Subj : Updated BACKSTAT.NA
To   : All
From : The North American Backbone
Date : Mon Jan 12 2009 07:00 pm

               North American Backbone - Status and Changes
              ==============================================

                                BACKSTAT.NA

                              January 12, 2009


   BACKSTAT.NA is a status report prepared by the North American Backbone
   Robot. It is distributed in the BACKBONE file echo and posted in the
   Z1_BACKBONE echo.  It summarizes BACKBONE additions, deletions and
   requests, as well as North American Backbone contacts.

   Further information about the North American Backbone's distribution
   system can be found in the BOFAQ (North American Backbone Frequently
   Asked Questions) file which is updated as required.

============================================================================
 1. Recent Additions to BACKBONE.NA (Since last revision on Dec 29, 2008)
============================================================================

    C_ECHO

             Topic: The International C Echo
         Moderator: Alan Ianson, 1:153/757
    Date Requested: January 9th, 2009
             Notes: Returned To Distribution From BACKBONE.DST

    C_PLUSPLUS

             Topic: The International C++ Echo
         Moderator: Alan Ianson, 1:153/757
    Date Requested: January 9th, 2009
             Notes: Returned To BACKBONE.NA From BACKBONE.DST

    DIXIEHAM

             Topic: Ham Radio Interests For The Southern US.
         Moderator: Richard Webb, 1:116/901
    Date Requested: January 11th, 2009
             Notes: New Echo

============================================================================
 2. Dropped from BACKBONE.NA into BACKBONE.NO
============================================================================

    None.

============================================================================
 3. Dropped from BACKBONE.NO into BACKBONE.DST (Removed From Distribution )
============================================================================

    None.

============================================================================
 4. Terminology
============================================================================

    [BACKBONE.NA]

    Roster of message echoes available on The North American Backbone.

    New Copy Hatched This Release? = [X] Yes  [ ] No

    [BACKBONE.NO]

    Roster of message echoes available on The North American Backbone,
    that were at one time listed in BACKBONE.NA but no longer have any
    coherent activity or any activity at all. Echoes that remain listed in
    this file at the next audit, will either get destroyed or returned to
    BACKBONE.NA, depending on if they received any traffic. Audits occur
    approximately every four to six months.

    New Copy Hatched This Release? = [ ] Yes  [X] No

    [BACKBONE.DST]

    Roster of message echoes previously listed in BACKBONE.NO, once listed
    in here, the echo should be considered no longer in distribution. Consider
    the echo at this time destroyed. This file will be dynamic, meaning its
    list can grow as time moves on, or even shrink if echoes listed within
    are ressurected. Echoes listed here will have to be re-requested as if
    brand new.

    New Copy Hatched This Release? = [X] Yes  [ ] No

    [ADM] - Administrative Echoes

    Echoes with the "[ADM]" notation prefixed to their description will be
    exempted from dropping out of the BACKBONE.NA file.

    [GNG] - Gated News Groups

    Echoes with the "[GNG]" notation prefixed to the description are echoes
    designated, or known, to contain content imported from Internet News
    groups, Usenet or mailing lists. This notation should afford one the
    ability to determine if these areas are suitable for their systems.

============================================================================
 5. Special Notes Since Last Update On December 29th, 2008
============================================================================

   The C_ECHO and C_PLUSPLUS echoes were previously listed in BACKBONE.DST
   as destroyed echoes, no longer in distribution. Effective with this
   backbone update, both echoes have been removed from BACKBONE.DST and
   relisted in the BACKBONE.NA file.

   MODERATORS are reminded to:

    * Check their echoes for activity, echoes that sit inactive for four to
      six months or more, will face the risk of dropping into distribution
      limbo. First step is BACKBONE.NO when it still distributable, next
      step is BACKBONE.DST, when the echo isnt distributable.

    * Check the various BACKBONE files (See Section 4), to make sure your
      echoes are listed where you want them to be.

============================================================================
 6. Resources
============================================================================


    Z1_BACKBONE Echo

    http://echomail.fidonet4u.info

    * View Backbone Files Online
    * Request Echoes To Be Backboned

============================================================================
 7. Who's Who in The North American Backbone
============================================================================

    NAB                                1:1/20

    Zone Hubs:

    Western Star   Brenda Donovan      1:10/3       [email protected]
    Eastern Star   Ross Cassell        1:123/500    [email protected]
    Northwest Star Bob Seaborn         1:140/1      [email protected]
    Northeast Star Janis Kracht        1:261/38     [email protected]

============================================================================

                                 -o-
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* Origin: The Eastern Star Mail Hub (1:123/500)