Volume 5, Number 30                                  25 July 1988
    +---------------------------------------------------------------+
    |                                                  _            |
    |                                                 /  \          |
    |                                                /|oo \         |
    |        - FidoNews -                           (_|  /_)        |
    |                                                _`@/_ \    _   |
    |        International                          |     | \   \\  |
    |     FidoNet Association                       | (*) |  \   )) |
    |         Newsletter               ______       |__U__| /  \//  |
    |                                 / FIDO \       _//|| _\   /   |
    |                                (________)     (_/(_|(____/    |
    |                                                     (jm)      |
    +---------------------------------------------------------------+
    Editor in Chief                                       Dale Lovell
    Editor Emeritus:                                   Thom Henderson
    Chief Procrastinator Emeritus:                       Tom Jennings
    Contributing Editors:                                   Al Arango

    FidoNews  is  published  weekly  by  the  International   FidoNet
    Association  as  its  official newsletter.  You are encouraged to
    submit articles for publication in FidoNews.  Article  submission
    standards  are contained in the file ARTSPEC.DOC,  available from
    node 1:1/1.

    Copyright 1988 by  the  International  FidoNet  Association.  All
    rights  reserved.  Duplication  and/or distribution permitted for
    noncommercial purposes only.  For  use  in  other  circumstances,
    please contact IFNA at (314) 576-4067. IFNA may also be contacted
    at PO Box 41143, St. Louis, MO 63141.

    Fido  and FidoNet  are registered  trademarks of  Tom Jennings of
    Fido Software,  164 Shipley Avenue,  San Francisco, CA  94107 and
    are used with permission.

    The  contents  of  the  articles  contained  here  are  not   our
    responsibility,   nor   do   we   necessarily  agree  with  them.
    Everything here is  subject  to  debate.  We  publish  EVERYTHING
    received.



                            Table of Contents

    1. ARTICLES  .................................................  1
       SYSOP LIABILITY FOR DISCLOSING PRIVATE MESSAGES  ..........  3
    2. FOR SALE  .................................................  8
    3. NOTICES  ..................................................  9
       The Interrupt Stack  ......................................  9
       Latest Software Versions  .................................  9
    FidoNews 5-30                Page 1                   25 Jul 1988


    =================================================================
                                ARTICLES
    =================================================================

    Jerry Hindle
    Sysop of 18/6
    (901) 353-4563
    9600bps HST





         This  article is in reply to Mr. Mednicks article concerning
    his  running  for  a political office. While I do agree with some
    of  the points he raised during our brief telephone conversation,
    I must also express this opinion.


         Mr. Mednick;

          While  I  have  never  met  you, (but am looking forward to
    doing  so at FIDOCON) I must say that your article in FidoNews528
    was  (to  my  way  of  thinking  anyway)  against the precepts of
    FidoNet  as  an  amateur communications network. We should not be
    foisting  the costs (by we I mean the people placing the calls to
    pick  up  Fnews  files) of your political campaign unless we wish
    to  do  so.  Since  we  were not given the choice in the matter I
    feel  that you have done a disservice to us as a hobby network by
    placing this article in Fnews.

         I  just  got  thru  talking to you voice (as you know) and I
    hope  what  I present here is a true and accurate account of that
    call.  I  wish to present your side here also so that there is no
    bias in the matter.

         You  stated  that  you had cleared the article with the IFNA
    BoD  and  (I  think)  the  President of that body. I applaud this
    action  and  can't totally blame you for the results. I must also
    blame  them  (the  BoD)  for  allowing  the  article  to  run.  I
    understand  that  FidoNews  publishes anything that comes in that
    meets  the  technical  requirements and your article does in fact
    meet  them.  I  also  understand  your  view that since there are
    commercial  advertisements in FidoNews that you should be allowed
    to  also  "advertise".  I agree with that premise but I also feel
    that  advertisements  of a commercial nature should be limited to
    1  page in length and only allowed if there is sufficient room to
    do  so  without  making  the file excessively large (say over 40k
    arced  format).  Your article however ran from the top of page 11
    to the bottom of page 14, thus it was 4 pages in length.

         You   stated  that  you  want  to  "champion"  the  computer
    community,  yet  you  only  referred to this in 1 small place and
    the  rest  of  the  article  dealt  with  matters concerning your
    qualifications  as  a  CPA  and  other  matters  not  relating to
    computers.  While  I  agree  that  the  computer  community needs
    FidoNews 5-30                Page 2                   25 Jul 1988


    (desperately)  someone in Washington who understands the needs of
    the  computer  users, we also need people who are literate in the
    field  of  public  relations and dealing with people. I feel that
    you   did  not  present  enough  information  geared  toward  the
    computer  community  to warrant the space as an "unpaid political
    announcement" in a hobby newsletter.

