Computer underground Digest Tue June 30, 1994 Volume 6 : Issue 59 ISSN 1004-042X Editors: Jim Thomas and Gordon Meyer (TK0JUT2@NIU.BITNET) Archivist: Brendan Kehoe Retiring Shadow Archivist: Stanton McCandlish Shadow-Archivists: Dan Carosone / Paul Southworth Ralph Sims / Jyrki Kuoppala Ian Dickinson Coptic Idolator: Ephram Shrewdlieu CONTENTS, #6.59 (Tue, June 30, 1994) File 1--California Electronic Government Information File 2--WRITE CONGRESS for Public Lane on Info Highway File 3--More commentary on "Ghost in the Modem" (Re CuD 6.58) Cu-Digest is a weekly electronic journal/newsletter. Subscriptions are available at no cost electronically. CuD is available as a Usenet newsgroup: comp.society.cu-digest Or, to subscribe, send a one-line message: SUB CUDIGEST your name Send it to LISTSERV@UIUCVMD.BITNET or LISTSERV@VMD.CSO.UIUC.EDU The editors may be contacted by voice (815-753-0303), fax (815-753-6302) or U.S. mail at: Jim Thomas, Department of Sociology, NIU, DeKalb, IL 60115, USA. Issues of CuD can also be found in the Usenet comp.society.cu-digest news group; on CompuServe in DL0 and DL4 of the IBMBBS SIG, DL1 of LAWSIG, and DL1 of TELECOM; on GEnie in the PF*NPC RT libraries and in the VIRUS/SECURITY library; from America Online in the PC Telecom forum under "computing newsletters;" On Delphi in the General Discussion database of the Internet SIG; on RIPCO BBS (312) 528-5020 (and via Ripco on internet); and on Rune Stone BBS (IIRGWHQ) (203) 832-8441. CuD is also available via Fidonet File Request from 1:11/70; unlisted nodes and points welcome. EUROPE: from the ComNet in LUXEMBOURG BBS (++352) 466893; In ITALY: Bits against the Empire BBS: +39-461-980493 UNITED STATES: etext.archive.umich.edu (141.211.164.18) in /pub/CuD/ Subject: California Electronic Government Information Subject: WRITE CONGRESS for Public Lane on Info Highway Subject: More commentary on "Ghost in the Modem" (Re CuD 6.58) ftp.eff.org (192.88.144.4) in /pub/Publications/CuD aql.gatech.edu (128.61.10.53) in /pub/eff/cud/ world.std.com in /src/wuarchive/doc/EFF/Publications/CuD/ uceng.uc.edu in /pub/wuarchive/doc/EFF/Publications/CuD/ wuarchive.wustl.edu in /doc/EFF/Publications/CuD/ EUROPE: nic.funet.fi in pub/doc/cud/ (Finland) ftp.warwick.ac.uk in pub/cud/ (United Kingdom) JAPAN: ftp.glocom.ac.jp /mirror/ftp.eff.org/ COMPUTER UNDERGROUND DIGEST is an open forum dedicated to sharing information among computerists and to the presentation and debate of diverse views. CuD material may be reprinted for non-profit as long as the source is cited. Authors hold a presumptive copyright, and they should be contacted for reprint permission. It is assumed that non-personal mail to the moderators may be reprinted unless otherwise specified. Readers are encouraged to submit reasoned articles relating to computer culture and communication. Articles are preferred to short responses. Please avoid quoting previous posts unless absolutely necessary. DISCLAIMER: The views represented herein do not necessarily represent the views of the moderators. Digest contributors assume all responsibility for ensuring that articles submitted do not violate copyright protections. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Thu, 16 Jun 1994 10:32:57 -0700 From: Chris Mays Subject: File 1--California Electronic Government Information Computer Professionals for Social Responsibility, Berkeley Chapter San Francisco State University Table of Contents 0. Introduction 1. New in this edition 2. California Electronic Government Information STATE CALIFORNIA INFORMATION FROM OTHER SOURCES CALIFORNIA POLITICIANS AND POLITICAL CANDIDATES OTHER STATE GOVERNMENTS REGIONAL MUNICIPAL PROPOSED, BUT NOT YET IMPLEMENTED 0. Introduction Dear netizens, I am gathering information on California government sources of electronic information that are currently available to the public, either by means of the Internet (ftp, gopher, email, www, etc.), or by direct dial to a bulletin board system. The most recent compilation follows. Sources of electronic information such as these continually change and evolve. Please send corrections, additions and comments to: Chris Mays 496 Fairbanks Avenue, Oakland CA 94610. I will periodically update the list. I assume all responsibility for errors and omissions. Please distribute this list freely, with proper credit. This file can be found at cpsr.org by anonymous ftp at ftp.cpsr.org:/cpsr/states/california/940615.cal_gov_info_FAQ (Login: anonymous, Password: (send Internet address)), or via