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Volume 5, Number 30 25 July 1988
+---------------------------------------------------------------+
| _ |
| / \ |
| /|oo \ |
| - FidoNews - (_| /_) |
| _`@/_ \ _ |
| International | | \ \\ |
| FidoNet Association | (*) | \ )) |
| Newsletter ______ |__U__| / \// |
| / FIDO \ _//|| _\ / |
| (________) (_/(_|(____/ |
| (jm) |
+---------------------------------------------------------------+
Editor in Chief Dale Lovell
Editor Emeritus: Thom Henderson
Chief Procrastinator Emeritus: Tom Jennings
Contributing Editors: Al Arango
FidoNews is published weekly by the International FidoNet
Association as its official newsletter. You are encouraged to
submit articles for publication in FidoNews. Article submission
standards are contained in the file ARTSPEC.DOC, available from
node 1:1/1.
Copyright 1988 by the International FidoNet Association. All
rights reserved. Duplication and/or distribution permitted for
noncommercial purposes only. For use in other circumstances,
please contact IFNA at (314) 576-4067. IFNA may also be contacted
at PO Box 41143, St. Louis, MO 63141.
Fido and FidoNet are registered trademarks of Tom Jennings of
Fido Software, 164 Shipley Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94107 and
are used with permission.
The contents of the articles contained here are not our
responsibility, nor do we necessarily agree with them.
Everything here is subject to debate. We publish EVERYTHING
received.
Table of Contents
1. ARTICLES ................................................. 1
SYSOP LIABILITY FOR DISCLOSING PRIVATE MESSAGES .......... 3
2. FOR SALE ................................................. 8
3. NOTICES .................................................. 9
The Interrupt Stack ...................................... 9
Latest Software Versions ................................. 9
FidoNews 5-30 Page 1 25 Jul 1988
=================================================================
ARTICLES
=================================================================
Jerry Hindle
Sysop of 18/6
(901) 353-4563
9600bps HST
This article is in reply to Mr. Mednicks article concerning
his running for a political office. While I do agree with some
of the points he raised during our brief telephone conversation,
I must also express this opinion.
Mr. Mednick;
While I have never met you, (but am looking forward to
doing so at FIDOCON) I must say that your article in FidoNews528
was (to my way of thinking anyway) against the precepts of
FidoNet as an amateur communications network. We should not be
foisting the costs (by we I mean the people placing the calls to
pick up Fnews files) of your political campaign unless we wish
to do so. Since we were not given the choice in the matter I
feel that you have done a disservice to us as a hobby network by
placing this article in Fnews.
I just got thru talking to you voice (as you know) and I
hope what I present here is a true and accurate account of that
call. I wish to present your side here also so that there is no
bias in the matter.
You stated that you had cleared the article with the IFNA
BoD and (I think) the President of that body. I applaud this
action and can't totally blame you for the results. I must also
blame them (the BoD) for allowing the article to run. I
understand that FidoNews publishes anything that comes in that
meets the technical requirements and your article does in fact
meet them. I also understand your view that since there are
commercial advertisements in FidoNews that you should be allowed
to also "advertise". I agree with that premise but I also feel
that advertisements of a commercial nature should be limited to
1 page in length and only allowed if there is sufficient room to
do so without making the file excessively large (say over 40k
arced format). Your article however ran from the top of page 11
to the bottom of page 14, thus it was 4 pages in length.
You stated that you want to "champion" the computer
community, yet you only referred to this in 1 small place and
the rest of the article dealt with matters concerning your
qualifications as a CPA and other matters not relating to
computers. While I agree that the computer community needs
FidoNews 5-30 Page 2 25 Jul 1988
(desperately) someone in Washington who understands the needs of
the computer users, we also need people who are literate in the
field of public relations and dealing with people. I feel that
you did not present enough information geared toward the
computer community to warrant the space as an "unpaid political
announcement" in a hobby newsletter.
