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From: mccoy@casbah.acns.nwu.edu (Jim Mccoy)
Newsgroups: comp.society.futures
Subject: Re: Databases and comm channels:  future trends? (Really about Prodigy)
Message-ID: <1081@casbah.acns.nwu.edu>
Date: 16 Nov 90 07:52:11 GMT
References: <90Nov12.154523pst.17170@alpha.xerox.com> <12858@uswat.UUCP> <2737@polari.UUCP> <{0*^=C#@rpi.edu>
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In article <{0*^=C#@rpi.edu>, djacobs@pawl.rpi.edu (Daniel H. Jacobs) writes:
|> [some stuff about what people are using as analogies for Prodigy deleted]
|> 
|> Once again, does Prodigy have the right to boot users from the system for
|> maligning the service and sending out a multitude of messages to users (aka
|> harrassing)?  Anyone who says "yes" to this should also agree that MCI,
|> SPRINT, and their competitors also have the right to remove customers.  I
|> not sure, but I believe that phone harassment is a misdemeanor, so BBS
|> harrassment should be dealt with in the same manner.  In any case, I can't
|> remember a MCI customer being cut off from the service for saying bad 
|> things about MCI or making harassing phone calls.  Furthermore, does
|> Prodigy have the right to scan private e-mail?  Again, there is Federal
|> protection for tapping into a phone line or tampering with the mail,
|> so there should be the same protection afforded to e-mail, which is the 
|> electronic form of communication.

There is a difference here.  The postal system is a government entity
whose operation is protected and controlled by the federal government
(this is why tampering with the mail system in any way is a felony).
The phone companies are "common carriers".  In a nutshell, this means
that they are given a certain amount of protection, like the postal
system, from tampering and a few other things.  In return they must
agree to not discriminate in service, regardless of what a person says
or does, and must protect their subscribers (users) from tampering and
similar things.

Prodigy is not a common carrier.  Because of this is has the right to
deny service to people.  I am not sure how they fit into the
Electronic Communications Provacy Act.

jim

-----------------------------< Jim McCoy >------------------------------------
mccoy@acns.nwu.edu                  |  "Those whom the gods would destroy,
mccoy@ils.nwu.edu                   |   they first make mad...
#include <disclaimer.h>             |              -Sophocles
-----------------------<"To thine own self be true">--------------------------