listserv and gopher. Those of you with Mosaic or Lynx can access the list via World Wide Web at URL: http://www.cpsr.org/cpsr/states/california/ 940615.cal_gov_info_FAQ. If you do not have access to these technologies, email Chris Mays , and I will forward you a copy of the list. This list was compiled for the California Electronic Government Information (CEGI) Project, with the support of Computer Professionals for Social Responsibility, the California Library Association Government Publications Round Table, and help from subscribers to the calgovinfo list. To subscribe to calgovinfo, send email to: listserv@cpsr.org, Subject: none, message: subscribe calgovinfo The point of collecting this information is to: o Make the availability of these resources more widely known. o Start people thinking about what they want to see online, and how they want to retrieve it. o Create a demand for a larger list. o Applaud those state and local agencies and organizations who are providing electronic information services, and prod the rest. I will check the resources I hear about. Please make it easy for everyone by mentioning, if possible, the: o Name of the agency/organization, and where it fits into the structure of government. For example, if you have a gopher address for the Office of Information Technology, remind me that the OIT is part of the Department of Finance, which is a cabinet-level department. It would be helpful to know the formal, informal and acronymic names. o Name of the friendly, knowledgeable manager in charge of the resource, and how to contact her. Beyond contact names, I would like to know if the agency permits the public to give it feedback on the services offered. o Path to the resource, including what it is (ftp, gopher?), login, password, commands that must be issued (e.g. California Legislative Information, ftpmail@leginfo.public.ca.gov, Subject: none, message: connect leginfo.public.ca.gov help quit ), directories of interest, phone number, speed and settings for BBS's, etc. o Nature of the information, perhaps in abstract form, so that I can write a sentence or two describing it, or borrow yours. o Dates of coverage. Note if the information source is an archive of past postings, documents or records, or just carries the latest. That being said, I guess I'd like to hear rumors of gold in the hills, too, so send them along, and I'll check them out. Thanks, Chris Mays Small Business Management student San Francisco State University cmays@sfsu.edu _________________________________________________________ 1. New in this edition I will list the new entries at the top of the list, and again in the body of the list. I will make this document 60 characters wide, and end each line with a carriage return, to keep the formatting readable for certain systems. Thank you Joan Loftus for the suggestion. Barbara Newcombe asks that the entries be dated and more terse. I welcome your feedback. TITLE: abagOnline, Access to Bay Area Governments Online SOURCE: Association of Bay Area Governments PATH: Mosaic or Lynx: http://www.abag.ca.gov ABSTRACT: ABAG will act as host for cities' online presence, or provide pointers to agencies with their own Internet-based servers. Gopher accessibility planned. CONTACT: ABAG: (510) 464-7900. Email to Dr. Eugene Leong, eugenel@abag.ca.gov or Terry Bursztynsky terryb@abag.ca.gov ENTRY COMPILED: 940609 TITLE: Candidates for California Partisan Office, June 94. SOURCE: California Democratic Council, from California Secretary of State. Access through Silicon Valley Public Access Link. PATH: gopher to svpal.org /Government/Candidates for California Partisan Office, June 94/ ABSTRACT: Information is provided for these races: o State-wide Offices. o US Senate. o US House. o State Senate. o State Assembly. CONTACT: For more information or if any errors are found, please e-mail to cdc@svpal.org DATES: Candidates for California Partisan Office, June 7, 1994 Gubernatorial Primary Election. ENTRY COMPILED: 940615 TITLE: California Election Information. SOURCE: California Secretary of State. PATH: gopher to caelections.advantis.com ABSTRACT: Election results for June 7, 1994 Gubernatorial Primary Election. Introduction to other election night services and statewide vote tabulation process. Results reported for the statewide races and propositions only. Server available for viewing election results until June 11. CONTACT: Subscriptions to services offered by the Secretary of State. Contact the California Legislative and Constituent Service