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903 lines
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Computer underground Digest Sun Sep 19 1993 Volume 5 : Issue 73
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ISSN 1004-042X
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Editors: Jim Thomas and Gordon Meyer (TK0JUT2@NIU.BITNET)
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Archivist: Brendan Kehoe
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Shadow-Archivists: Dan Carosone / Paul Southworth
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Ralph Sims / Jyrki Kuoppala
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Ian Dickinson
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Copie Editor: Etaoin Shrdlu, III
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CONTENTS, #5.73 (Sep 19 1993)
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File 1--U.S. Gov't Begins Attack on Moby Crypto
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File 2--Phil Zimmermann's Comments on the Moby Crypto Incident
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File 3--Crypto Witchhunt?
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File 4--PRESS RELEASE--Clinton Appoints Sci/Tech Czars (satire)
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File 5--Libertarian Responsibility of The Cyberpunk Movement (Reprint)
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File 6--CuNews
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File 7--Summary of Boys in front of Computers (Thesis)
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File 8--UPDATE #30-AB1624: Gov Has Until Oct.10th
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File 9--NETSYS.COM - Public Access availability
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Cu-Digest is a weekly electronic journal/newsletter. Subscriptions are
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available at no cost electronically from tk0jut2@mvs.cso.niu.edu. The
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editors may be contacted by voice (815-753-0303), fax (815-753-6302)
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or U.S. mail at: Jim Thomas, Department of Sociology, NIU, DeKalb, IL
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60115.
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||
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Issues of CuD can also be found in the Usenet comp.society.cu-digest
|
||
news group; on CompuServe in DL0 and DL4 of the IBMBBS SIG, DL1 of
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||
LAWSIG, and DL1 of TELECOM; on GEnie in the PF*NPC RT
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libraries and in the VIRUS/SECURITY library; from America Online in
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the PC Telecom forum under "computing newsletters;"
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On Delphi in the General Discussion database of the Internet SIG;
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||
on the PC-EXEC BBS at (414) 789-4210; and on: Rune Stone BBS (IIRG
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WHQ) (203) 832-8441 NUP:Conspiracy; RIPCO BBS (312) 528-5020
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CuD is also available via Fidonet File Request from 1:11/70; unlisted
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nodes and points welcome.
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EUROPE: from the ComNet in LUXEMBOURG BBS (++352) 466893;
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In ITALY: Bits against the Empire BBS: +39-461-980493
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ANONYMOUS FTP SITES:
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UNITED STATES:
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halcyon.com( 202.135.191.2) in /pub/mirror/cud
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aql.gatech.edu (128.61.10.53) in /pub/eff/cud
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ftp.eff.org (192.88.144.4) in /pub/cud
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etext.archive.umich.edu (141.211.164.18) in /pub/CuD/cud
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AUSTRALIA: ftp.ee.mu.oz.au (128.250.77.2) in /pub/text/CuD.
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EUROPE: nic.funet.fi in pub/doc/cud. (Finland)
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ftp.warwick.ac.uk in pub/cud (United Kingdom)
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COMPUTER UNDERGROUND DIGEST is an open forum dedicated to sharing
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information among computerists and to the presentation and debate of
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diverse views. CuD material may be reprinted for non-profit as long
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as the source is cited. Authors hold a presumptive copyright, and
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they should be contacted for reprint permission. It is assumed that
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non-personal mail to the moderators may be reprinted unless otherwise
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specified. Readers are encouraged to submit reasoned articles
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relating to computer culture and communication. Articles are
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preferred to short responses. Please avoid quoting previous posts
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unless absolutely necessary.
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DISCLAIMER: The views represented herein do not necessarily represent
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the views of the moderators. Digest contributors assume all
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responsibility for ensuring that articles submitted do not
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violate copyright protections.
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----------------------------------------------------------------------
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Date: Sun, 19 Sep 1993 21:15:22 CDT
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From: CuD Moderators <cudigest@mindvox.phantom.com>
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Subject: File 1--U.S. Gov't Begins Attack on Moby Crypto
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((MODERATORS' NOTE: The following posts on the U.S. Customs Service
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subpoena directed against Grady Ward and others came from a variety of
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sources. We pulled together the three that seemed to best summarize
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events of the past few days. In editing them, we can't reconstruct
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where they all came from, but most appeared on Usenet in the past few
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days. The following was distributed on Usenet by Grady Ward)).
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++++++++++
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Subpoena served on Austin Code Works for
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material related to Moby Crypto.
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At 10:30 PM EDT Thursday, 16 Sept 1993 Theodore R. Siggins, special
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agent for the Department of Treasury, U.S. Customs Service office of
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enforcement for Austin, TX (512) 482-5502 served the following
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subpoena:
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United States District Court
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Northern District of California
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TO:
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Custodian of Records
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Austin Code Works
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11100 Leafwood Lane
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Austin, TX
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(512) 258-0785
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SUBPOENA TO TESTIFY BEFORE GRAND JURY
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documents of object(s)
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PLACE
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U.S. Courthouse & Federal Building
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280 South First Street
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San Jose, CA 95113
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Grand Jury Room 2115
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September 22, 1993 9:00 AM
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YOU ARE ALSO COMMANDED to bring with you
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Any and all correspondence, contracts, payments, and record,
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including those stored as computer data, relating to the
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international distribution of the commercial product "Moby
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Crypto" and any other commercial product related to PGP and RSA
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Source Code for the time period June 1, 1991 to the present.
