Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site decvax.UUCP
Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!minow
From: minow@decvax.UUCP (Martin Minow)
Newsgroups: net.micro
Subject: Re: 'free' information from the airwaves
Message-ID: <432@decvax.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 11-Apr-84 20:33:33 EST
Article-I.D.: decvax.432
Posted: Wed Apr 11 20:33:33 1984
Date-Received: Fri, 13-Apr-84 00:08:14 EST
References: <994@vax2.fluke.UUCP>
Organization: DEC UNIX Engineering Group
Lines: 27

Kurt Guntheroth asks "in what sense is it illegal to steal from
the cable"  (HBO, teletext, etc.)

If it's on the cable, your use of it is goverened by your agreement
with the cable company, which specifies exactly what you may listen
to or watch.  If you didn't order HBO, you have promised the
cable company you won't watch it.  Cable is not over-the-air
broacasting and is not regulated (as a broadcast service) by
the FCC.

Over the air services (such as HBO microwave feeds to subscribing
hotels) are regulated by the "secrecy in communications" paragraph
of the Communications Act of 1934.  You might want to read it
sometimes.  Also, I believe that the ARRL has published several
expanations of the FCC regulations that will probably cover the
same area.  To summarize, you cannot be prevented from monitoring
any signal, but you may not divulge the contents, or the existance,
of that signal unless it is in a general broadcast band (or amateur
band) or some very special circumstance exists (such as a Mayday
call) exists (in which case your duties are clearly specified).

So, in summary, you can't.

Martin Minow
decvax!minow