Also I saw no need of even considering publishing an
article worldwide that would be of no benefit to those outside
your congressional district (directly anyway, maybe there
"could" be a construed benefit to those in the USA given a lot
of luck).
This is not meant to be a flame, nor even a little candle,
but is intended to inform you that not all who read Fnews will
view the article in the light that I do. I view it as a mistake
on the part of the Administration of both IFNA (who really
should not have a part in what Fnews does) and the Fnews
publisher. They failed to properly supervise the operation of
Fnews in that they have now opened up our newspaper to the
infamous "EQUAL TIME" amendment concerning political
announcements and editorials, a move that will cost us (the
sysops placing the calls, countless dollars. I feel that in
order to be totally fair about it you should contact your
opponent in the race and offer him the opportunity to also
publish a 4 pager in Fnews.
Well, I guess I have now made enemies of a few more folks
within the administration of both IFNA and FidoNet since I blame
THEM for even allowing the article in the first place. I realize
you are only using the "avenues open to you" to conduct your
campaign, but please, (emphasis mode ON) NOT HERE. (emphasis
mode OFF)
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Editor's Note: As far as equal time, I print anything I receive.
This has been and will continue to be my policy
until the Publications Committee decides otherwise
and presents me with a VERY detailed list of what
is and is not printable (this will most likely be
the same day I resign as editor). FidoNews always
has been a place where you could have almost
anything printed.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
FidoNews 5-30 Page 3 25 Jul 1988
Jonathan D. Wallace, Esq.
1:107/801
SYSOP LIABILITY FOR DISCLOSING PRIVATE MESSAGES
In what appears to be the first case of its kind, an Indiana law
student and BBS user has sued a local sysop, Bob Predaina, in
federal court, claiming that he intentionally disclosed her
private electronic mail to others without her permission.
The lawsuit, which is in the early stages and has not reached
trial, relies upon the Electronic Communications Privacy Act of
1986 (the "ECPA"), which makes disclosure of private electronic
mail without consent either of the sender or the recipient a
federal crime.
The ECPA does not obligate sysops to offer private mail on their
systems. However, if a sysop promises private mail, that promise
must be kept and the contents of private messages may not be
disclosed without consent.
The ECPA provides limited exceptions to the general rule of no
disclosure. A sysop may voluntarily disclose to law enforcement
authorities the contents of a message pertaining to the
commission of a crime, if read inadvertently by him or if it is
read pursuant to the exercise of his duties as a sysop.
Until the courts clarify these rules, sysops who read private
mail on their systems and disclose it may be playing with fire.
Prior court cases involving telephone operators have established
some useful guidelines: an operator may disclose information she
overheard while checking the line at the user's request, but may
not disclose information overheard while eavesdropping out of
curiosity. Sysops, like phone operators, will not be considered
to have a blanket authorization to intercept and disclose private
messages.
Systems such as Fido 11w which routinely make all
private mail visible to the sysop are therefore problematic. BBS
programmers should consider making private mail truly private--
while allowing sysops to turn the private mail option off if they
do not want it.
In the meantime, sysops should reconsider whether it is
worth having private mail on their systems and should make clear
to users in no uncertain terms, through bulletins and messages,
the degree of privacy which can be expected, if any.
Note: a copy of the complaint filed in the Thompson v.
Predaina case is available on the LLM BBS, Fido 107/801
(212)766-3788) in file area 5 under the name "Indiana".
* * *
JONATHAN D. WALLACE, ESQ. is an attorney in New York
FidoNews 5-30 Page 4 25 Jul 1988
City specializing in computer law. With Rees Morrison, he is the
author of the Sysop's Legal Manual, published this year by LLM Press.
He can be reached at (212) 766-3785 (voice) or at the LLM BBS,
given above.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
FidoNews 5-30 Page 5 25 Jul 1988
Public Access Messaging
PUBLIC ACCESS MESSAGING is now here. What you do with echo mail
can be done with Public Access Messaging. The messages are
arranged by topic and you can subscribe to those areas of interest
to you. Echo mail is a subset of Public Access Messaging.
