[12861] in Commercialization & Privatization of the Internet
Canadian BBS licensing
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Nobody)
Thu Jun 2 01:17:28 1994
From: <an49@desert.hacktic.nl> (Nobody)
To: com-priv@psi.com
Date: Thu, 1 Jun 1994 18:51:50 GMT+1
Reply-To: <an49@desert.hacktic.nl> ( Nobody )
@MSGID: 9:2400/900 868B6912
This message was from DAVE MITCHELL to ALL,
originally in conference PAULREVERE
and was forwarded to you by DAN FEELY.
-------------------------
Note that although this is happening in Canada, it will soon be proposed
here in the US also... Remember, the 'Information SuperHighway' is in our
future! DM :<
----------------------------------------
>From : BILL LEWIS
Conf : 002 - MagNet General Messages
ATTENTION ALL USERS:
====================
We have a new problem. Everyone knows that lately there has been
a crackdown on Bulletin Boards which carry pornography,pirated
software, etc. There is, however, a new and much more powerful threat
which is threatening to stop all privately run BBS's.
The Canadian Radio and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) is
currently in the process of setting itself up to regulate Public
bulletin boards. They want to make it an offense to run a BBS without
a CRTC license. If licensing comes into effect, the BBS scene will
quite literally shrivel up and die.
Consider the example of radio in the 40's and 50's. Before the
CRTC was formed, anyone could broadcast radio signals legally from
their home on any bandwidth. Fearing obscenity and extreme access to
information, the CRTC was formed to sell licenses to broadcasters.
Without such a license, you could be prosecuted for broadcasting. The
result of this action can be seen today: the only radio stations we see
are totally mainstream and are hell-bent on making pro
listeners or informing the public.
We all know that the bulletin board systems are a great way to get
alternative information. We can get information on the Paul Teele /
Karla Homolka trials. We can get new insights as to what is really
happening in the former Yugoslavia through the giant Internet. We
currently have access to multitudes of information that isn't available
through the mainstream media.
If licensing comes into affect, we will LOSE this access. Not only
will the pirate boards be hunted down and exterminated,but all
currently LEGAL PUBLIC DOMAIN BBS's will also be made illegal unless
they can afford a license. And who do you think will get licenses?
Only those willing to follow the CRTC guidelines for radio and
television. Corporations and rich executives. The BBS world, our
underground paradise (if you will) is in great danger of becoming a
commercial hell like the rest of today's media.
We don't yet know what the proposed licensing fee will be,but it
could anywhere in the area of $300-$5,000. This could also depend on
the size of the BBS. However, most BBS's will simply close up shop if
the government wants a license. The government will simply weed out
all the little guys and support the big guys.
This WILL HAPPEN, and sooner than you think! The U.S. Government
has already started doing this, with the new Information SuperHighway
being the flag-ship of government regulated systems. The Canadian
government is going farther, and must be stopped now.
Before I go into my plan of action, I want to tell you that if
licensing comes into effect, if will be basically impossible to beat
the system. All pirate radio stations in North America have been
crushed by the government in a matter of months. Imagine how easy it
will be to crush pirate bulletin board systems (and by that I simply
mean BBS's without a license) with traceable phone numbers. Bell
Canada would be sure to help the CRTC bust those boards. And the RCMP
would have a real easy time busting any boards with illegal software,
because those boards would not have licenses. The CRTC finds the board
through Bell,arrests the sysop for running a board without a license,
then informs the RCMP that this sysop was allowing copyrighted material
to be transferred through his/her bbs. That sysop, for the first time
in his/her life, is suddenly looking at a possible jail term.
COULD YOU IMAGINE GOING TO JAIL FOR RUNNING A BBS????????
That, I admit, is the extreme case, but it is looking more and more likely
as time goes on. If you're as pissed off about this as I am, then keep
reading, because I have a plan of action/protest to stop this from
happening.
WE are the only people out there who can stop this from
transpiring. Only the extremely computer literate, those of us who
know the ins and outs of the BBS scene and computers generally, will be
able to generate an argument strong enough to counter the argument of
the government and the CRTC.
I've been a user in different parts of Ontario for about six
years. I currently go to York University for Computer Science and my
plan is to organize a campaign of users who will be willing to petition
the government to stop this craziness. My sister is a lawyer and also
an occasional user of the boards. She would be willing to confront the
CRTC on legal grounds if we have enough support from YOU. I have to
hear from you. In order to force the CRTC to at least seriously listen
to our argument,we need a lot of names, and a lot of letters to your
local MP and to the CRTC.
If I have enough support, I will set up a BBS which is dedicated to
keeping you informed. I will keep up to date as to doing and open up
discussion concerning what we should do about it. I would also print out
all the messages on the board and send them off to the prime minister, the
CRTC and our local MP's. At the same time, my sister and I will prepare a
legal argument to present to the government and the CRTC. IF we have the
support of your names and your letters behind us, the CRTC will be forced
to stop.
OUR GOAL: To stop the CRTC from requiring the licensing of bulletin
board systems and get it written into the law books that private, home
run bbs's are totally legal and should never be regulated, in the
interests of free information.
PLEASE send me E-mail or letter mail with your thoughts. I WILL
set up the bbs and get this ball rolling if we have enough support!
Please send this file to other BBS's and get this information out.
Contact me if you want to be involved. We need all your support!
Support USERS AGAINST THE LICENSING OF BBS's (UALBBS).
KEEP PRIVATE BBS's LEGAL!
LORD QORTHON
Jeff A. Heyens
876 Palmerston Ave
Toronto, M6G 2S2.
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