anthony@utcsstat.UUCP (07/11/85)
Have people forgotten that although technically illegal, taverns and
home owners CAN have their satellite dishes ?! And I don't mean can have
through illegal means - two years ago (or so) the government gave permission
for this. In fact, last night I saw a commercial (by The Brick) for satellite
dishes going for $998.00. Granted that a satellite dish and a decoder are not
twin beasts, there is sufficient common ground between them to explain the
legal presence or absence of both (and not one or the other). Either way you
see it, possession of a satellite dish and/or a decoder either violates or
does NOT violate the telecommunications laws. I find it quite odd (and strange
that some people get offended by such a request) when I can get my hands on
telecommunications media using a satellite dish and yet not be able to access
the same signals using a decoder.
For those purists (other nouns also come to mind) who view such a
request as being criminal, excuse me for not having your noble morals! When
was the last time you guys (and/or ladies) copied a floppy disk that had
copywrite on it (or some similar act).
Of course, I expect all kinds of mail - "Who, me?? I buy all of my
software. Ditto for all my manuals, and my Apple clone (aah I mean my II+)".
For the VERY few that do go "by the book", my sincere apologies for
the above remark. As to the remaining 99.999999%, ........
I should also add that I am NOT using the actions of others to
justify mine (undoubtedly, someone would have suggested this). The basis
is given above about the paradox of being able to own a satellite dish
but not a decoder!
--
{allegra,ihnp4,linus,decvax}!utzoo!utcsstat!anthony
{ihnp4|decvax|utzoo|utcsrgv}!utcs!utzoo!utcsstat!anthony