WE DELIVER!
We will deliver and pickup your echo mail.
BASIC SERVICE. We call once a night, some time after six pm and
before eight am, to drop off that days Public Access Messages. We
do a pickup so any Public Access Message that you have on hold for
us to pickup is picked up for delivery tomorrow. More frequent
delivery is available for various fees.
If you like we will even pickup your outgoing public netmail
traffic for delivery to the public network. For an additional fee
you can consider us an outbound netmail gateway that picks up. We
will deliver the traffic to the inbound gateway for any
destination in the public network. If you have private traffic or
a private network we can pickup and deliver that traffic as well.
For an additional fee we deliver the public network traffic
directly to its destination. Also for an additional fee we will
deliver to your private network, provided that you give us all the
information we ask for.
Redundant backup systems make Public Access Messaging reliable.
RELIABLE. The hardware and software systems used by us to
deliver to you have both automatic and manual redundancy, self
checking, and error correction facilities.
We send to you once a night, but our system makes delivery
attempts spread out during the entire evening. Until our system
connects with yours it will try again. But not right away, it
will call again later. This multiple try method of delivery makes
Public Access Messages available to you when your system is likely
to be able to receive. We will try till we get to you!
AVAILABLE. By delivering all night long, you are assured
that sometime during the night your system will be available to
receive the call and your messages for the day will be delivered.
Thus overall you have availability of the Public Access Messages.
Our voice line and data line customer support makes sure that
Public Access Messaging can be made to service your needs.
SERVICEABLE. Our hardware and software delivery mechanisms
are flexible and for various fees our systems can accommodate your
needs. You will do many things with Public Access Messaging
because our systems are dedicated to serving you.
FidoNews 5-30 Page 6 25 Jul 1988
Did you ever wonder why there were lapses in the delivery of echo
mail? Use Public Access Messaging and you can know.
RELIABLE. Well that won't happen with us!. We will be here
when you need us. We are ready, willing, and able to serve you.
Did you ever wonder where to get more echo mail? Use Public
Access Messaging and you can know.
AVAILABLE. We either have it all, or are willing to exert
our best efforts to tie into it. Either way you can get it.
Did you ever wonder how to get the most from your echo mail
dollar? Use Public Access Messaging and you can know.
SERVICEABLE. A rate structure allows you to mix and match
which Public Access Message topics you want to receive, without
regard as to how they get to you, because they all come in on the
same flexible delivery schedules.
Did you ever wonder how echo mail really works? Use Public Access
Messaging and you can know.
RELIABLE. We deliver to you tonight what we received last
night. We deliver to you tomorrow night what we receive tonight.
This is straight forward reliable service. More frequent
deliveries are available for a fee.
Did you ever wonder who participates in the echo mail network?
Use Public Access Messaging and you can know.
AVAILABLE. We know and are willing to tell you. Anyone who
wants to be plugged in can be plugged in. If you have a need for
limiting participants, then for an additional fee we can
accommodate you.
Did you ever wonder how to solve problems you are having using
your echo mail system? Use Public Access Messaging and you can
have help.
SERVICEABLE. After you have tried and tried to make things
work and they still don't, what do you do? Who do you call? We
offer three tiers of problem solution. The least expensive is
called "Common Knowledge". You call in via modem and look through
our Information Dispenser. It has on it things that have been
helpful for folks in the past, as well as other information. More
expensive is "Electronic Messaging", which includes "Common
Knowledge" plus allows you to converse via netmail with us about
your needs. The top of the line is "Personal Access" via daytime
voice call with our communication consultants, and includes both
"Common Knowledge" and "Electronic Messaging".
FidoNews 5-30 Page 7 25 Jul 1988
Did you ever wonder if your echo mail is old or just slow? Use
Public Access Messaging and you can know.
We don't have any old messages. We send tonight, what we received
since the last time we delivered to you.