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CLERK
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RICHARD W. WIERKING
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by deputy clerk (illegible)
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This subpoena is issued on application of the United States of America
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Michael J. Yamaguchi
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United States Attorney
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Assistant U.S. Attorney
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William P. Keane
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280 S. First St., Suite 371
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San Jose, CA 95113
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(408) 291-7221
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s/a Robin Sterzer, Customs
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93-1348(SJ) 93-1(SJ)
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9 September 1993
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served by
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Theodore R. Siggins
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special agent
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Department of Treasury
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U.S. Customs Service
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Office of Enforcement
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P.O. Box 99
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Austin, TX 78767
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(FTS) 770-5502
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(512) 482-5502
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+-------------------------- BACKGROUND ----------------------------
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The day before yesterday I faxed the following to the NSA:
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Grady Ward
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3449 Martha Ct.
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Arcata, CA 95521
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(707) 826-7715
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grady@netcom.com
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Charlotte Knepper
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National Security Agency
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301 688 7834
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FAX 301 688 8183
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Sep 93
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Re: Moby Crypto and the Austin Code Works
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Recently you phoned Maria Guthery at the Austin Code Works
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(512-258-0785) to voice your concern about the publication for export
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of my product 'Moby Crypto'.
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As the editor and author of the compilation I made sure not to include
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any executable code -- only the algorithmic description in C source
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code that can be found (and exported) from scores of books and
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journals from the US distributed throughout the world.
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I believe that this material qualifies for the 'public domain'
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technical documentation exception under the current DTR rules. It
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seems to me that proscribing the publication of material because it is
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conveyed on a magnetic media rather than paper pulp is an NSA
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initiative that is both destructive to our basic freedom of expression
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and to the trade renaissance that Vice President Al Gore and the
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Clinton Administration are trying to foster.
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Even the Supreme Court recognizes the role of the computer media in
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protecting our freedom; beginning this 1993 calendar year all
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decisions will be provided in electronic form. Further, as you may
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know, it was recently decided that White House records in electronic
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form must be protected as a permanent archive of our government.
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Clearly, magnetic media must be treated as a logical extension of the
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power and fundamental right of the print media.
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Please phone, fax, e-mail or post your ideas or any literature to me
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that you think useful if I have misapprehended the situation.
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Of course if you wish I will send you a gratis copy of the software
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(about nine megabytes of sources for DES, RSA, IDEA, Lucifer, PGP,
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SHA, and so on) for your advice and comments.
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Very truly yours,
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GRADY WARD
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+-------------------- WHAT YOU SHOULD DO ---------------------
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NSA and the US Treasury has started a new, aggressive campaign to
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prevent the spread of cryptographic ideas, algorithms, sources, and
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documentation. The subpoena was served on the ACW in the night
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because they MIGHT have sold a copy of source code, already available
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worldwide, to a foreign national.
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If you value the freedom to disseminate ideas on both paper and
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magnetic and electronic media, you should immediately preserve your
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right to have such knowledge by obtaining a copy of the source to
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Pretty Good Privacy and all other cryptographic materials before a
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possible complete blackout of such material is attempted by the US
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authorities.
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It is not yet against the law to possess source code to PGP, the
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world's foremost encryption application in the United States. Source
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is available for a variety of platforms including MS-DOS, Unix, and
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Macintosh from the following sites:
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soda.berkeley.edu
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ghost.dsi.unimi.it
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nic.funet.fi
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ota.ox.ac.uk
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van-bc.wimsey.bc.ca
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and many other sites
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For more information about PGP,
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send a blank mail message to:
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pgpinfo@mantis.co.uk
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--
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Grady Ward grady@netcom.com
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3449 Martha Ct. compiler of Moby lexicons
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Arcata, CA 95521-4884 e-mail or finger grady@netcom.com
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(707) 826-7715 (voice/24hr FAX) for more information
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------------------------------
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Date: Sun, 19 Sep 1993 22:29:54 CDT
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From: CuD Moderators <cudigest@mindvox.phantom.com>
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Subject: File 2--Phil Zimmermann's Comments on the Moby Crypto Incident
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On Tuesday, 14 September 93, Leonard Mikus, president of ViaCrypt,
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also known as LEMCOM Systems, in Phoenix, Arizona, was served a
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Subpoena to Testify Before Grand Jury, to produce documents. The
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subpoena was issued by the US District Court of Northern California,
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by Assistant US Attorney William P. Keane in San Jose, as part of an
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investigation from the San Jose office of US Customs, conducted by
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Special Agent Robin Sterzer. The US Attorney above Keane is Michael
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J. Yamaguchi.
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ViaCrypt is the company that will be selling a fully licensed
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commercial version of PGP, starting in November. ViaCrypt has a
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license from PKP to sell products that embody the patents held by PKP.