         Also  I  saw  no  need  of  even  considering  publishing an
    article  worldwide  that  would be of no benefit to those outside
    your   congressional   district  (directly  anyway,  maybe  there
    "could"  be  a  construed benefit to those in the USA given a lot
    of luck).

          This  is not meant to be a flame, nor even a little candle,
    but  is  intended  to inform you that not all who read Fnews will
    view  the  article in the light that I do. I view it as a mistake
    on  the  part  of  the  Administration  of  both IFNA (who really
    should  not  have  a  part  in  what  Fnews  does)  and the Fnews
    publisher.  They  failed  to  properly supervise the operation of
    Fnews  in  that  they  have  now  opened  up our newspaper to the
    infamous    "EQUAL    TIME"    amendment   concerning   political
    announcements  and  editorials,  a  move  that  will cost us (the
    sysops  placing  the  calls,  countless  dollars.  I feel that in
    order  to  be  totally  fair  about  it  you  should contact your
    opponent  in  the  race  and  offer  him  the opportunity to also
    publish a 4 pager in Fnews.

         Well,  I  guess  I have now made enemies of a few more folks
    within  the administration of both IFNA and FidoNet since I blame
    THEM  for even allowing the article in the first place. I realize
    you  are  only  using  the  "avenues open to you" to conduct your
    campaign,  but  please,  (emphasis  mode  ON) NOT HERE. (emphasis
    mode OFF)

                -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

    Editor's Note: As far as equal time,  I print anything I receive.
                   This has  been and  will continue  to be my policy
                   until the Publications Committee decides otherwise
                   and presents me with a VERY detailed  list of what
                   is and is not printable (this will  most likely be
                   the same day I resign as editor).  FidoNews always
                   has  been  a  place  where  you could  have almost
                   anything printed.

    -----------------------------------------------------------------

    FidoNews 5-30                Page 3                   25 Jul 1988


    Jonathan D. Wallace, Esq.
    1:107/801


            SYSOP LIABILITY FOR DISCLOSING PRIVATE MESSAGES

    In what appears to be the first case of its kind, an Indiana law
    student and BBS user has sued a local sysop, Bob Predaina, in
    federal court, claiming that he intentionally disclosed her
    private electronic mail to others without her permission.

    The lawsuit, which is in the early stages and has not reached
    trial, relies upon the Electronic Communications Privacy Act of
    1986 (the "ECPA"), which makes disclosure of private electronic
    mail without consent either of the sender or the recipient a
    federal crime.

    The ECPA does not obligate sysops to offer private mail on their
    systems.  However, if a sysop promises private mail, that promise
    must be kept and the contents of private messages may not be
    disclosed without consent.

    The ECPA provides limited exceptions to the general rule of no
    disclosure.  A sysop may voluntarily disclose to law enforcement
    authorities the contents of a message pertaining to the
    commission of a crime, if read inadvertently by him or if it is
    read pursuant to the exercise of his duties as a sysop.

    Until the courts clarify these rules, sysops who read private
    mail on their systems and disclose it may be playing with fire.
    Prior court cases involving telephone operators have established
    some useful guidelines: an operator may disclose information she
    overheard while checking the line at the user's request, but may
    not disclose information overheard while eavesdropping out of
    curiosity.  Sysops, like phone operators, will not be considered
    to have a blanket authorization to intercept and disclose private
    messages.

              Systems  such  as  Fido 11w which  routinely  make  all
    private mail visible to the sysop are therefore problematic.  BBS
    programmers  should consider making private mail truly  private--
    while allowing sysops to turn the private mail option off if they
    do not want it.

              In the meantime, sysops should reconsider whether it is
    worth  having private mail on their systems and should make clear
    to users in no uncertain terms,  through bulletins and  messages,
    the degree of privacy which can be expected, if any.

              Note:  a copy of the complaint filed in the Thompson v.
    Predaina  case  is  available  on  the  LLM  BBS,   Fido  107/801
    (212)766-3788) in file area 5 under the name "Indiana".

         *                     *                          *

    JONATHAN D. WALLACE, ESQ. is an attorney in New York
    FidoNews 5-30                Page 4                   25 Jul 1988


    City specializing in computer law. With Rees Morrison, he is the
    author of the Sysop's Legal Manual, published this year by LLM Press.
    He can be reached at (212) 766-3785 (voice) or at the LLM BBS,
    given above.

