Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!lll-winken!lll-tis!helios.ee.lbl.gov!nosc!ucsd!brian
From: brian@ucsd.EDU (Brian Kantor)
Newsgroups: news.admin
Subject: Re: Your right to swing your fist stops at my nose!
Keywords: Soap Flakes Required
Message-ID: <974@ucsd.EDU>
Date: 10 Jun 88 16:43:35 GMT
References: <5816@cup.portal.com> <581@picuxa.UUCP> <13@n0atp.UUCP> <2744@ttrdc.UUCP>
Reply-To: brian@ucsd.edu (Brian Kantor)
Organization: The Avant-Garde of the Now, Ltd.
Lines: 27

Actually, it's the content of Usenet in general that keeps it off ham
packet radio.  Distribution of messages as Usenet does - i.e.,
broadcasting the contents to anyone who tunes in - is only permitted for
bulletins and notices of relevance to amateur radio.

By the way, encryption for the purpose of obscuring the content of the
message is prohibited on ham radio also.  Guess they're afraid we hams
might be plotting the overthow of the government, or some other
worthwhile idea.

There is nothing in the FCC rules (that I know of) that prohibits using
radio to distribute Usenet or any other similar bulletin board message
system, but NOT ham radio.

You might want to look into using unused SCA on FM stations or
vertical-interval coding on TV signals - there is some possibility that
under the new ECPA they'd be considered private communications and not
subject to attack on broadcasting profanity or obscenity grounds as an 
open broadcast might have been.  Consult a lawyer for an opinion - I
don't think there've been any court decisions (nor cases filed) yet.

	Brian Kantor	UC San Diego

			"Why don't I just go to law school for 
			4 years instead of paying you?
			At your rates versus the tuition, I'd 
			come out ahead halfway through!"
				- Zippy