Office at (916) 445-6375. DATES: Election results for June 7, 1994 Gubernatorial Primary Election. ENTRY COMPILED: 940607 TITLE: Tom Hayden's Campaign for Governor. PATH: reform94@delphi.com ABSTRACT: Message sent election day with request for information yielded no response after several days. ENTRY COMPILED: 940615 TITLE: City of Palo Alto Demonstration WWW Server. SOURCE: City of Palo Alto and Digital Equipment Corporation. PATH: Mosaic or Lynx http://www.city.palo-alto.ca.us ABSTRACT: Home Page items include: o City Government: Home Page -- Phone numbers o City Council Agenda -- City Council Meeting schedule o Other Government: County -- State -- Federal -- Bay Area o Chamber of Commerce CONTACT: Email to wwwadmin@city.palo-alto.ca.us, or city-web-ops@pa.dec.com ENTRY COMPILED: 940613 TITLE: Senate-News service. SOURCE: California State Senate. PATH: Email to: senate-news@sen.ca.gov, Subject: doesn't matter, Text: HELP ABSTRACT: Some California State Senators have established email addresses for constituents, and mail-list and archive facilities to distribute reports, press-releases, and other information. To find your senator, gopher to sen.ca.gov; under the Access Options directory, choose ZIP Code Area Information. Electronic Mail Address Whitepages (SEN/ACCESS/EMAIL.TXT) has instructions to find your state senator's email address. FEEDBACK: Questions problems to: News.Editor@sen.ca.gov ENTRY COMPILED: 940615 TITLE: Pete Wilson's Campaign for Governor. SOURCE: Pete Wilson Committee. PATH: Email to PeteWilson@delphi.com ABSTRACT: The Pete Wilson Committee will send information by regular mail if you email them your street address. ENTRY COMPILED: 940615 I have added Santa Monica's Public Electronic Network (PEN), which is only available to residents of Santa Monica, people who work in the city, or at the 35 public access terminals. If someone who has access would supply me with an abstract of services and connection details, I will include that information here. TITLE: Santa Monica Public Information Network (PEN). SOURCE: City of Santa Monica. PATH: Access limited to Santa Monica. FEE: ABSTRACT: CONTACT: Keith Kurtz, City of Santa Monica, 1685 Main Street, P.O. Box 2200, Santa Monica CA 90401, 1-310-458-8383. DATES: FEEDBACK: _________________________________________________________ 2. California Electronic Government Information STATE TITLE: California Department of Education Gopher: Goldmine. SOURCE: California Department of Education (CDE). PATH: gopher to: goldmine.cde.ca.gov ABSTRACT: The Goldmine root directory includes: o California Department of Education - general info/ o California School Districts/ o Daily Report Card News Service/ o BBN's National School Network Testbed/ ENTRY COMPILED: 940610 TITLE: California Election Information. SOURCE: California Secretary of State. PATH: gopher to caelections.advantis.com ABSTRACT: Election results for June 7, 1994 Gubernatorial Primary Election. Introduction to other election night services and statewide vote tabulation process. Results reported for the statewide races and propositions only. Server available for viewing election results until June 11. CONTACT: Subscriptions to services offered by the Secretary of State. Contact the California Legislative and Constituent Service Office at (916) 445-6375. DATES: Election results for June 7, 1994 Gubernatorial Primary Election. ENTRY COMPILED: 940607 TITLE: California Energy Commission Appliance Database. SOURCE: California Energy Commission, Building and Appliance Efficiency Office. PATH: BBS: Call Dottie Horgan at 1-916-654-4304 to request password. Then: 1-916-654-4069, 9600 bps, 8 bits, No parity, 1 stop bit. ABSTRACT: Information on appliances certified to be sold in California. Organized by eleven types of appliances. Shows efficiency level of each model. FEEDBACK: Building and Appliance Efficiency Office of the California Energy Commission at 1-916-654-5198. ENTRY COMPILED: 940422 TITLE: Emergency Digital Information Service (EDIS). SOURCE: Governor's Office of Emergency Services, Emergency Digital Information Service (EDIS). PATH: telnet to: oes1.oes.ca.gov 5501 ABSTRACT: News releases and bulletins. ENTRY COMPILED: 940613 TITLE: Judicial Council of California BBS. SOURCE: Judicial Council of California, Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC), Technical Support Group. PATH: Call 1-415-396-9277 to request user ID. When you receive ID, all 1-415-904-9454, 2400 bps, 8 bits, No parity, 1 stop bit. Login ID: public terminal type: vt100 . ABSTRACT: Full text of California Supreme Court slip opinions, oral arguments calendar, Administrative Office of the Court press releases, etc. Main Menu includes: o Opinions Posted Today o Opinions Posted Last 30 Days o Supreme Court Calendar o Supreme Court Minutes o Trial Court Coordination o Invitations to Comment o Rules of Court o News Releases o Job Announcements CONTACT: Victor Chiles, Voice: 1-415-396-9268. They cannot provide extensive technical assistance. ENTRY COMPILED: 940330 TITLE: Labor Market Information Bulletin Board System. SOURCE: State of California, Employment Development Department, Labor Market Information Division (LMID). PATH: BBS: 1-916-262-2227, 14400 bps, 8 bits, No parity, 1 stop bit. Choose a password and fill out brief questionnaire. ABSTRACT: Labor market information publications, occupational descriptions, outlooks, etc. CONTACT: System Operator (SYSOP): Scott Slotterbeck, Voice: 1-916-262-2236, or leave message online. DATES: Latest editions of various bulletins. FEEDBACK: Send and receive messages online. ENTRY COMPILED: 940422 TITLE: California Legislative Information. SOURCE: California Legislative Data Center. PATH: ftp: leginfo.public.ca.gov (Login: anonymous, Password: (send Internet address)). ABSTRACT: Complete texts of California Codes, California Constitution, all statutes enacted on or after 1/1/93, information regarding pending legislation. To retrieve files directly from Legislature, start with help files by anonymous ftp at: leginfo.public.ca.gov /README_WELCOME, /pub/README_FIRST (Login: anonymous, Password: (send Internet address)). By ftpmail, email to: ftpmail@leginfo.public.ca.gov, Subject: none, message: connect leginfo.public.ca.gov get README_WELCOME cd pub get README_FIRST quit (send the message). Also available at: 1. Silicon Valley Public Access Link, gopher to: svpal.org /Government/California Legislature, and 2. University of California, Santa Cruz InfoSlug, gopher to: gopher.ucsc.edu /The Community/Guide to Government--U.S., State and Local/California Legislative Information DATES: Statutes enacted on or after January 1, 1993. FEEDBACK: email to: comments@leginfo.public.ca.gov ENTRY COMPILED: 940330 TITLE: Senate Rules Committee's Gopher. SOURCE: California State Legislature, Senate Rules Committee. PATH: gopher to: sen.ca.gov; ftp: sen.ca.gov (Login: anonymous, Password: (send Internet address) ABSTRACT: The sen.ca.gov root directory includes: o Access Options for the California State Legislature/ o General Reference Materials/ o About the California Legislature Gopher/ o California Penal Code Section 502. o California State Senate/ o California State Assembly/ o Access bill text and other information (at LDC)/ o Other California Agencies, Gophers, and Information/ o Other States & State Legislatures on the Internet/ By anonymous ftp, start with help file at ftp://sen.ca.gov/0readme.txt (Login: anonymous, Password: (send Internet address), get 0readme.txt). To find out who your senator is, gopher to sen.ca.gov, and under the Access Options directory, choose #8. ZIP Code Area Information. Get file Electronic Mail Address Whitepages (SEN/ACCESS/EMAIL.TXT) for instructions on how to find your state senator's email address. ENTRY COMPILED: 940613 TITLE: Senate-News service. SOURCE: California State Senate. PATH: Email to: senate-news@sen.ca.gov, Subject: doesn't matter, Text: HELP ABSTRACT: Some California State Senators have established email addresses for constituents, and mail-list and archive facilities to distribute reports, press-releases, and other information. To find your senator, gopher to sen.ca.gov; under the Access Options directory, choose ZIP Code Area Information. Electronic Mail Address Whitepages (SEN/ACCESS/EMAIL.TXT) has instructions to find your state senator's email address. FEEDBACK: Questions problems to: News.Editor@sen.ca.gov ENTRY COMPILED: 940615 TITLE: (Unofficial) CalTrans District 03 ftpmail site. SOURCE: (Unofficial) California Department of Transportation District 03 Main Office, Marysville, CA. PATH: ftpmail: To access, email to: ftpmail@t3ew.dot.ca.gov, Subject: none, message: help ABSTRACT: Send email for help information: email to: ftpmail@t3ew.dot.ca.gov, Subject: none, message: help CONTACT: Donald C. Stone, GIS Coordinator/Systems Analyst, email: Voice: 1-916-741-4031. ENTRY COMPILED: 940330 CALIFORNIA INFORMATION FROM OTHER SOURCES CALIFORNIA POLITICIANS AND POLITICAL CANDIDATES TITLE: Candidates for California Partisan Office, June 94. SOURCE: California Democratic Council, from California Secretary of State. Access through Silicon Valley Public Access Link. PATH: gopher to svpal.org /Government/Candidates for California Partisan Office, June 94/ ABSTRACT: Information is provided for these races: o State-wide Offices. o US Senate. o US House. o State Senate. o State Assembly. CONTACT: For more information or if any errors are found, please e-mail to cdc@svpal.org DATES: Candidates for California Partisan Office, June 7, 1994 Gubernatorial Primary Election. ENTRY COMPILED: 940615 TITLE: Information on Kathleen Brown's campaign for Governor of California. SOURCE: Kathleen Brown for Governor. PATH: Email to katbrown@netcom.com, Subject: send , no message. For help, send with Subject: problem, message: nature of request. By ftp: ftp.netcom.com /pub/katbrown ABSTRACT: Information on Kathleen Brown's campaign for Governor of California. CONTACT: Kathleen Brown for Governor 12233 W. Olympic Blvd. Suite 180 Los Angeles, CA 90064, (310)-207-7600. ENTRY COMPILED: 940430 TITLE: Speaker Willie Brown's Press Releases and Radio Feeds. SOURCE: Speaker Willie L. Brown, Jr. PATH: Email to almanac@assembly.ca.gov, Subject: none, message: help ENTRY COMPILED: 940613 TITLE: Tom Hayden's Campaign for Governor. PATH: reform94@delphi.com ABSTRACT: Message sent election day with request for information yielded no response after several days. ENTRY COMPILED: 940613 TITLE: Pete Wilson's Campaign for Governor. SOURCE: Pete Wilson Committee. PATH: Email to PeteWilson@delphi.com ABSTRACT: The Pete Wilson Committee will send information by regular mail if you email them your street address. ENTRY COMPILED: 940613 OTHER STATE GOVERNMENTS A good look at what other state governments are providing, or want to provide, can be had at LC MARVEL (the Library of Congress Machine-Assisted Realization of the Virtual Electronic Library). gopher to marvel.loc.gov /Government Information/State and Local Government Information (U.S.)/ REGIONAL TITLE: abagOnline, Access to Bay Area Governments Online SOURCE: Association of Bay Area Governments PATH: Mosaic or Lynx: http://www.abag.ca.gov ABSTRACT: ABAG will act as host for cities' online presence, or provide pointers to agencies with their own Internet-based servers. Gopher accessibility planned. CONTACT: ABAG: (510) 464-7900. Email to Dr. Eugene Leong, eugenel@abag.ca.gov or Terry Bursztynsky terryb@abag.ca.gov ENTRY COMPILED: 940609 TITLE: SF Bay RWQCB BBS SOURCE: San Francisco Regional Water Quality Control Board PATH: BBS: Dial 1-510-286-0404, 14400 bps, 8 bits, No parity, 1 stop bit. VT100 Emulation. ABSTRACT: SF Bay Region is one of nine Regional Water Quality Control Boards. CONTACT: Sysop: Steve Morse, Leave message while online. FEEDBACK: Send and receive messages while online. ENTRY COMPILED: 940425 MUNICIPAL TITLE: City Connection BBS SOURCE: City Connection BBS, San Jose, CA. A Public Access, Community Information Resource, Serving the Santa Clara County Cities. PATH: BBS: 1-408-272-3332, 14400 bps, 8 bits, No parity, 1 stop bit. FirstClass Bulletin Board: download software to allow graphical user interface. Choose a password, fill out brief questionnaire, compose 'resume', to be validated for longer daily access privilege. ABSTRACT: Information about local communities and organizations, local government, schools, businesses, non-profits. Residents may provide information. Cities of Cupertino, Milpitas, San Jose and Saratoga. CONTACT: System Administrator (sysop): Robert Kim, Voice: 1-408-272-4185. FEEDBACK: Validated members may send and receive messages online. ENTRY COMPILED: 940427 TITLE: CityNet BBS (Cupertino) SOURCE: CityNet, Inc. "Advancing Community Through Technology" FEE: $20-$400/year, depending on type of account. PATH: Register and pay annual fee before logging on. ABSTRACT: Information from departments of Cupertino city government, schools, businesses and community groups; the ability to apply for permits & licenses; email, want ads, sales information, etc. CONTACT: CityNet, Inc. 20300 Stevens Creek Blvd., Suite 398, Cupertino CA 95014, 1-408-777-7000. ENTRY COMPILED: 940615 TITLE: Community Access BBS SOURCE: City of Antioch (Unofficial). PATH: BBS: 1-510-777-1314, 1200-28800 bps, 8 bits, No parity, 1 stop bit. VT100 Emulation. Choose a password, fill out brief questionnaire. ABSTRACT: Antioch City Hall - Public Information Menu includes: o Monthly News Letter o Bid-Line o Job Hot-Line o **AGENDA** City Council / Redevelopment Agency o **NOTICE** of Public