THERE IS A BETTER WAY! PUBLIC ACCESS MESSAGING!
Be party to Public Access Messaging.
Public Access Messaging is fun and easy to use.
Best of all you'll like the price.
Answer these questions, so that we may prepare a plan suited to
your circumstances, detailing features and fees.
1. Phone numbers your system calls to get echo mail.
2. Numbers your system calls to deliver echo mail.
3. What echoes do you link via each phone number.
4. What are your recent phone bills. Include photocopies.
5. What modem do you use. Make and model.
6. What echo mail program(s) do you use (be specific).
7. What network mailer do you use. Include version.
8. What kind of computer do you use. Make and Model.
9. What is your proper name and mailing address.
10. What is your data phone number.
11. What is your voice phone number.
Public Access Messaging - Effective
Public Access Messaging - Inexpensive
Public Access Messaging - Easy to Setup and to Use
Public Access Messaging - Saves Real Time and Real Money
Include $35 dollars as our fee for preparing a plan for you. If
you accept our offer the $35 will be applied to your subscription.
Answer the above questions and send your check for $35 to
Computer Assisted Marketing Programs Inc
1300 Industrial Highway, Suite 400
Southampton, PA 18966
Now is the right time to do it!
-----------------------------------------------------------------
FidoNews 5-30 Page 8 25 Jul 1988
=================================================================
FOR SALE
=================================================================
SYSOP LEGAL MANUAL FOR SALE
SYSLAW, the Sysop's Legal Manual,
by Jonathan D. Wallace Esq. and Rees Morrison Esq.
This 130 page book, newly published by LLM Press, includes
chapters on the Electronic Communication Privacy Act, sysop
liability for illegal uploads such as pirated software and stolen
credit card codes, libel and state computer crime laws. The book
is $21.00 (includes postage and handling) from LLM Press, 150
Broadway Suite 610, New York, New York 10038. New York residents
include 8.25 percent sales tax.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
FidoNews 5-30 Page 9 25 Jul 1988
=================================================================
NOTICES
=================================================================
The Interrupt Stack
25 Aug 1988
Start of the Fifth International FidoNet Conference, to be
held at the Drawbridge Inn in Cincinnati, OH. Contact Tim
Sullivan at 108/62 for more information. This is FidoNet's big
annual get-together, and is your chance to meet all the people
you've been talking with all this time. We're hoping to see
you there!
24 Aug 1989
Voyager 2 passes Neptune.
5 Oct 1989
20th Anniversary of "Monty Python's Flying Circus"
If you have something which you would like to see on this
calendar, please send a message to FidoNet node 1:1/1.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Latest Software Versions
BBS Systems Node List Other
& Mailers Version Utilities Version Utilities Version
Dutchie 2.90* EditNL 4.00* ARC 5.22*
Fido 12h MakeNL 2.12* ARCmail 1.1
Opus 1.03b Prune 1.40 ConfMail 3.31
SEAdog 4.10 XlatList 2.86 EchoMail 1.31
TBBS 2.0M XlaxNode 2.10* MGM 1.1
BinkleyTerm 1.50 XlaxDiff 2.10*
QuickBBS 2.01 ParseList 1.10
* Recently changed
Utility authors: Please help keep this list up to date by
reporting new versions to 1:1/1. It is not our intent to list
all utilities here, only those which verge on necessity.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
FidoNews 5-30 Page 10 25 Jul 1988
OFFICERS OF THE INTERNATIONAL FIDONET ASSOCIATION
Ken Kaplan 100/22 Chairman of the Board
Don Daniels 107/210 President
Mark Grennan 147/1 Vice President
Dave Dodell 114/15 Vice President - Technical Coordinator
David Garrett 103/501 Secretary
Leonard Mednick 345/1 Treasurer
IFNA BOARD OF DIRECTORS
DIVISION AT-LARGE
10 Steve Jordan 102/2871 Don Daniels 107/210
11 Bill Allbritten 11/301 Hal DuPrie 101/106
12 Leonard Mednick 345/1 Mark Grennan 147/1
13 Rick Siegel 107/27 Brad Hicks 100/523
14 Ken Kaplan 100/22 Ted Polczyinski 154/5
15 Jim Cannell 128/13 Kurt Reisler 109/74
16 Vince Perriello 141/491 Robert Rudolph 261/628
17 Rob Barker 138/34 Greg Small 148/122
18 Christopher Baker 135/14 Bob Swift 140/24
19 Vernon Six 19/0 Larry Wall 15/18
2 Henk Wevers 2:500/1 Gee Wong 107/312
-----------------------------------------------------------------
FidoNews 5-30 Page 11 25 Jul 1988
__
The World's First / \
BBS Network /|oo \
* FidoNet * (_| /_)
_`@/_ \ _
| | \ \\
| (*) | \ ))
______ |__U__| / \//
/ Fido \ _//|| _\ /
(________) (_/(_|(____/ (tm)
Membership for the International FidoNet Association
Membership in IFNA is open to any individual or organization that
pays the annual membership fee. IFNA serves the international
FidoNet-compatible electronic mail community to increase
worldwide communications.
