[amsat-bb] ORI receives half million dollar grant, and, it's only the first.

[Phil Karn]

On 9/11/20 16:52, Bruce Perens via AMSAT-BB wrote:
>  But the cost for
> AMSAT is running the project ITAR and EAR free, and producing the software
> as Open Source and the design documents under creative commons.
>
> Now, most people would say "Sure, let's do that, it's worth it. As it

Bruce, I hesitate to jump in here but I want to ask the others here a
sincere question:

Is AMSAT's hesitancy to embrace open project development due to a
continuing fear of export controls, or are there other reasons? Are
there ways to further resolve this fear and/or any other concerns about
going open?

Again, this is a completely honest question; I really don't know the
answer. Having some experience myself with the export control process, I
know how illogical, irrational and opaque the whole thing can be, and I
fully understand how it can play with everyone's minds.

So despite ORI's success in its ITAR commodity jurisdiction request I
can't fault AMSAT for still being hesitant to jump in with both feet. It
will probably take time for this development to be better understood by
everyone and for people to become comfortable with it. i also see
nothing to prevent AMSAT from filing its own CJRs for projects that it
proposes to do in the open. The more favorable rulings we get, the
better it will be for everyone.

ARDC certainly doesn't want to fund a project only to get the principals
in legal trouble. On the other hand, our policy of only funding open
development projects is non-negotiable. We certainly hope that AMSAT can
find a way to move forward with projects that can be developed under
open terms and we are as eager to evaluate their proposals as from
anyone else, and as we already have from ORI.

73, Phil