I don't know of another cable television list which is commercial. As
I've
explained, this list's non-commercial policy is due to the fact that,
while
the Internet itself does support commercial traffic (and vendors can
say
anything they want on direct email), SCTE-LIST operates on a computer
and
networks owned and operated by a the University of Wisconsin - Madison,
and
the University's rules prohibit commercial traffic.
This does not mean that operators can't ask about products, or that
vendors
can't respond about products on the list. It just means that vendors
shouldn't send messages to the list which are commercial messages.
There are two rules of thumb which I use to determine whether a message
is commercial.
For example, if someone were looking for proof-of-performance test
equipment, they could post a message to that effect. Then Hewlett Packard
or Calan or Tektronix or Wavetek or Trilithic representatives (or anybody
else, for example) could post a response on the list to the effect
that they
offer such equipment. Don't include catalog sheets or prices. You may
separately
(not on the list) send an email directly to the person who made the
inquiry
listing models, specifications, prices, special offers, World Wide
Web sites
which have more information, telephone numbers of local sales
representatives, or anything else they wanted.
Users could respond, for instance, that they purchased the whizbang
9000,
but they found it difficult to take a 500 lb. box up a pole.
There are now many World Wide Web sites operated by vendors. There are
also
other Web sites offering index or directory services. I operate such
a list
at http://cable.doit.wisc.edu. These offer alternate ways to search
for
information, products or services.
Vendors, if you don't have a Web site, get one!!! Put your entire catalog
online. Put your tech notes online. Since your Web site is not on a
University computer, you can be as commercial as you want. Include
the URL
in your signature file. (If you don't use a signature file, why not?
Don't
you have business cards? I can't emphasize this enough.) Put your URLs
in
your ads in the trade press. Get your tech support people email addresses,
and have them subscribe to this list. Then when subscribers post a
question, your tech support person responds with helpful information
(with
your company name and URL in the signature file), and creates a positive
corporate impression. If you want to keep customers coming back to
your
site, find out what information is useful to your customers and put
it on
your site, and keep it up to date.
Writers and publishers of trade press: get your own web sites going.
Index
your articles online, so users can search for useful information. Sell
advertising on your sites. The value you can add is intelligent selection
of the right information. Include email addresses and URLs in "about
the
author" clips.
Operators, if you don't have Web browsing capacity in your operation,
why
not? Haven't you been saying that our industry is the best positioned
for
providing access to the Information Superhighway? If you don't become
knowledgeable, you won't be able to speak intelligently with your
prospective customers about the topic. This is not frivolous - it is
a
legitimate business expense, and a vital strategic market. Get your
Web
sites up and running. Let your customers peruse your information online
and
correspond with you using email. Let your technicians correspond with
their
suppliers on email and research technology using the Web.
Messages about Web sites, for instance, asking what information or format
would be useful, are not commercial in nature and are valid topics
for
SCTE-List. If anyone posts an announcement of their Web site, I will
paste
it into http://cable.doit.wisc.edu for all to search (no charge - we
are
non commercial ;->). If you want to promote a special offer - post
a note
to the list that you have a special offer and give your URL.
In fact, I think that the non-commercial aspect of this list makes for
a
better environment for subscribers. This improves the list's "signal
to
noise ratio" - we don't have to wade through announcements of products
or
services of which we are not in need, but we can ask or search for
information when we do need it.
So, while the SCTE-List itself (but not the Internet) is prohibited
from
carrying commercial traffic, there are many ways to get your message
to
those who are looking for it, or to look for the information you need.
Dave
David Devereaux-Weber, P.E. <dave@cable.doit.wisc.edu>
The University of Wisconsin - Madison
Division of Information Technology
Network Engineering