Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/17/84; site hplabsb.UUCP Path: utzoo!utcs!lsuc!pesnta!hplabsb!bl From: bl@hplabsb.UUCP Newsgroups: net.legal Subject: BBS legislation Message-ID: <3058@hplabsb.UUCP> Date: Mon, 16-Sep-85 20:36:53 EDT Article-I.D.: hplabsb.3058 Posted: Mon Sep 16 20:36:53 1985 Date-Received: Wed, 18-Sep-85 18:47:15 EDT Distribution: net Organization: Hewlett Packard Labs, Palo Alto CA Lines: 98 Here is an article from our local newsgroup that I thought all of you would find interesting. From postnews Mon Sep 16 17:34:17 1985 Subject: Re: Upcoming Federal BBS Laws Newsgroups: hp.forum References: <1500002@hpcea.UUCP> > # Written 7:23 pm Aug 27, 1985 by Dave-Platt%LADC@CISL-SERVICE-MULTICS in hpfa.msggroup > # Subject: Laws concerning BBS > From hplabs!Dave-Platt%LADC@CISL-SERVICE-MULTICS Tue Aug 27 19:23:17 1985 > Date: Tue, 27 Aug 85 10:52 PST > From: Dave Platt > To: MsgGroup > Subject: Laws concerning BBS > > I downloaded the following information from a bulletin board a couple > of weeks ago... it bears on the same issue as the recent messages from > Mark Crispin and Dave Mensing. Particularly disturbing to me is the > suggestion that BBS might be required to register with the government > as public utilities! It's also disturbing that Congress is writing > new laws which would regulate BBS without consulting the very people > who write the software and run the boards! [This is disturbing but not > particularly surprising to me... I once read someone's advice that if you > like either sausages or law you should not observe them in the process > of being made... sigh.] > > If I see any follow-up information (e.g. a contact address for the > ad hoc group mentioned in this file) I'll post it also. > > ----------------------------------------------- > > BBSLAW01.MSG From Chip Berlet, Public Eye Magazine. > HELP FIGHT BAD BBS LAWS - 01 > > FEDERAL LEGISLATION RESTRICTING BBS OPERATION DUE SOON! > > POST THIS MESSAGE ON EVERY BBS IN AMERICA! > > A new federal law that would outlaw some BBS systems > and severely restrict all others could be passed by Congress > in 1985. A mobilization of SYSOPS and BBS users is urgently > needed to ensure we have a chance to speak out on the new law. > Watch BBS's for messages with "BBSLAWXX.MSG" headers or > "HeLP FIGHT BAD BBS LAWS - XX" titles. An ad-hoc group will be > posting these messages on BBS's and the commercial systems. > LAWMUG SYSOP Paul Bernstein and I have learned the law could > be introduced as soon as MID JULY! Although aspects of the new > law have been discussed for months by "experts" in Washington, > NOT ONE SYSOP WAS CONSULTED until a June 20 conference in Chicago > which Paul and I attended. > 0 Vague language in another telecommunications law already > introduced in Congress might also restrict BBS activities. > We urged the Congressional aide involved in that legislation to > exempt BBS systems until we could let SYSOPS and lawyers study > the language more carefully. We must also monitor this law. > The law restricting BBS operations was prompted by panic > over the possibility that children (minors) might read > pornographic material, and by the wave of publicity regarding > the malicious hackers and illegal credit card and phone > information posted on BBS's by electronic graffiti vandals. > Among the ideas SERIOUSLY DISCUSSED for the new federal law > restricting BBS's are provisions which would require: > * Registration of all BBS's as a public utility. > * BBS users to log in with, and post their legal names. > * SYSOPS to keep a log of all names of users. > * SYSOPS to keep a log of all messages & access times. > * Criminal penalties for SYSOPS whose BBS's contain > illegal messages posted on them - even if the SYSOP > was not aware of the message and had not been informed > the message was there nor given a chance to remove it! > While the law is currently only being discussed, there is > much pressure to restrict and regulate BBS's. A good BBS law > could protect BBS's and SYSOPS. A bad law could destroy BBS's > in their infancy as a telecommunications phenomena. > BBS's put the indivial back into mass society in the age > of telecommunications. BBS's encourage information sharing and > remove barriers to discussion posed by social status, wealth, > class, race, sex, physical size, and many physical handicaps. > bBS's encourage the democratic process and are a powerful new > communications system which deserves Constitutional protection > and First Amendment Rights. > NO LEGISLATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION! There will be differing > views of wording, law, and tactics; all should be given a chance > to be heard. Congress should delay passage of any BBS legislation > until BBS users and SYSOPS have a chance to discuss the legal > issues and make their opinions known in a series of Congressional > hearings. Our discussion must start immediately and we must > organize to block bad BBS legislation until our voices are heard. > We share the responsibility. Time is short. Spread the word. > It is the electronic age. We are all Paul Revere.... > > # End of text from hpfa.msggroup on hpcea.UUCP I would assume that BBS's are protected under the first amendment. As for abuse of BBS's, there are certainly other laws already in existance to deal with it such as invasion of privacy and libel. Brought to you by Super Global Mega Corp .com