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That includes PGP, using the RSA algorithm.
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The subpoena, dated 9 September, orders the production of "Any and all
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correspondence, contracts, payments, and records, including those
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stored as computer data, involving international distribution related
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to ViaCrypt, PGP, Philip Zimmermann, and anyone or any entity acting
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on behalf of Philip Zimmermann for the time period June 1, 1991 to the
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present." The date specified for the production of documents is 22
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September 93.
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The written agreement between ViaCrypt and myself explicitly states
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that US State Department cryptographic export controls will be adhered
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to.
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The implications of this turn of events are that this US Customs
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investigation has escalated to the level of a Federal Grand Jury and a
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US Attorney. US Customs says that this change was precipitated by a
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ruling recently handed down from the State Department that PGP is not
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exportable. Other subpoenas and/or search warrants are expected.
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I am the principal target of the investigation. I have advised EFF,
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CPSR, and my other attorneys of the situation. A legal defense fund
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will be set up by my lead attorney (Phil Dubois, 303 444-3885) here in
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Boulder.
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This case raises some serious public policy questions regarding First
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Amendment rights to publish, rights to privacy as affected by
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widespread availability of cryptographic technology, the equivalence
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of electronic publication with paper publication, the availability of
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lawful domestic cryptographic technology in the face of export
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controls, and certain other Constitutional rights. This may turn into
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the test case for these issues.
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Philip Zimmermann
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------------------------------
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Date: Fri, 17 Sep 1993 11:21:17 -0700
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From: ssteele@eff.org (Shari Steele)
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Subject: File 3--Crypto Witchhunt?
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To the 'net community:
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EFF is very concerned about the Customs Department-initiated grand
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jury investigation into encryption export violations. Two U.S.
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companies have been subpoenaed to produce documents related to the
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"international distribution" of commercial products utilizing PGP and
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RSA source code. Neither of these companies are engaged in the
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international distribution of any illegal materials. EFF is working
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with the concerned parties and is trying to find out the scope of the
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grand jury investigation. Unfortunately for us in this case, grand
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jury investigations are secret, so learning the scope is proving to be
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quite difficult.
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What we do know is this:
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Austin Code Works, a software publisher in Austin, Texas (heavy sigh),
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has been planning to publish a code document written by Grady Ward
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called Moby Crypto. Grady describes Moby Crypto as simply containing
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descriptive source code, not executable object code, describing many
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cryptographic routines that are freely available around the world.
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Most of this material has been released in print form already. The
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important distinction seems to be that Moby Crypto will be released in
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machine-readable format. Austin Code Works has told Customs Agents
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that it does not intend to release Moby Crypto outside of the U.S.,
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yet the company has been subpoenaed to release all documents related
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to this product. (Incidently, if Moby Crypto contains no executable
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code, it should be exportable under ITAR, just as textbooks containing
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such materials are exportable.)
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ViaCrypt, a Phoenix, Arizona,-based (heavy sigh again -- man, does
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this ring familiar) software producer that has a license to sell
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software products that use the RSA algorithm, was issued a similar
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subpoena. ViaCrypt has recently contracted with Phil Zimmermann,
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creator of the PGP encryption code, to sell a commercial version of
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PGP. ViaCrypt only distributes its products containing the RSA
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algorithm within the United States, since RSA is not exportable under
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ITAR.
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EFF has been in touch with Phil Zimmermann and his attorney, Grady
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Ward, and the owner of Austin Code Works. We have advised everyone
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that there is nothing to hide and that they should abide by the
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subpoenas and produce the documents requested. We will not know what
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the appropriate response should be until the grand jury makes its
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determinations. In the meantime, we want everyone to know that EFF is
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committed to ensuring that the right to use and publish whatever
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encryption method an individual chooses to use is protected. Jerry
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Berman, EFF's Executive Director, issued the following internal
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message this morning:
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>I've assured Phil that he is not alone, and I have talked with his attorney.
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>If Phil is charged with export control violations based on making PGP
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>available in the US on a non-commercial basis and it happens to get
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>published or copied overseas, First Amendment issues indeed may be joined.
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>As of now, ViaCrypt has done no "exporting" and does not intend to. I have
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>the subpoena.
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Indeed, EFF has copies of both subpoenas. We will continue to keep
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you informed of what's going on as we learn the facts. EFF is deeply
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concerned, and we want Phil and everyone else involved to know that
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they are not alone. As soon as it becomes clear what specifically is
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being investigated, EFF will respond.
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Shari
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******************************************************************************
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Shari Steele
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Director of Legal Services
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Electronic Frontier Foundation
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1001 G Street, NW
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Suite 950 East
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Washington, DC 20001
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202/347-5400 (voice), 202/393-5509 (fax)
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ssteele@eff.org
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------------------------------
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Date: 09 Sep 93 21:28:41 EDT
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From: Urnst Kouch <70743.1711@COMPUSERVE.COM>
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Subject: File 4--PRESS RELEASE--Clinton Appoints Sci/Tech Czars (satire)
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(MODERATORS' NOTE: Urnst Kouch is editor of the Crypt Newsletter, an
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E-'Zine specializing in techno-political commentary, computer virus
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information, and occasional satire)).
