clements@bbnccq.arpa (02/19/86)
From: Bob Clements <clements@bbnccq.ARPA>
[K3MC asked what I was going to do under the new FCC ruling.
Mike and I each run W0RLI-style mailboxes on VHF. I thought I
would cc this to the net, to see what others think. /Rcc]
Hi, Mike.
Well, there are two separate issues here. One is "What to do about
the ruling" and the other is "What to do about the fact that
the FCC has stopped ignoring packet and started issuing citations".
The former is irrelevant until March 14, when it goes into effect.
The latter is easy: I now shut down the BBS whenever I am out
of the house. Painful, but easy.
After March 14, it will be legal to leave it on if I don't TRANSMIT
any third party traffic. Note that RECEIVING it is OK. I think I'll
try to come up with software changes that will allow the BBS to
stay on by restricting what users can do. I'll put in a local
operator command that tells the system when it is unattended.
Then in that state some things will change, such as:
. Different herald to the user when he connects. Warn him that
the station is unattended.
. No automatic forwarding.
. Allow file downloads if they have been cleared by the sysop,
on the grounds that they are then traffic from me -- general
information, ARRL bulletins, etc. Note the BBS already uses
a file attribute bit for "new" versus "old/approved" files.
. Let the user read mail if it is from me or himself. This is
pretty restrictive, but what can you do...
. Tell user "you have new mail but you can't read it due to
FCC restrictions" when that is the case.
. Let users send mail all they want, since I am only prevented
from TRANSMITTING third party traffic.
This is all pretty silly. Maybe it's not worth the effort and we should
all just shut down. But it's the best we can do if we want to stay on
and follow the rules.
Of course the other thing to do about it is to join the protest.
I haven't decided whether to file a petition for reconsideration,
send each commissioner a brick [as was done en masse by German
hams some years ago -- it worked], or what.
Anyone else have constructive ideas?
73,
Bob, K1BC
ARPA: clements@bbn
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