Hearing o City Council Information o Purchasing Dept. Information o **MINUTES** City Council / Redevelopment Agency CONTACT: Sysop: Mark Liddington. LIDDVIDD Productions, Home of CAbbs-Net: P.O. Box 4703 Antioch, CA 94531-4703 Voice: 1-510-706-7511, mark_liddington@cabbs.com ENTRY COMPILED: 940412 TITLE: INFOACCESS BBS. SOURCE: City of Oakland. PATH: BBS: 1-510-238-6561, 2400 bps, 8 bits, No parity, 1 stop bit. VT100 Emulation. Choose a password, fill out brief questionnaire. ABSTRACT: The InfoAccess Bulletin Menu includes: o InfoAccess Menu o Library Menu o City Council/ORA Menu o City Planning Menu o Permit Processing Menu o Emergency Services Menu o Oakland School Board Meeting Agenda o Cultural Arts Menu o Energy Crisis Intervention Program o Oakland Police Menu o City Phone Menu o Special Services ENTRY COMPILED: 940613 TITLE: City of Palo Alto Demonstration WWW Server. SOURCE: City of Palo Alto and Digital Equipment Corporation. PATH: Mosaic or Lynx http://www.city.palo-alto.ca.us ABSTRACT: Home Page items include: o City Government: Home Page -- Phone numbers o City Council Agenda -- City Council Meeting schedule o Other Government: County -- State -- Federal -- Bay Area o Chamber of Commerce CONTACT: Email to wwwadmin@city.palo-alto.ca.us, or city-web-ops@pa.dec.com ENTRY COMPILED: 940613 TITLE: City of San Jose SOURCE: City of San Jose: Access through Silicon Valley Public Access Link. PATH: gopher to: svpal.org /Government/City of San Jose ABSTRACT: Experimental service. City of San Jose Directory includes: o SJ Employee Directory/ o SJ Government Directory. o San Jose City Council Agenda. o San Jose City Job Opportunities. ENTRY COMPILED: 940613 TITLE: Santa Monica Public Information Network (PEN). SOURCE: City of Santa Monica. PATH: Access limited to Santa Monica. CONTACT: Keith Kurtz, City of Santa Monica, 1685 Main Street, P.O. Box 2200, Santa Monica CA 90401, 1-310-458-8383. PROPOSED, BUT NOT YET IMPLEMENTED Look for a FirstClass Bulletin Board System in Mountain View. It's being tested now. ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 21 Jun 1994 15:25:01 -0400 (EDT) From: email list server Subject: File 2--WRITE CONGRESS for Public Lane on Info Highway *** ACTION ALERT! *** *** WRITE TO YOUR SENATORS TO SUPPORT S. 2195! *** Help create public space in cyberspace. Prevent the NII from becoming simply an electronic shopping mall. An unprecendented coalition of nonprofit, educational, arts, service, labor, civil rights, consumer, public broadcasting, religious, community, public interest, civic, and cultural organizations are working to get Congress to designate a public lane on the information highway. Toward this goal, an important new bill has just been released that would open up media and communications networks to a wide range of information and service providers. S. 2195 would ensure that television and other media will have democratic and diverse offerings for the public in the next decade. But in the face of tough odds, the coalition needs _your_ help. * Please write to your Senators ASAP in support of S. 2195: The National Public Telecommunications Infrastructure Act of 1994. Included in this post: * Fact Sheet on S. 2195 * Sample Letter to Your Senators Please distribute this information widely. -- PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAY LEGISLATION (S. 2195) Senator Daniel Inouye (D-HI), Chairman of the Communications Subcommittee of the Senate Commerce, Transportation and Science Committee, has introduced important legislation to require the reservation of capacity on advanced telecommunications networks for non-commercial educational and informational services and civic discourse. Telecommunications infrastructure legislation is generally believed to have the potential to transform education, self-governance, civic discourse and artistic expression. However, this promise will not be fulfilled unless there is a guaranteed right-of-way for the public to share non-commercial educational, cultural, civic and informational services. Senator Inouye's legislation seeks to address this problem by reserving up to twenty percent of the capacity on advanced telecommunications networks for use by state and local governments, educational institutions, public broadcasters, libraries and nonprofit organizations organized for the purpose of providing public access to noncommercial, educational, informational, cultural civic and charitable services. The legislation is not, however, intended to cover the Internet. Nor is