Subj : Updated BACKSTAT.NA
To   : All
From : The North American Backbone
Date : Sun Mar 04 2012 07:23 pm

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

                                BACKSTAT.NA

                              March 04, 2012


   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.

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 1. Recent Additions to BACKBONE.NA (Since last revision on Oct 02, 2011)
============================================================================

    None (See Notes)

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 2. Dropped from BACKBONE.NA into BACKBONE.NO
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    None (See Notes)

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

    81 Echoes added (See Notes)

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 4. Terminology
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    [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? = [X] Yes  [ ] 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 Oct 2nd, 2011
============================================================================

        * This is a complete backbone audit.

        * For this revision only, BACKBONE.NO has been reset, echoes from the
          existing file found to have had traffic were moved back to BACKBONE.NA
          while the remainder fell into BACKBONE.DST.

        * 81 echoes were removed from distribution and listed in BACKBONE.DST.

        * 12 echoes thought to serve as tech support for some FIDO software were
          spared.

        MODERATORS are reminded to:

    * Check their echoes for activity, echoes that sit inactive for Six to
      Twelve months, 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

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 7. Who's Who in The North American Backbone
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    NAB                                1:1/20

    Zone Hubs:

    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]

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