    -----------------------------------------------------------------

    FidoNews 5-30                Page 5                   25 Jul 1988


     Public Access Messaging
    PUBLIC ACCESS MESSAGING is now here.  What you do with echo mail
    can be done with Public Access Messaging.  The messages are
    arranged by topic and you can subscribe to those areas of interest
    to you.  Echo mail is a subset of Public Access Messaging.

     WE DELIVER!

    We will deliver and pickup your echo mail.

    BASIC SERVICE.  We call once a night, some time after six pm and
    before eight am, to drop off that days Public Access Messages.  We
    do a pickup so any Public Access Message that you have on hold for
    us to pickup is picked up for delivery tomorrow.  More frequent
    delivery is available for various fees.

    If you like we will even pickup your outgoing public netmail
    traffic for delivery to the public network.  For an additional fee
    you can consider us an outbound netmail gateway that picks up. We
    will deliver the traffic to the inbound gateway for any
    destination in the public network.  If you have private traffic or
    a private network we can pickup and deliver that traffic as well.
    For an additional fee we deliver the public network traffic
    directly to its destination.  Also for an additional fee we will
    deliver to your private network, provided that you give us all the
    information we ask for.


    Redundant backup systems make Public Access Messaging reliable.

         RELIABLE.  The hardware and software systems used by us to
    deliver to you have both automatic and manual redundancy, self
    checking, and error correction facilities.


    We send to you once a night, but our system makes delivery
    attempts spread out during the entire evening.  Until our system
    connects with yours it will try again.  But not right away, it
    will call again later.  This multiple try method of delivery makes
    Public Access Messages available to you when your system is likely
    to be able to receive.  We will try till we get to you!

         AVAILABLE.  By delivering all night long, you are assured
    that sometime during the night your system will be available to
    receive the call and your messages for the day will be delivered.
    Thus overall you have availability of the Public Access Messages.


    Our voice line and data line customer support makes sure that
    Public Access Messaging can be made to service your needs.

         SERVICEABLE.  Our hardware and software delivery mechanisms
    are flexible and for various fees our systems can accommodate your
    needs.  You will do many things with Public Access Messaging
    because our systems are dedicated to serving you.

    FidoNews 5-30                Page 6                   25 Jul 1988


    Did you ever wonder why there were lapses in the delivery of echo
    mail?  Use Public Access Messaging and you can know.

         RELIABLE. Well that won't happen with us!.  We will be here
    when you need us.  We are ready, willing, and able to serve you.


    Did you ever wonder where to get more echo mail?  Use Public
    Access Messaging and you can know.

         AVAILABLE.  We either have it all, or are willing to exert
    our best efforts to tie into it.  Either way you can get it.


    Did you ever wonder how to get the most from your echo mail
    dollar? Use Public Access Messaging and you can know.

         SERVICEABLE.  A rate structure allows you to mix and match
    which Public Access Message topics you want to receive, without
    regard as to how they get to you, because they all come in on the
    same flexible delivery schedules.


    Did you ever wonder how echo mail really works?  Use Public Access
    Messaging and you can know.

         RELIABLE. We deliver to you tonight what we received last
    night. We deliver to you tomorrow night what we receive tonight.
    This is straight forward reliable service.  More frequent
    deliveries are available for a fee.


    Did you ever wonder who participates in the echo mail network?
    Use Public Access Messaging and you can know.

         AVAILABLE.  We know and are willing to tell you.  Anyone who
    wants to be plugged in can be plugged in. If you have a need for
    limiting participants, then for an additional fee we can
    accommodate you.


    Did you ever wonder how to solve problems you are having using
    your echo mail system?  Use Public Access Messaging and you can
    have help.

         SERVICEABLE.  After you have tried and tried to make things
    work and they still don't, what do you do?  Who do you call? We
    offer three tiers of problem solution.  The least expensive is
    called "Common Knowledge".  You call in via modem and look through
    our Information Dispenser.  It has on it things that have been
    helpful for folks in the past, as well as other information.  More
    expensive is "Electronic Messaging", which includes "Common
    Knowledge" plus allows you to converse via netmail with us about
    your needs. The top of the line is "Personal Access" via daytime
    voice call with our communication consultants, and includes both
    "Common Knowledge" and "Electronic Messaging".
    FidoNews 5-30                Page 7                   25 Jul 1988


    Did you ever wonder if your echo mail is old or just slow?  Use
    Public Access Messaging and you can know.

