the past conceptual separation of computers and communications doctrines. 3) The current policy is to determine whether the nation shall or shall not have certain computer communications services, by the adversary process. In this process, often only the voices of the loudest adversary suppliers are heard. 4) Although there can be no certainty that better alternatives cannot be devised, we believe that such a possibility assumes a higher probability if the key actors come from the technical community sectors more representative of the future consumers. 5) If we are to have the new services that are possible, we need an approach that makes better use of the technologists' dreams and goals rather than have future prospects excessively bound by lawyers paid to preserve the interests of their clients, irrespective of any secondary consequences. 6) We cannot be sanguine about this possibility, as technological statesmanship is too easily corrupted by the same forces that have placed us in this predicament. Furthermore, even if not corrupted, beneficial cooperation can too readily be regarded as simply collusion. 7) Although we do not have any clear answer, we do know that present approaches are not taking us where we want to go very rapidly and that alternative approaches should at least be considered.

Some specific topics addressed in the present Quarterly Technical Report include: (1) Consideration of system modules necessary for a large set of procurement related functions; (2) Description of an early list of evolutionary functions felt to be most applicable; (3) Determination of the file sizes for the records considered; (4) Determination of the state of the art of inputting and storing the large text database implied in automating procurement; (5) Consideration of secrecy protection means that are more effectively built into the initial system configuration design rather than as an afterthought; (6) Survey of present procurement information automation efforts, and consideration of evolutionary growth from this presently highly advanced basis; (7) Analysis of the cost of sending one-way text messages via a number of alternatives ranging from postal mail to various forms of electronic transmittal; (8) Work in progress in evaluating present day legal interpretation of governmental secrecy provisions and private proprietary information protection legislation of import to procurement automation.

Communications and computers are today becoming what the economists call "complementary goods"---one without the other is of much lesser value---like pen and ink, pretzels and beer, and gin and dry vermouth.

This Memorandum, the sixth in the series entitled 'On Distributed Communications,' is a detailed consideration of a possible design for the network's communications links, based on the use of microwave repeater stations. Of the several possible link designs presented in Vol. I of the series, the mini-cost microwave appears least expensive. The mini-cost system is designed solely for use in transmitting digital signals within the Distributed Adaptive Message Block Network. However, many of its specific facets might be of use in other microwave applications. Costs are factored out in detail, demonstrating more specifically the advantages of the microwave link. Two receiver designs further facilitate evaluation of the general proposal. The two other principal components of the distributed network--the Switching Node and the Miltiplexing Station-are described in Vols. VII and VIII in the series. (Author)

One in a series of eleven Memoranda detailing the Distributed Adaptive Message Block Network, a proposed digital data communications system based on a distributed network concept.

This Memorandum, the first in the series entitled On Distributed Communications, introduces the system concept and outlines the requirements for and design considerations of a digital data communications system based on the distributed concept, especially as regards implications for such systems in the 1970s. In particular, the Memorandum is directed toward examining the use of redundancy as one means of building communications systems to withstand heavy enemy attacks. While slightly survivable and reliable communications systems are of primary interest to those in the military concerned with automating command and control functions, the basic notions are also of interest to communications systems planners and designers having need to transmit digital data. (Author)

Considers the security aspects of a system of the type in which all imputs are treated as classified. Describes the safeguards to be built into the network, and evaluates the premise that the existence of ''spies'' within the supposedly secure system must be anticipated. Security provisions are based on the belief that protection is best obtained by raising the ''price'' of espied information to a level which becomes excessive. The treatment of the subject is itself unclassified. (Author)

Research and development in newer and better technological aids and techniques for law enforcement is desirable to cope with the increased mobility of the criminal, but caution and adequate safeguards are needed to ensure that technology is not misused to create an oppressive police state.

One in a series of eleven Memoranda detailing the Distributed Adaptive Message Block Network, a proposed digital data communications system based on a distributed network concept.

We are witnessing a growing appreciation that communications systems which transmit analog signals (such as voice) could benefit if designed as all-digital computer-like assemblies. This new view of communications as a digital process is a minority viewpoint in the communications industry; but a minority which is rapidly increasing. I believe that the direction of all-digital-communications-networks development will be towards true, all-digital systems including both transmission and switching. Our present analog techniques may be on their way out. Many of the systems cannot be built entirely out of LSI components. Some microwave elements, for example, will still require individual components such as varactor diodes and strip-transmission lines; but the bulk of circuitry could be in LSI modules. (Author)

An elementary procedure for the synthesis of a character recognition device based upon a learning experiment is described. Utilizing information derived from a significant sample of the set of characters to be read and given identification of the samples by a human operator, a computer defines a set of 'filters.' These filters may then be used to transform unknown characters having similar type characteristics. During the recognition process a probability matrix for each character in the alphabet is used to compute a figure of merit for the hypothesis that an unknown character is the same as a known character. It is shown that this elementary model might adequately serve for construction of a fast input device for a language translation machine if it were able to make use of frequency distribution characteristics of the dictionary. A possible implementation with a raw character reading rate of up to 500 characters a second appears feasible. (Author)

This Memorandum, the eleventh and final volume in the series entitled 'On Distributed Communications,' summarizes the development of the system proposal. The more salient features of the system, presented in much greater detail in the other Memoranda in the series, are summarized, allowing the casual reader to obtain a general overview of the network. A reading of the introductory Memorandum in the series and the present Memorandum should suffice for a general understanding of the proposed Distributed Adaptive Message Block Network. (Author)

While the invasion-of-privacy problem has always been with us, its magnitude and complexion is changing. In the past, personal, sensitive information was kept in separate manual files. Specific individual permission was required any time an outsider wished information. As we look to the future and foresee greater integration of medical information systems, it may not be premature to think of the evolutionary development of such systems and the new problems they will create if adequate safeguards are not considered early and leaky systems prevented. (Author)

An examination of the usefulness of existing FM and TV stations as links in an emergency post-attack communications system.

The document points out the dangers to the privacy and reputation of individuals through uncontrolled and accelerated use of automatic and electronic data processing systems.

This report details the Distributed Adaptive Message Block Network, a proposed digital data communications system based on a distributed network concept.

Narsingh Deo's comments suggests an alternative metric of survivability (pairs of stations in communications) to the one Paul Baran, the original author, chose to use in a recent paper on survivable communications (number of stations in communications with all, see ibid., vol. CS-12. pp. 1-9, March 1964). Deo's point (ibid., vol. COM-12, pp. 227-228, December 1964) is well stated and the original author would like to add to Deo's remarks.