it intended to cover point to point telephone communications that are not intended for the public. While many people contemplate that at some point in the future there will be ample capacity on these "switched" networks so that technological and economic barriers to access would disappear, this bill would insure such uses in the interim. If and when adequate capacity is available, the legislative requirement to reserve space would be phased out or terminated. The legislation also includes a funding mechanism to give those entities for which the capacity is being reserved sufficient economic support to use the capacity. Absent legislation, the telecommunications industry is unlikely to provide adequate, affordable, non-discriminatory access to communications networks, and could potentially control the ideas and information we all now receive and send over computer networks. Information technologies are already having a profound impact on the way we communicate with each other, keep abreast of and disseminate important information, educate ourselves, receive health care, expand our cultural horizons, and engage in political and civic discourse. Politicians and members of the telecommunications industry have all recognized the potential of the "information superhighway" expand the delivery of noncommercial educational services and contribute to a new era of democratic self-governance and to enrich the lives of those people that have traditionally been left out. Senator Inouye's legislation will provide the mechanism for the information superhighway to realize these goals. We need to support public right-of-way legislation. We encourage you to begin lobbying efforts by writing letters to your Senators immediately. -- SAMPLE LETTERS IN SUPPORT OF PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAY BILL (S. 2195) * Please write your Senators as soon as possible on this urgent matter. If you can, also write Senator Inouye and Senator Hollings. The Honorable [your senator] ___ Senate ________ Office Building Washington, DC 20510 Dear Senator ____________: We are writing to encourage you to support the legislation (S.2195) introduced by Senator Inouye to provide space for non-commercial uses on the "information superhighway." We hope that you will recognize the importance of this legislation and consider becoming a co-sponsor. Congress must ensure that as the legal landscape for the provision of telecommunications services changes dramatically, those organizations committed to providing informational, educational, cultural and charitable services to the public are not left out. Congress has an historic opportunity to shape the nation's communications system for the future. But the promise of economic development, educational reform and enhanced democracy will not happen if the new technologies are utilized principally for home shopping and movies on demand. It is crucial that any such legislation provides for the reservation of capacity for open, non-discriminatory use by state and local governments, libraries, schools, public broadcasters, and other nonprofit entities. [If applicable, please state potential uses for your organization.] Sincerely, -- The Honorable Daniel K. Inouye Chairman, Subcommittee on Communications, Committee on Commerce, Science & Transportation 722 Senate Hart Office Building Washington, DC 20510 Dear Mr. Chairman: We are writing to commend your efforts to ensure that space is provided for non-commercial uses on the "information superhighway." We support your proposal (S.2195) regarding the reservation of capacity and hope that your proposal will be considered simultaneously with the Senate's debate on the broader telecommunications reform bill, S. 1822. Congress has an historic opportunity to shape the nation's communications system for the future. But the promise of economic development, educational reform and enhanced democracy will not happen if the new technologies are utilized principally for home shopping and movies on demand. It is crucial that any telecommunications reform legislation provides for the reservation of capacity for open, non- discriminatory use by state and local governments, libraries, schools, public broadcasters, and other nonprofit entities. [If applicable, please state potential uses for your organization.] Sincerely, -- The Honorable Ernest F. Hollings Chairman Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation 125 Senate Russell Office Building Washington, DC 20510 Dear Mr. Chairman: We are writing