Eagles Nest BBS 5/Eagles_Nest_Mac_Collection_Disc_5.TOAST/Other Non-Macintosh Text/NBCvsBBS/NBC vs. BBS *Alert*

Text File | 1994-09-08 | 5KB | 112 lines

-----------------Forwarded from the OUTSUP forum:

*************************  ALERT ********************************


Subject: NBC's Anti NET Campaign


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****  N B C ' s  A N T I - N E T  C A M P A I G N *****
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A most heinous act of info-terrorism has been committed against the net
community by "Dateline", NBC's pseudo-news propaganda ministry.

To further the government's need to destroy the haven of free speech known as
cyberspace, NBC has successfully deluded much of their reactionary brain-dead
audience into believing that NETWORKS ARE DANGEROUS - BBS's ARE CRIMINAL.
Something must be done!  (Something will be done - read on...)

The September 1 episode of Dateline paraded adventuresome youths who had lost
the occasional finger while honing their pyrotechnical skills with
anarcho-terrorist data gleaned from BBSs and the net.  Forrest "Goebbels"
Sawyer whined that the young and restless data-seekers of the 90's have easy
access to exciting netware titles such as "Bomb Making For Fun and Profit" and
"Anarchist's Cookbook" with no governmental interference of any kind!  The
existence of such networks and their accessibility by Gen-X misfits poses a
clear and present danger to the national security of the United States.

You may recall the first such attempt at an anti-net freedom propaganda
campaign failed miserably and was aborted.  Not enough concerned citizens fell
for the ruse of nets being an unfettered sanctuary for child porn mongers,
NAMBLA dating services and wily molesters.  Since the first trial balloon was
floated and quickly transpired, Plan-B has been put into action.  Let's see
how many suckers will fall for this one, "Computer networks are a dangerous
source of subversive terrorist information and the children must be
protected." (Janet Reno was conspicuously absent from said broadcast)

A CongressMan-ic Oppressive named Ed Markey (Dem. Mass 7th Dist) is trying to
hold hearings on the dangers of computer networking and supposedly try to
draft some legislation that would allow the government to regulate the nets or
BBSs. Undoubtedly the legislation if passed will have a chilling effect on net
traffic, which frankly is getting way out of hand if you ask any bureaucrat
with something to hide. Severe penalties will be brought against any sysop who
allows minors to access anything that might be construed as dangerous.  No
doubt this definition will eventually receive a broad enough interpretation to
forbid instructions on the manufacture of smoke bombs, casting of all lead
ammunition, cleaning a .22 rifle, and even slingshot repair.  The true goal of
such legislation of course is not to "protect the children", but to stifle the
grassroots organizing of anti- statist groups and to squash the tide of truth
that is flooding cyberspace and often embarrassing government and corporate
interests.

Look for a "Child Protection Act" subtitled "concerning minors' access to
dangerous information" to come before Congress within 18 months.  Sysops will
become responsible for what information gets to whom and what they do with it,
regardless of the diligence they show in keeping the nets safe.  Disclaimers
and signed age statements will no longer suffice.  You WILL be responsible for
the information travelling though your board or newsgroup and you WILL be held
accountable.

Is the Pen more Powerful than the Sword?  This question may never be answered
fully, so why not hold on to both?  Yet the propaganda forces and strong arm
tactics forces that managed to squeak by the ban on assault swords will now be
unleashed on the modern-day pamphleteers of the net.  Al Gore wants to build a
kinder and gentler super-information toll road to keep your pens in line.

Netters will be able to mount a powerful counter-attack that will surprise the
hell out of Big Brother and Little Rock Sister.  Notify Rep. Markey that we
are watching and ready to fight.  Fax-blast his office.  Dig into his dirt and
spread liberally.  Likewise show NBC that we are listening. Reach out and
touch these folks as follows:


Representative Edward J. Markey (D-7th) Malden, MA Office phone (in DC):
202-225-2836 Energy and Commerce

Markey is the Chairman of the subcommittee on Telecommunications and Finance -
under Energy and Commerce 202-226-2424  subcommittee phone [phone]
subcommittee fax

Send your comments to: [e-mail]

Additional Research needed-- please add to this thread:

* Ed Markey's fax# and email address
* Names of other members of this subcommittee
* Transcript of Dateline airing Sept 1, 1994.
* Markey's proposed legislation draft.
* Date of hearings (not scheduled yet)
* Attendees and speakers at said hearings
* Any related legislation from this subcom
* Markey's strategic alliances with big telco's (contributors) who might
  benefit from a crackdown on independent net/BBS operators.
* Responses from EFF, CPSR type groups


This post should be crossposted and distributed.

[full permission to copy]

"They can have my net access when they pry the 486 from my dead, carpel tunnel
syndrome-infested hands."

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Make copies and spread to other sections....and your friends.

       --Loz--- "Town Mayor" and Real Estate Broker...
         Internet Address: [e-mail]