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+++
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>>The press release from Hell:
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President Bill Clinton announced in late August that he would move
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quickly to set up a new department, to be headed by newly appointed
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science and technology czars Steven Spielberg and Michael Crichton.
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"In this new age of information overload," said Clinton in a radio
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address, "the United States can no longer entrust its technological
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edge to scientists and engineers, alone. For this reason, I am
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appointing Steven Spielberg and Michael Crichton as heads of a
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superagency empowered to do whatever it takes to keep the United
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States an inter-national leader in semi-conductors, biotechnology,
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multimedia, publishing, the war on drugs, cold fusion, smart nuclear
|
||
weapons, spy satellites, the war on AIDS, dinosaur revivification,
|
||
protein sequencing, information superhighway development, virtual
|
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reality gaming and pornographic cybersystems, and all sundry
|
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grandiloquent, meaningless entertainments."
|
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|
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The superagency, to be called the Department Of Ground-breaking
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Science, High-technology & Intellectual Twaddle (DOGSHIT) will
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revolutionize the scientific process, replacing the obsolete and
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stupid approval of new ideas by careful peer review, with a leaner and
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meaner more cost effective approach, claim Clinton administration
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||
officials.
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According to Crichton's information minister, Michael Eisner, the
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author and Speilberg would meet for weekly barnstorming sessions in
|
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which they would comb through current abstracts in SCIENCE and NATURE
|
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as well as breaking developments in OMNI, POPULAR SCIENCE, SPIN,
|
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COMPUTER SHOPPER and INFOWORLD.
|
||
|
||
"Michael and Steven will sift the wheat from the chaff every week,"
|
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said Eisner. "Active researchers are also invited to send electronic
|
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press releases describing their current work to DOGSHIT's Internet
|
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addresses. These contributions will also be included in the gleaning
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process." DOGSHIT's Internet portals, said Eisner, are:
|
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dshit@hollywood.edu; and dshit@bevhills.gov.
|
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|
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Ideas, information and data deemed worthy of continued serious study
|
||
will be prepared by Crichton into "action memos." "Action memos" can
|
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go any of four ways: into book projects, teleplays, merchandising or
|
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to Speilberg's nationalized conglomerate, AMBLIN/Industrial Light and
|
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Magic for immediate world wide implementation.
|
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|
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"In this manner," said Eisner, "the latest in scientific development
|
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can be fielded with maximum benefit to the American citizen without
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compromising the integrity of the scientific method. For too long,
|
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American minds have been the laughingstock of the industrialized
|
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nations; archetyped as scrawny and weak pencil-necked geeks incapable
|
||
of punching their way out of virtual wet paper bags. Now, from birth
|
||
until death, every American citizen's life will become part of a
|
||
continuing educational process. Walk into any mall and cardboard
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standees bearing government approved DOGSHIT books will educate the
|
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learning citizen, no matter his or her age, race or color. Television
|
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advertisements and shows will convey all manner of DOGSHIT
|
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technological developments, 24 hours a day. Newspapers will carry as
|
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much DOGSHIT science and technology as willing, and will receive
|
||
government subsidies approved by the agency, for doing so. It will be
|
||
_the_ paradigm for intellectual excellence in the 21st century and in
|
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its multi-media/multi-pronged strength-through-joy approach, Americans
|
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will use it to conquer the stars and make this a land where, truly,
|
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the sun never sets."
|
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|
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According to President Clinton, Crichton and Spielberg were chosen for
|
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their continuing advancement in all areas of key technologies;
|
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Crichton for know-how in technology transfer issues, molecular
|
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genetics, epidemiology, cybernetic behavior modification and making
|
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difficult scientific concepts understandable to cabbage; Spielberg for
|
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his work in supercomputers, optics, IR/visible spectroscopy, high
|
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energy physics, SETI and time travel.
|
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|
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Crichton and Spielberg were unavailable for comment but a Japanese
|
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man-in-the-street from the home island of Honshu, when informed of the
|
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US's new plan for technological dominance, screamed and said before
|
||
collapsing, "We're fucked!"
|
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|
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------------------------------
|
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|
||
Date: Tue, 14 Sep 1993 18:32:22 EDT
|
||
From: Cu Digest Moderators <cudigest@mindvox.phantom.com>
|
||
Subject: File 5--Libertarian Responsibility of The Cyberpunk Movement (Reprint)
|
||
|
||
((MODERATORS' NOTE: The following is reprinted from the IIRG's
|
||
Newsletter _Phantasy_, #18. IIRG's homebase is the Runestone BBS
|
||
and can be contacted at rune@world.std.com))
|
||
|
||
++++++
|
||
|
||
The Libertarian Responsibility of The Cyberpunk Movement
|
||
By Thomas Icom/Cybertek/IIRG
|
||
|
||
With the moves that various government powers have been taking to
|
||
institute a totalitarian form of government in this country, it has
|
||
now become the responsibility of the Cyberpunk movement to take such
|
||
measures as to prevent these actions from occurring and reverse what
|
||
damage has already occurred. When one takes into account the various
|
||
factors involved in reclaiming a democratic state from totalitarian
|
||
rule, it will be found that the Cyberpunk movement is the best
|
||
equipped to handle the task. The movement has the necessary political
|
||
attitudes, equipment, and knowledge to prevent further government
|
||
progress into totalitarian rule and reverse the steps that have
|
||
already been taken by various government entities towards that
|
||
direction. The Cyberpunk movement also has a personal stake in the
|
||
prevention of totalitarian rule; which has an equal footing with
|
||
altruism. It is for these reasons that the movement should be at the
|
||
forefront of "The Second American Revolution", and contribute their
|
||
knowledge and attitudes to its success, and the restoration of a
|
||
libertarian form of government to the United States of America.