    We don't have any old messages.  We send tonight, what we received
    since the last time we delivered to you.


    THERE IS A BETTER WAY!  PUBLIC ACCESS MESSAGING!


       Be party to Public Access Messaging.
       Public Access Messaging is fun and easy to use.
       Best of all you'll like the price.


    Answer these questions, so that we may prepare a plan suited to
    your circumstances, detailing features and fees.

     1.  Phone numbers your system calls to get echo mail.
     2.  Numbers your system calls to deliver echo mail.
     3.  What echoes do you link via each phone number.
     4.  What are your recent phone bills. Include photocopies.
     5.  What modem do you use.  Make and model.
     6.  What echo mail program(s) do you use (be specific).
     7.  What network mailer do you use.  Include version.
     8.  What kind of computer do you use.  Make and Model.
     9.  What is your proper name and mailing address.
     10. What is your data phone number.
     11. What is your voice phone number.


     Public Access Messaging - Effective
     Public Access Messaging - Inexpensive
     Public Access Messaging - Easy to Setup and to Use
     Public Access Messaging - Saves Real Time and Real Money

    Include $35 dollars as our fee for preparing a plan for you.  If
    you accept our offer the $35 will be applied to your subscription.


    Answer the above questions and send your check for $35 to

       Computer Assisted Marketing Programs Inc
       1300 Industrial Highway, Suite 400
       Southampton, PA 18966

    Now is the right time to do it!


    -----------------------------------------------------------------

    FidoNews 5-30                Page 8                   25 Jul 1988


    =================================================================
                                FOR SALE
    =================================================================

                     SYSOP LEGAL MANUAL FOR SALE

    SYSLAW, the Sysop's Legal Manual,
        by Jonathan D. Wallace Esq. and Rees Morrison Esq.

    This 130 page book, newly published by LLM Press, includes
    chapters on the Electronic Communication Privacy Act, sysop
    liability for illegal uploads such as pirated software and stolen
    credit card codes, libel and state computer crime laws.  The book
    is $21.00 (includes postage and handling) from LLM Press, 150
    Broadway Suite 610, New York, New York 10038.  New York residents
    include 8.25 percent sales tax.

    -----------------------------------------------------------------

    FidoNews 5-30                Page 9                   25 Jul 1988


    =================================================================
                                 NOTICES
    =================================================================

                         The Interrupt Stack


    25 Aug 1988
       Start  of the  Fifth  International  FidoNet Conference, to be
       held  at  the Drawbridge Inn  in Cincinnati, OH.  Contact  Tim
       Sullivan at 108/62 for more information. This is FidoNet's big
       annual get-together, and is your chance to meet all the people
       you've  been talking with  all this time.  We're hoping to see
       you there!

    24 Aug 1989
       Voyager 2 passes Neptune.

     5 Oct 1989
       20th Anniversary of "Monty Python's Flying Circus"

    If you have something which you would like to see on this
    calendar, please send a message to FidoNet node 1:1/1.

    -----------------------------------------------------------------

                         Latest Software Versions

    BBS Systems            Node List              Other
    & Mailers   Version    Utilities   Version    Utilities   Version

    Dutchie        2.90*   EditNL         4.00*   ARC            5.22*
    Fido            12h    MakeNL         2.12*   ARCmail         1.1
    Opus          1.03b    Prune          1.40    ConfMail       3.31
    SEAdog         4.10    XlatList       2.86    EchoMail       1.31
    TBBS           2.0M    XlaxNode       2.10*   MGM             1.1
    BinkleyTerm    1.50    XlaxDiff       2.10*
    QuickBBS       2.01    ParseList      1.10

    * Recently changed

    Utility authors:  Please help  keep  this  list  up  to  date  by
    reporting  new  versions  to 1:1/1.  It is not our intent to list
    all utilities here, only those which verge on necessity.

