Awe13.224
net.general
utzoo!decvax!harpo!floyd!vax135!lime!we13!prg
Thu Apr 22 09:24:09 1982
Watch it!!!
The following article was submitted to the "we" net, and by popular
demand is being posted to this news group.

I truly have to wonder where Mr. Wirths mind (and pocket book) are at.
The following is quoted from the May issue of Video magazine.


    "The question of home satellite reception -- viewing, not
recording -- is attracting attention from the House Telecommunications
Subcommittee chaired by Timothy Wirth (D-Col.).  It is here that our
legal right to enjoy the airwaves is not doing so well.  Wirth has
co-sponsored House Bill H.R.4727 with Henry Waxman (D-Cal.) to provide
stiff criminal and civil penalties, up to a $50,000 fine and two years
in prison, for unauthorized reception "of any radio transmissions"
unless they are intended "for use by the general public."

    As submitted, H.R.4727 would be a new clause to section 605
of the Communications Act.  It would allow courts to hear evidence
and award "full damages."  If the program owner or distributor
decided not to press for damages, courts could still award damages
of between $250 and $10,000 on their own initiative.  A court could
even assess a fine of $100 for proven violations on persons unaware
that they broke the law in either distributing or receiving an
unauthorized program.  And a willful violation by someone not seeking
financial gain could bring a fine of up to $1000 and six months in jail."

I'm glad the "Ralph Nader" of the telecommunications industry is watching
out for us!  Think I'll get some black-out curtains to hang in my
living room just in case he peeks in the window.


=Phil Gunsul=
lime!we13

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