|
||
|
||
The Cyberpunk movement has always had the libertarian attitude of
|
||
"The government which governs best, governs least.", and "Technology
|
||
belongs in the hands of the people". These attitudes follow in the
|
||
footsteps of the country's founding fathers. The lack of such an
|
||
attitude by those in power has been a major factor in the totalitarian
|
||
slides this country has been experiencing. The Cyberpunk movement has
|
||
also stayed away from the forefront of politics; preferring to stay in
|
||
the background, let others "run" things, and act as "watchers";
|
||
keeping vigilant for lapses in judgement by the ruling powers. This
|
||
attitude is precisely what is needed for those who will be at the
|
||
forefront of The Second American Revolution, for once the initial job
|
||
is done, "disinterested" parties will be needed to ensure the mistakes
|
||
of the past are not repeated. The existence of well-equipped
|
||
Cyberpunk "Watchers" will act as a future deterrent to those wishing
|
||
to revert back to totalitarian ways.
|
||
|
||
The Cyberpunk movement has always given a high priority to
|
||
acquiring knowledge in many different technological and other fields.
|
||
They have also been adamant about implementing the mass-distribution
|
||
of such information. These two factors alone are qualifiers for any
|
||
group conducting low intensity conflict towards the institution of a
|
||
libertarian form of government. In addition, the Cyberpunk movement
|
||
stresses practical "hands-on" applications of the knowledge they
|
||
collect and disseminate. This is another factor that makes the
|
||
movement well suited for the task at hand.
|
||
|
||
Since the Cyberpunk movement has the proper attitudes and
|
||
knowledge available to it, they are well suited for the task of
|
||
ensuring the United States regains and maintains a libertarian form of
|
||
government. Just as the founding fathers had a responsibility to
|
||
create the United States, the freest country in the world; it is now
|
||
the responsibility of the Cyberpunk movement to restore the freedom
|
||
that this once great country lost, and to take on the responsibility
|
||
towards the operational aspects of The Second American Revolution and
|
||
the re-establishment of a libertarian form of government in this
|
||
country. There is, however, an even more important and pressing
|
||
reason as to why the movement should act.
|
||
|
||
Throughout history, even in benign and democratic governments,
|
||
there has been prejudice towards individuals and groups who have the
|
||
capability of self-sufficiency. Such groups have been persecuted
|
||
severely, with their members often facing death. This has occurred
|
||
even if such groups have had no political leanings whatsoever. They
|
||
were simply viewed as a threat to the powers that be, and dealt with.
|
||
By taking a look around, any astute observer will be able to see this
|
||
beginning to happen with the Cyberpunk movement. In this instance, we
|
||
have the greatest responsibility of all, the responsibility to
|
||
ourselves to ensure our survival.
|
||
|
||
One must remember that our responsibility to the revolution does
|
||
not imply we should organize any more than we already have. In fact,
|
||
our activities should be kept to small groups, and be as disorganized
|
||
overall as possible, as to better stay hidden and difficult to track
|
||
down. Twenty small groups operating on their own will be harder to
|
||
track down than one large group. If everyone just simply does there
|
||
part, there will be no problem winning this one. Our shadowy
|
||
existence and characteristic of being "everywhere and nowhere" will
|
||
also act as a deterrent to keep the future government leaders from
|
||
acting as stupid as the ones we presently have in existence.
|
||
|
||
------------------------------
|
||
|
||
From: grmeyer@GENIE.GEIS.COM
|
||
Date: Sat, 18 Sep 93 04:28:00 BST
|
||
Subject: File 6--CuNews
|
||
|
||
Auto Rentals and Poor Drivers
|
||
=============================
|
||
More and more automobile rental companies are embracing "DriverCheck", a
|
||
database marketed by TML Information Services, Inc of Forest Hills, NY.
|
||
DriverCheck allows companies such as Hertz, National, Thrifty, Dollar,
|
||
and Enterprise (Alamo is currently testing the system) to check state
|
||
drivers licence data before renting a car to a potential customer. If
|
||
a driver has too many tickets, they may be stranded without being able
|
||
to rent a car. The system is similar to the one used by insurance companies
|
||
when issuing automobile policies.
