Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!ucbvax!decwrl!sun!pitstop!texsun!convex!uunet!mcvax!ndosl!symbas!tag
From: tag@symbas.UUCP (Arne Gisvold)
Newsgroups: comp.misc
Subject: Re: No UUCP to Soviet Union yet...
Message-ID: <537@symbas.UUCP>
Date: 13 Feb 89 11:42:21 GMT
References: <10686@well.UUCP>
Reply-To: tag@symbas.UUCP (Tor-Arne Gisvold)
Organization: Symbiotic Computer Systems A/S, Trondheim, Norway
Lines: 57

In-reply-to: crunch@well.UUCP's message of 12 Feb 89 09:28:21 GMT
Newsgroups: comp.misc
Subject: Re: No UUCP to Soviet Union yet...
References: <10686@well.UUCP>

In article <10686@well.UUCP> crunch@well.UUCP (John Draper) writes:

>      Ok people,   Apparently there seems to be a big mis-understanding
>   here about Soviet access to UseNet or UUCP.    And I want to interject
>   whats really going on.    First off,   for all intents and
>   purposes,  UUCP into the USSR doesn't really officially exist,  although 
>   the technical means probably exists.   First off,  the US State department 
>   of Commerce and probably a ton of OTHER USA agencys must first approve a 
>   UUCP link.   Not only must the US Government give approval,  but ALSO the 
>   Soviet Government.   A LOT of political and economic issues must first be
>   resolved,  like Who will pay for it??  What technology or types of data 
>   transmissions would be authorised??   How is it going to be controlled??
>   Will it be monitored (Of course)??  and who will do it??
>   what other types of restrictions would be imposed??    The list goes on.
>   Then,  I suspect that  site administrators would ALSO have to be notified,  
>   especially if they deal with sensitive material.    I suspect the site
>   will be in the USA,  and be tightly controlled.



 
>    Usually,  references to
>   68000 and 286 is OK (As of this time),  and 68010, 68020, and 030's
>   as well as 32 bit 386 machines and their specifications will prevent
>   me from sending it.    I will usually notify the sender.    So,  lets
>   use common sense folks,   there is a LOT of other information that is
>   NOT taboo.    Also,   if anyone is interested,  I will publish dates
>   and descriptions of Soviet Trade shows if anyone is interested.   Just
>   let me know..


Who are you kidding about USENET importance and access? Today you can
subscribe to a number of Dial-In Usenet sites, all you need is a modem
and possibly a VISA card (or other credit/charge card) and read all
postings/newsgroups they desire - the USENET site has no way of
knowing that the user is calling from USSR, and absolutely no way of
censoring information about certain processors on the COCOM list, the
billing address on the card could of course be anybody employed in a
western country.

BTW. a number of USENET sites are situated outside USA, and even in
Universities with Eastern block students with access to USENET. USENET
links are established to a number of BBS systems (for example FIDONET)
over which USENET as such has absolutely no control.

Regards

-- 
!  Tor-Arne Gisvold   -   Symbiotic Computer Systems A/S
!  adress : Nedre Bakklandet 75, p.o. box 354,  N7001 Trondheim, Norway
!  UUCP : ...mcvax!ndosl!symbas.UUCP!tag              AppleLink : NOR0038
!  phone: +47-7-515544		 FAX : +47-7-532027   BIX       : tgisvold