    -----------------------------------------------------------------

    FidoNews 5-30                Page 10                  25 Jul 1988


           OFFICERS OF THE INTERNATIONAL FIDONET ASSOCIATION

    Ken Kaplan       100/22   Chairman of the Board
    Don Daniels      107/210  President
    Mark Grennan     147/1    Vice President
    Dave Dodell      114/15   Vice President - Technical Coordinator
    David Garrett    103/501  Secretary
    Leonard Mednick  345/1    Treasurer



                        IFNA BOARD OF DIRECTORS

        DIVISION                               AT-LARGE

    10  Steve Jordan      102/2871        Don Daniels     107/210
    11  Bill Allbritten   11/301          Hal DuPrie      101/106
    12  Leonard Mednick   345/1           Mark Grennan    147/1
    13  Rick Siegel       107/27          Brad Hicks      100/523
    14  Ken Kaplan        100/22          Ted Polczyinski 154/5
    15  Jim Cannell       128/13          Kurt Reisler    109/74
    16  Vince Perriello   141/491         Robert Rudolph  261/628
    17  Rob Barker        138/34          Greg Small      148/122
    18  Christopher Baker 135/14          Bob Swift       140/24
    19  Vernon Six        19/0            Larry Wall      15/18
     2  Henk Wevers       2:500/1         Gee Wong        107/312

    -----------------------------------------------------------------

    FidoNews 5-30                Page 11                  25 Jul 1988


                                     __
                The World's First   /  \
                   BBS Network     /|oo \
                   * FidoNet *    (_|  /_)
                                   _`@/_ \    _
                                  |     | \   \\
                                  | (*) |  \   ))
                     ______       |__U__| /  \//
                    / Fido \       _//|| _\   /
                   (________)     (_/(_|(____/ (tm)

           Membership for the International FidoNet Association

    Membership in IFNA is open to any individual or organization that
    pays the annual membership fee.  IFNA serves the international
    FidoNet-compatible electronic mail community to increase
    worldwide communications.

    Name __________________________________  Date ___________________
    Address _________________________________________________________
    City ____________________________________________________________
    State ________________________________  Zip _____________________
    Country _________________________________________________________
    Home Phone (Voice) ______________________________________________
    Work Phone (Voice) ______________________________________________
    Is this a new application? _________  a renewal? ________________
    Are you a Sysop? _________  If so, for how long? ________________
    Your BBS Info:   (Non-Sysops enter info for your most-called BBS)
    Zone:Net/Node Number ____________________________________________
    BBS Name ________________________________________________________
    BBS Phone Number ________________________________________________
    Your Special Interests __________________________________________
    _________________________________________________________________
    _________________________________________________________________
    In what areas would you be willing to help in FidoNet? __________
    _________________________________________________________________
    _________________________________________________________________
    Are there any special resources that you could provide? _________
    _________________________________________________________________

              Regular Membership                     $25
              Lifetime Membership                    $250

        Send this form and a check or money order in US Funds to:
                  International FidoNet Association
                  c/o Leonard Mednick, CPA
                  700 Bishop Street, #1014
                  Honolulu, HI   96813    USA

    IFNA is a general not-for-profit organization.  Articles of
    Association and By-Laws were adopted by the membership in January
    1987.  The IFNA Echomail Conference has been established on
    FidoNet to assist the Board of Directors.  We welcome your input
    on this Conference.

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    FidoNews 5-30                Page 12                  25 Jul 1988


                    INTERNATIONAL FIDONET ASSOCIATION
                                ORDER FORM

                               Publications

    The IFNA publications can be obtained by downloading from Fido
    1:1/10 or  other FidoNet compatible  systems, or by purchasing
    them directly from IFNA.  We ask that  all our  IFNA Committee
    Chairmen   provide  us   with  the  latest  versions  of  each
    publication, but we can make no written guarantees.

    Hardcopy prices as of October 1, 1986

       IFNA Fido BBS listing                       $15.00    _____
       IFNA Administrative Policy DOCs             $10.00    _____
       IFNA FidoNet Standards Committee DOCs       $10.00    _____

                                                 SUBTOTAL    _____

                     IFNA Member ONLY Special Offers

       System Enhancement Associates SEAdog        $60.00    _____
       SEAdog price as of March 1, 1987
       ONLY 1 copy SEAdog per IFNA Member

       Fido Software's Fido/FidoNet               $100.00    _____
       Fido/FidoNet price as of November 1, 1987
       ONLY 1 copy Fido/FidoNet per IFNA Member

       International orders include $10.00 for
              surface shipping or $20.00 for air shipping    _____

                                                 SUBTOTAL    _____

                   HI. Residents add 4.0 % Sales tax         _____

                                                 TOTAL       _____

       SEND CHECK OR MONEY ORDER IN US FUNDS:
       International FidoNet Association
       c/o Leonard Mednick, MBA, CPA
       700 Bishop Street, #1014
       Honolulu, HI.  96813-4112
       USA

    Name________________________________
    Zone:Net/Node____:____/____
    Company_____________________________
    Address_____________________________
    City____________________  State____________  Zip_____
    Voice Phone_________________________

    Signature___________________________

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