|
||
(Information Week. Sept 13, 1993 pg15)
|
||
|
||
Health Care Fraud Database
|
||
==========================
|
||
US Representatives Stark (D-California), Schumer (D-NY), and Senator
|
||
Cohen (R-Maine) have drafted legislation to create a national database
|
||
of people guilty of health care fraud.
|
||
(ComputerWorld Sept. 13, 1993 pg14)
|
||
|
||
Cyberspace is a Goldmine for Ethnographers
|
||
==========================================
|
||
Robert Wright, in an article in the Sept 13th (pg 20) issue of The New
|
||
Republic, suggests that the Internet is a boon for anthropologists. It
|
||
presents a fascinating opportunity for observation and study of groups and
|
||
behavior. [As the CuD moderators have been saying since 1986.]
|
||
(Information Week. Sept 13, 1993. pg54)
|
||
|
||
------------------------------
|
||
|
||
Date: Tue, 14 Sep 93 9:36:49 MET DST
|
||
From: Jorgen Nissen <JorNi@TEMA.LIU.SE>
|
||
Subject: File 7--Summary of Boys in front of Computers (Thesis)
|
||
|
||
((MODERATORS' NOTE: The following thesis abstract describes Jorgen
|
||
Nissen's project. A longer version can be found in the CuD ftp
|
||
archives in /pub/cud/papers))
|
||
|
||
Abstract
|
||
|
||
Boys in front of Computers
|
||
Young Enthusiasts in the World of Computer Technology
|
||
|
||
Link|ping Studies in Arts and Science No. 89
|
||
Pojkarna vid datorn
|
||
Unga entusiaster i datateknikens v%rld
|
||
J|rgen Nissen
|
||
|
||
The aim of this study is to describe and to search for an
|
||
understanding of Swedish computer captivated youth. This group is
|
||
generally known as hackers, often connoting queer loners and/or
|
||
persons indulging in illegal activities. This picture is shown not to
|
||
be a good representation of the Swedish counterpart. Several methods
|
||
have been employed; participatory observation, interviews,
|
||
questionnaires, analyses of the content of computer-mediated
|
||
communication and of computer magazines.
|
||
|
||
In the first part of the thesis theoretical concepts are discussed
|
||
such as developmental task, culture (sub-, counterculture) and
|
||
modernity. The concept microworld is launched as a research tool. The
|
||
microworld includes the activities generated around the computer as
|
||
well as the actors.
|
||
|
||
In the second part the content of the microworld is analysed. Almost
|
||
without exceptions, the inhabitants are boys and men. One chapter
|
||
addresses the history of computer interest, and three themes are
|
||
elaborated; a tendency towards political alternativism, illegal
|
||
activities and the existence of a hacker-ethic. Formal associations
|
||
and informal groups are described. The content of a so called BBS, a
|
||
computerized notice-board, was found to be ordinary. The magazines
|
||
nourish dreams about making a fortune as a professional computer game
|
||
programmer.
|
||
|
||
The third part focuses on the inhabitants of the microworld. Three
|
||
different groups are identified and presented through comprehensible
|
||
portraits. The groups can be distinguished by means of several
|
||
criteria of which two are decisive: Does the boy earn money regularly
|
||
or not on his skill? Is he or is he not well integrated into the
|
||
microworld? A questionnaire survey shows that the group of severely
|
||
computer captivated boys in Sweden is quite small.
|
||
|
||
In the final part the microworld is discussed as being partly a
|
||
counterculture. The computer skills provide ways for the boys to
|
||
enter into adult life. The microworld also encompasses an informal
|
||
educational system. Important driving forces behind the boys intense
|
||
interest in computers is gaining social benefits and a sense of
|
||
belonging to a wider social context.
|
||
|
||
Index terms: computer-mediated communication, computer interest,
|
||
counterculture, crackers, developmental task, hackers, microworld,
|
||
modernity, subculture, Sweden, youth.
|
||
|
||
ISBN 91-7139-128-2 ISSN 0282-9800
|
||
|
||
Institute of Tema Research Department of Technology and Social Change
|
||
Link|ping University, S-581 83 Link|ping, Sweden
|
||
Link|ping 1993
|
||
|
||
------------------------------
|
||
|
||
Date: Fri, 17 Sep 1993 21:00:53 -0700
|
||
From: Jim Warren <jwarren@WELL.SF.CA.US>
|
||
Subject: File 8--UPDATE #30-AB1624: Gov Has Until Oct.10th
|
||
|
||
Sep. 17, 1993
|
||
|
||
GOV. WILSON'S PRESS OFFICE: NO WORD ON AB1624 AS OF SEP.17th P.M.
|
||
|
||
I called the Gov's pressoids this afternoon. They said the bill
|
||
probably wasn't even in the Governor's offices yet, and estimated that
|
||
his action on it - if any - might not come for several weeks.
|
||
|
||
GRRR! CORRECT STAFF CORRECTED THE CORRECTION OF THE CORRECT DEADLINE
|
||
|
||
First I was told that Gov. Wilson had until Oct. 10th to sign, veto
|
||
or ignore AB1624 (ignoring it equals signing it; California has a
|
||
"pocket signature" as opposed to a "pocket veto"). I tol' ya so.
