[118498] in Cypherpunks
REMOVE
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Michael Bovaird)
Wed Sep 29 23:46:26 1999
From: "Michael Bovaird" <mbovaird@home.com>
To: "Jean-Francois Avon" <jf_avon@citenet.net>,
"Cypherpunks" <cypherpunks@toad.com>,
"QuackGrass.com" <qgrass@quackgrass.com>,
"Paul Richards' - Offshore Haven Newsletter" <office@offshorehaven.nu>,
"Patriot on Guard" <kyburz@telusplanet.net>,
"N. King at Standup New-Zealand" <standupnz@clear.net.nz>,
"Freedom Party of Ontario" <feedback@freedomparty.org>,
<eZola@LFCity.com>, "Canada Protest Page" <tpg@witty.com>
Date: Wed, 29 Sep 1999 21:20:10 -0600
Message-ID: <NCBBLMFOMEGGAKMILJHOIEAIDBAA.mbovaird@home.com>
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Reply-To: "Michael Bovaird" <mbovaird@home.com>
REMOVE PLEASE
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-cypherpunks@cyberpass.net
[mailto:owner-cypherpunks@cyberpass.net]On Behalf Of Jean-Francois Avon
Sent: Wednesday, September 29, 1999 6:31 PM
To: Cypherpunks; QuackGrass.com; Paul Richards' - Offshore Haven
Newsletter; Patriot on Guard; N. King at Standup New-Zealand; Freedom
Party of Ontario; eZola@LFCity.com; Canada Protest Page
Subject: RCMP ordered to crack down on paid-for satellite TV (Express-Vu
and StarChoice)
ABSTRACT:
The big alledged Krime that grey-market satellite dish users have Kommitted
is
that they are watching programs that were not "approved" by our Kollective
Komradship of Kanada's High Praesidium
The article points out that the "grey market" is the one where the users DO
pay their fees (thus, do not abuse copyrights and broadcasters ressources or
violate other property inherent rights) but simply watch broadcastings that
do
not respect "Kanadian Kontent".
Another victimless Krime against the Kollective Komradship of Kanada's
Kingpins!
I wonder which broadKasting KooK Kontributed to which EleKted-Komrad
eleKtoral
Koffers...
If YOU don't Kick politiKal ass, who will do it?
Ciao
jfa
==================BEGIN FORWARDED MESSAGE==================
>From: "Breitkreuz, Garry - Assistant 1" <Breitkreuz.G@parl.gc.ca>
>To: "'Firearms Digest'" <cdn-firearms-digest@sfn.saskatoon.sk.ca>
>Subject: Reform MP questions police priorities
>Date: Wed, 29 Sep 1999 15:37:01 -0400
PUBLICATION: National Post
DATE: 1999.09.29
EDITION: National
SECTION: News
PAGE: A4
BYLINE: Robert Fife, Ottawa Bureau Chief
SOURCE: National Post
DATELINE: OTTAWA
telivision; Piracy; Laws and regulations; Canada
CORPORATION: Royal Canadian Mounted Police; Canadian Radio, Television and
Telecommunciations Commission; ExpressVu; StarChoice
HEADLINE: RCMP cracking down on U.S. satellite TV dishes: 700,000 in Canada:
Reform MP questions police priorities
OTTAWA - The RCMP has launched a criminal crackdown on the distribution of
American direct-to-home satellite dishes and pirated decoders in the
possession of about 700,000 Canadians across the country.
A three-page internal RCMP memo obtained by the Reform party and provided to
the National Post instructs officers to begin laying charges against
Canadians who sell or distribute U.S. dishes.
The RCMP is also preparing to warn consumers about the legal repercussions
of watching non-government approved TV programs beamed to Canada from United
States satellite servers, such as the popular movie channel HBO or ESPN, the
U.S. sports channel.
The May 19 memo, obtained under the Access to Information law by Eric
Lowther, a Reform MP from Calgary Centre, was written by Inspector Ken
Hansen and instructs RCMP officers to treat so-called "grey market"
satellite dishes as they would "black market pirated cards," where people
are able to receive U.S. direct-to-home programming for free.
Insp. Hansen noted that the courts have ruled that the importation, sale and
distribution of "grey market" dishes that decode satellite TV signals
emanating from an American service provider is illegal. Unlike the black
market decoders, Canadians pay for these channels, usually by setting up an
American address for billing purposes.
As a result of recent court judgments, the RCMP has started to lay charges
against "grey market" dealers and distributors of these TV satellite dishes,
but Insp. Hansen said enforcement has been sporadic and not vigorous enough.
"Several investigations have resulted in numerous charges being laid
relevant to the sale and distribution of American equipment as well as
pirated cards. This enforcement activity is encouraging," Insp. Hansen
writes.
"However, a more consistent national approach is needed. Divisions and units
are urged to consider approaching these investigations with the view that
there is no longer a grey market distinction, and both offences should be
treated equally."
Aside from laying charges for the sale and distribution of American
satellite dishes, the RCMP plans a publicity campaign to urge Canadians to
buy direct-to-home satellites produced by Canadian companies and licensed by
the Canadian Radio, Television and Telecommunciations Commission.
However, Mr. Lowther questioned the reason why the RCMP is devoting already
stretched resources and manpower to a crack down on people watching TV in
their homes.
"It seems like there isn't a week that goes by when we don't hear about the
problems that an under-funded, under-staffed RCMP is experiencing in law
enforcement. Yet, now it seems that RCMP detachments are being told that
their number one priority should be ensuring that Canadians aren't watching
TV that the CRTC and the Heritage Department don't like," Mr. Lowther said.
"When violent crime is going unpunished and child pornography is coming into
the country, I don't think the priority of the RCMP should be cracking down
on people who watch HBO or ESPN."
Mr. Lowther estimated that there are about 400,000 "big dish" owners in
Canada and 300,000 smaller pizza-size dishes, with most of the new grey
market entrants choosing the smaller dish for its improved picture quality
and ease of set-up.
Many of the users are in rural areas where cable TV is unavailable or where
traditional TV reception is poor.
American direct-to-home providers do not have to fulfill the CRTC's
"Canadian content" requirements and usually only carry such Canadian
programming as MuchMusic and Newsworld International. Since 1997, Canadians
can purchase direct-to-home satellite programming through either ExpressVu
or StarChoice, both Canadian firms.
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