in support of legislation (S.2195) introduced by Senator Daniel Inouye to ensure that space is provided for non-commercial uses on the "information superhighway." You have been a leader in telecommunications reform efforts. Senator Inouye's important legislation would advance your objectives by insuring that the information superhighway provides more than home shopping and movies on demand. We hope that you will help ensure that S.2195 is included in the current debate on telecommunications reform and considered contemporaneously with S. 1822. Congress has an historic opportunity to shape the nation's communications system for the future. But the promise of economic development, educational reform and enhanced democracy will not happen if the new technologies are utilized principally for home shopping and movies on demand. It is crucial that any such legislation provides for the reservation of capacity for open, non-discriminatory use by state and local governments, libraries, schools, public broadcasters, and other nonprofit entities. [If applicable, please state potential uses for your organization.] Sincerely, -- A copy of the "public space" bill (S. 2195), and other supporting materials will be placed online shortly. Please distribute this post widely. Thank you for your support. -- Anthony E. Wright cme@access.digex.net Coordinator, Future of Media Project Center for Media Education -- Computer Professionals for Social Responsibility is a national membership organization of people concerned about the impact of technology on society. For automatic or live info email to cpsr-info@cpsr.org; you may also contact CPSR, P.O. Box 717, Palo Alto, CA 94302, (415) 322-3778. Your membership, participation, and support is welcome. ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 29 Jun 94 09:56:58 PDT From: mvp@LSIL.COM(Mike Van Pelt 4282) Subject: File 3--More commentary on "Ghost in the Modem" (Re CuD 6.58) In Cu Digest, #6.58, wrote >In Cu Digest #6.51, Bryce Wilcox wrote: >-=> I would like to take this opportunity to state that I >-=> believe egalitarianism, in regard to information technology >-=> as elsewhere, is an irrational, immoral, and dangerous >-=> ideal. >You don't leave much to comment on, but I'm curious what your >reasoning is for your position. I agree with you on the second to >last paragraph, that policies and programs that are, or could be, >destructive should be opposed, but I don't understand the connection >between the ideal that every citizen that cares to connect up and >start surfing the net should be allowed to and a policy that's >destructive to either the "cyberspace" that we keep hearing about or >the real society in which we live. > >Maybe I'm misunderstanding your position, but you seem to favour a >"status quo" position that only the technologically knowledgable >should be allowed to use the networks. A sort of nerd-priesthood, if >you will, paying homage to the net.gods. If this is, in fact, your >position, how would one go about joining this priesthood? What sort >of controls will have to be implemented to keep out the >non-initiated? I can't speak for Bryce, but my understanding of his reasoning when I sent him private email agreeing with and supporting his position is that today, "eglatarianism" usually means a government requirement for identical results, not equality of opportunity. Forcing "cyberspace" to become some kind of vast new government entitlement will be destructive -- more destructive than the visions of "information robber barons" dreamed up by those who seem to be advocating such a government entitlement. Furthermore, if design of the "information superhighway" is dumbed down to make sure the lowest common denominator can get the full value of it with no learning curve, then what of value will be left? I certainly don't understand from Bryce's message any intention to do anything to keep people out. Those who can summon up the motivation to learn to use the "infobahn" will do so. Those that just want results without putting a shred of effort into obtaining the results will have less success. It is always so. Make it easier to use, yes, but not at the expense of limiting its power and functionality. Don't dumb it down. And *definitely* don't turn it into some kind of welfare-statist entitlement where making a profit is forbidden. That will turn it into the information equivalent of Cabrini-Green. ------------------------------ End of Computer Underground Digest #6.59 ************************************