|
||
|
||
Then legislative staff researched it more and - the day after the bill
|
||
passed the told me that Wilson only had 12 days from that event, since
|
||
it was the first year of a two-year legislative session. I tol' ya
|
||
so.
|
||
|
||
Now, they have researched it further - sez they:
|
||
|
||
If the bill had passed the legislative more than 12 days before the
|
||
end of the legislative session (Sep. 10), then the Gov would only have
|
||
had twelve days.
|
||
|
||
However, AB1624 passed on Sep. 8th, only two days before the session
|
||
ended. Therefore -- yes! -- the Governor *does* have until Oct. 10th
|
||
to diddle de bill.
|
||
|
||
See? I tol' ya so.
|
||
|
||
IF YOU HAVEN'T YET CALLED OR WRITTEN SUPPORTING AB1624, PLEASE DO -
|
||
SOON!
|
||
|
||
Covert opposition to AB1624 can prompt Wilson to veto the bill unless
|
||
he knows that, "The whole world is watching." Well, more or less.
|
||
:-)
|
||
Gov. Pete Wilson, State Capitol, Sacramento CA 95814
|
||
|
||
voice/916-445-2841; fax/916-445-4633
|
||
|
||
BOWEN'S LEGISLATIVE AIDE: AB1624 GOT ITS SUPPORT FROM ONLINE ACTION
|
||
|
||
Mary Winkley, the [underpaid!] workaholic aide to AB1624-author Debra
|
||
Bowen, has reiterated that our online-organized efforts and saturation
|
||
actions just before crucial votes were what kept the bill alive and
|
||
pushed it through the legislature. NEAT!
|
||
|
||
I am hoping to get contact-info for the 70+ organizations now
|
||
supporting the bill. I am *nost* interested in researching what
|
||
impacts net-action had on this legislative effort.
|
||
|
||
And - of course! - I'll write up the findings for all to see.
|
||
|
||
OVER 70 ORGANIZATIONS AND 1,200 INDIVIDUALS NOW FORMALLY SUPPORT
|
||
AB1624
|
||
|
||
Winkley reported that there are now 74 organizations who have filed
|
||
formal notices with Bowen's office supporting AB1624. Just a sample:
|
||
Academic Senate of the California State University System
|
||
American Association of Law Libraries
|
||
American Association of University Women
|
||
American Foundation for the Blind
|
||
California Common Cause
|
||
California Congress of Parents, Teachers and Students
|
||
California Council of the Blind
|
||
California Environmental Associates
|
||
California Newspaper Publishers Association
|
||
California Public Interest Research Group (CalPIRG)
|
||
California Rural Legal Assistance Foundation%
|
||
Council of California County Law Libraries [county-funded]
|
||
Friends of the River
|
||
The Fund for Animals
|
||
HIV/AIDS Information Bulletin Board System
|
||
Housing California
|
||
Independent Owner/Operators Bookkeeping Association
|
||
League of Women Voters of California
|
||
Los Angeles Women's Legislative Coalition
|
||
Northern California Association of Law Libraries
|
||
Palo Alto Working Group on Civil Liberties
|
||
Serenity Guest House
|
||
Sierra Club
|
||
Solano County Taxpayers' Association
|
||
South Bay Association of Chambers of Commerce
|
||
Tiburon Fire Protection District
|
||
University of California
|
||
University of Southern California
|
||
Western Center on Law and Poverty
|
||
Westside Center for Independent Living
|
||
World Institute on Disabilities
|
||
and the cities of Berkeley, Los Altos and Sonoma,
|
||
and counties of Del Norte, Glenn and Santa Cruz,
|
||
plus the Computer Software Industry Association, Computer Professionals
|
||
for Social Responsibility - Berkeley Chapter, Electronic Frontier
|
||
Foundation, Government Technology Magazine,
|
||
and of course Apple, Autodesk, Internex, People's Computer Company,
|
||
Snyder Research, Sunnyside Computing, SunWorld Magazine, Wired Magazine,
|
||
etc.
|
||
|
||
[I was told there was also a significant statewide push by the
|
||
Perotoids that generated a flood of several hundred cards and letters
|
||
supporting the bill - that show up in a list of 1200+ individual
|
||
supporters.]
|
||
|
||
And - yes! - Gov. Wilson *can* ignore these supporters and veto
|
||
AB1624, unless he and his staff are made aware that all of us really
|
||
*are* interested - and watching for his decision. Something like that
|
||
happened last year with an effort to reform the state's open-meetings
|
||
law.
|
||
|
||
*SOMEDAY* I *WILL* CATCH UP ON WEEKS OF BACKED-UP EMAIL
|
||
Honest. I will. I will. [I need a "smiley" representing "Blush!"]
|
||
|
||
------------------------------
|
||
|
||
Date: Sat, 18 Sep 1993 21:00:38 -0700
|
||
From: Earle Ady <eady@ZEUS.COSMOS.GMU.EDU>
|
||
Subject: File 9--NETSYS.COM - Public Access availability
|
||
|
||
((MODERATORS' NOTE: One of the FAQs we receive is: "I don't have
|
||
Internet access. Can you tell me how I can get it?"