Name __________________________________ Date ___________________
Address _________________________________________________________
City ____________________________________________________________
State ________________________________ Zip _____________________
Country _________________________________________________________
Home Phone (Voice) ______________________________________________
Work Phone (Voice) ______________________________________________
Is this a new application? _________ a renewal? ________________
Are you a Sysop? _________ If so, for how long? ________________
Your BBS Info: (Non-Sysops enter info for your most-called BBS)
Zone:Net/Node Number ____________________________________________
BBS Name ________________________________________________________
BBS Phone Number ________________________________________________
Your Special Interests __________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
In what areas would you be willing to help in FidoNet? __________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
Are there any special resources that you could provide? _________
_________________________________________________________________
Regular Membership $25
Lifetime Membership $250
Send this form and a check or money order in US Funds to:
International FidoNet Association
c/o Leonard Mednick, CPA
700 Bishop Street, #1014
Honolulu, HI 96813 USA
IFNA is a general not-for-profit organization. Articles of
Association and By-Laws were adopted by the membership in January
1987. The IFNA Echomail Conference has been established on
FidoNet to assist the Board of Directors. We welcome your input
on this Conference.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
FidoNews 5-30 Page 12 25 Jul 1988
INTERNATIONAL FIDONET ASSOCIATION
ORDER FORM
Publications
The IFNA publications can be obtained by downloading from Fido
1:1/10 or other FidoNet compatible systems, or by purchasing
them directly from IFNA. We ask that all our IFNA Committee
Chairmen provide us with the latest versions of each
publication, but we can make no written guarantees.
Hardcopy prices as of October 1, 1986
IFNA Fido BBS listing $15.00 _____
IFNA Administrative Policy DOCs $10.00 _____
IFNA FidoNet Standards Committee DOCs $10.00 _____
SUBTOTAL _____
IFNA Member ONLY Special Offers
System Enhancement Associates SEAdog $60.00 _____
SEAdog price as of March 1, 1987
ONLY 1 copy SEAdog per IFNA Member
Fido Software's Fido/FidoNet $100.00 _____
Fido/FidoNet price as of November 1, 1987
ONLY 1 copy Fido/FidoNet per IFNA Member
International orders include $10.00 for
surface shipping or $20.00 for air shipping _____
SUBTOTAL _____
HI. Residents add 4.0 % Sales tax _____
TOTAL _____
SEND CHECK OR MONEY ORDER IN US FUNDS:
International FidoNet Association
c/o Leonard Mednick, MBA, CPA
700 Bishop Street, #1014
Honolulu, HI. 96813-4112
USA
Name________________________________
Zone:Net/Node____:____/____
Company_____________________________
Address_____________________________
City____________________ State____________ Zip_____
Voice Phone_________________________
Signature___________________________
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