|
||
|
||
If you cannot obtain access through your employer or local
|
||
school/university, then the best way is to obtain an account on a
|
||
public access system. While systems such as Compuserv, GEnie, or
|
||
Prodigy are among the most popular, they do not provide the same
|
||
services as systems such as The Well, Mindvox, Netcom, and others. We
|
||
try to identify new entries that have promise. Some users find
|
||
multiple subscriptions helpful. While this may seem expensive, systems
|
||
have different personalities, specialize in particular files or
|
||
services, and off unique features not found on others. Although some
|
||
systems may be in competition with others, in general, the more
|
||
quality systems there are, then the more the cyberculture grows. As
|
||
the culture grows, the systems flourish. BOARDWATCH Magazine runs
|
||
stories and advertisements on BBS-type systems, and remains an
|
||
excellent source of information for systems-shoppers. Some systems,
|
||
such as The Well and Mindvox, have become so well known that they need
|
||
little advertising.
|
||
|
||
One impressive new entry is netsys.com (telnet netsys.com). Services
|
||
include full Internet access, including IRC, ftp capability,
|
||
reasonable rates, and other features. We briefly described it in a
|
||
past CuD issue, and asked for additional information. The following
|
||
answers most basic questions about netsys.com))
|
||
|
||
+++
|
||
|
||
NETSYS COMMUNICATION SERVICES Palo Alto, California
|
||
|
||
Netsys is a network of large Sun servers dedicated to providing
|
||
Internet access to individuals and corporations that need solid,
|
||
reliable Internet connectivity.
|
||
|
||
An account on Netsys will provide members with :
|
||
|
||
Electronic Mail: to/from the Internet and gatewayed networks.
|
||
(including BITNET, MILNET, and even Compuserve).
|
||
|
||
Usenet: The worldwide networked message system that generates
|
||
roughly 40-50 megabytes of information daily.
|
||
|
||
Telnet: The capability to login to any remote host in any part
|
||
of the world.
|
||
|
||
Ftp: The ability to send and receive documents/programs/data
|
||
to/from any site in the world.
|
||
|
||
Misc: Archie,Gopher, Internet Relay Chat, and WAIS search tools.
|
||
|
||
Support: 24 hour emergency response service.
|
||
|
||
Dialups: Palo Alto area, High Speed (V.32 and PEP)
|
||
|
||
Private Accounts: $20 monthly ( with file storage capacity of 5 megabytes)
|
||
|
||
$1 per megabyte per month over 5 megabytes.
|
||
|
||
Commercial Accounts: $40 monthly (file storage capacity of 10 megabytes)
|
||
$1 per megabyte per month over 10 megabytes.
|
||
|
||
Newsfeeds: We offer both nntp and uucp based newsfeeds , with all domestic
|
||
newsgroups,and including all foreign newsgroups.
|
||
|
||
SPECIAL FEATURES THAT NO ONE ELSE CAN PROVIDE
|
||
|
||
Satellite Weather: Netsys has available real time satellite weather
|
||
imagery. Images are available in gif, or Sun raster
|
||
format. Contact us for NFS mirroring, and other special
|
||
arrangement. These images are directly downlinked from
|
||
the GOES bird. Contact Steve Eigsti (steve@netsys.com)
|
||
|
||
Satellite Usenet: Netsys is offering Pagesat's satellite newsfeed service
|
||
|
||
for large volume news distribution. Members of Netsys
|
||
can obtain substantial discounts for the purchase and
|
||
service costs of this revolutionary method of Usenet news
|
||
distribution.Both Unix and MS Windows software available.
|
||
Contact Kate Alexander (kate@pagesat.com) for product
|
||
information.
|
||
|
||
Paging Services: Netsys is offering Pagesat's Internet to Pager mail service.
|
||
Members of Netsys can obtain critical email to pager
|
||
services. Pagesat has the ability to gateway any critical
|
||
electronic mail to your display pager.
|
||
|
||
Leased Line Internet Connections
|
||
|
||
Pagesat Inc. offers low cost 56k and T1 Internet connections all over the
|
||
United States. Since Pagesat is an FCC common carrier, our savings on
|
||
leased lines can be passed on to you. For further information, contact
|
||
Duane Dubay (djd@pagesat.com).
|
||
|
||
We offer other services such as creating domains, acting as MX
|
||
forwarders, and of course uucp based newsfeeds.
|
||
|
||
Netsys is now offering completely open shell access to internet users.
|
||
For accounts, or more information , send mail to netsys@netsys.com
|
||
|
||
Netsys will NEVER accept more members than our capacity to serve.
|
||
|
||
Netsys prides itself on it's excellent connectivity (including multiple T1's,
|
||
and SMDS) ,lightly loaded systems, and it's clientel.
|
||
|
||
We're not your average Internet Service Provider. And it shows.
|
||
|
||
------------------------------
|
||
|
||
End of Computer Underground Digest #5.73
|
||
************************************
|
||
|
||
|