WPC4 2BPZCourier 10cpi#|xx6X@8;X@Epson ActionPrinter 3250EPACT325.PRSx  @1yX@Courier 10cpi2V@ ZF`8?xxxhx6X@8;X@Epson ActionPrinter 3250EPACT325.PRSx  @1yX@#|x22******** 4 unread articles in comp.org.eff.news--read now? [ynq] Article 132 (3 more) in comp.org.eff.news (moderated): Newsgroups: comp.org.eff.news,comp.org.eff.talk From: ckd@eff.org (Christopher Davis) Subject: EFF releases analysis of FBI Digital Telephony (wiretap) proposal Followup-To: comp.org.eff.talk Nntp-Posting-Host: loiosh.eff.org Organization: Electronic Frontier Foundation Tech Central Date: Thu, 17 Sep 1992 23:13:11 GMT Lines: 76 +=========+=================================================+===========+ | F.Y.I. |Newsnote from the Electronic Frontier Foundation |Sep 17,1992| +=========+=================================================+===========+ JOINT INDUSTRY/PUBLIC INTEREST COALITION RELEASES WHITE PAPER OPPOSING FBI DIGITAL TELEPHONY LEGISLATION WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), on behalf of a coalition of industry, trade associations, computer users, and privacy and consumer representatives, today released a white paper entitled, "Analysis of the FBI Proposal Regarding Digital Telephony." The FBI has proposed legislation which would require that all telecommunications equipment be designed to allow law enforcement monitoring and is seeking passage in the last few weeks of this congress. The organizations that signed the paper believe that the proposal would cost consumers millions of dollars, damage U.S. competitiveness in the telecommunications marketplace, threaten national security interests, and deny American consumers and American businesses of much-wanted security and privacy on voice and data communications. "Basically, the FBI's legislative proposal is premature. We hope that the white paper demonstrates that there are too many potential dangers inherent in the legislative proposal and that there are other means of addressing this situation," said Jerry Berman, Executive Director of the Washington office of the Electronic Frontier Foundation. Over the past decade a host of new digital communication technologies have been introduced and more are being developed. New telephone services, such as call-forwarding and last number re-dial, are now being offered. The FBI is concerned about the impact these services -- and other digital communications techniques -- will have on its ability to wiretap. In the future, the vast majority of computer communications will also use this technology to transfer information and documents. Signatories included major telecommunications equipmenth)0*0*0* manufacturers, such as AT&T; computer manufacturers, such as IBM and Digital Equipment Corporation; software producers, such as Microsoft and Lotus; network providers, such as Prodigy and Advanced Network and Services, Inc.; trade associations in the telecommunications, computer and electronic mail businesses; and public interest groups, such as the Electronic Frontier Foundation and the ACLU. The Electronic Frontier Foundation, a group of 955 members of the computer community, has been coordinating an industry/public interest working group on digital telephony. The working group has met with the FBI over a number of months in an effort to work out mutually-agreeable solutions to the challenge that the development of new communications technologies poses to the FBI. David Johnson, a partner at Wilmer, Cutler & Pickering, drafted the white paper for the working group and serves as its legal advisor. "We have made significant progress and both sides better understand the other's needs and concerns. The bottom line, however, is that those who signed the paper do not see broad-based legislation as the right approach to this challenge. We have worked with the FBI to develop practical, technical solutions to the problems they are anticipating and intend to continue to do so," said John Podesta, of Podesta Associates, Inc., who coordinates the working group on behalf of EFF. # # # For a copy of the white paper, please call +1 202 544-6906, or use anonymous ftp to ftp.eff.org, file pub/EFF/legal-issues/eff-fbi-analysis. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 17, 1992 For more information contact: John Podesta 202/544-6906 Jerry Berman 202/544-9237 +=====+===================================================+=============+ | EFF |155 Second Street, Cambridge MA 02141 (617)864-0665| eff@eff.org | +=====+===================================================+=============+ -- Christopher Davis | ]CALL -151 | *300: 20 DD FB 60 System Administrator| *3D0G EFF +1 617 864 0665 | ]CALL 768 End of article 132 (of 135)--what next? [npq] Article 133 (2 more) in comp.org.eff.news (moderated): Newsgroups: comp.org.eff.news,comp.org.eff.talk From: rita@eff.org (Rita Marie Rouvalis) Subject: General Info/ FAQh)0*0*0*ԌFollowup-To: comp.org.eff.talk Summary: read this if you want to know what EFF is and does Originator: rita@eff.org Nntp-Posting-Host: eff.org Organization: Electronic Frontier Foundation Date: Fri, 18 Sep 1992 14:44:38 GMT Lines: 539 ************************************************************************ General Information about the Electronic Frontier Foundation ************************************************************************ The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) is dedicated to the pursuit of policies and activities that will advance freedom and openness in computer-based communications. It is a member-supported, nonprofit group that grew from the conviction that a new public interest organization was needed in the information age; that this organization would enhance and protect the democratic potential of new computer communications technology. From the beginning, the EFF determined to become an organization that would combine technical, legal, and public policy expertise, and would apply these skills to the myriad issues and concerns that arise whenever a new communications medium is born. By remaining faithful to this initial vision, the EFF has become an organized voice for the burgeoning community of nationally and internationally networked computer users. It performs the multiple roles of guardian, advocate, and innovator to serve and protect the public interest in the information age. Goals of the Electronic Frontier Foundation, 1990-1992 1. To engage in and support educational activities that increase the popular understanding of the opportunities and challenges posed by computing and telecommunications. 2. To develop among policymakers a clearer comprehension of the issues underlying free and open telecommunications. 3. To support the creation of legal and structural approaches that will ease the assimilation of these new technologies by society. 4. To raise public awareness about civil liberties issues arising from the rapid advances in computer-based communications media. 5. To support litigation in the public interest to preserve, protect, and extend constitutional rights to the realm of computing and telecommunications technology. 6. To encourage and support the development of new tools that will endow nontechnical users with full and easy access to computer-based telecommunications.h)0*0*0*ԌTwo years after its inception, the EFF is striving to meet these goals and fulfill its mission in many ways: * The EFF is intensely involved in public advocacy and policy-making in the telecommunications arena at the federal level. * The EFF is constantly reaching out for new members, be they individuals, companies, or groups, that are united in their desire for an open and affordable National Public Information Network that embodies the finest traditional values of the United States. * The EFF is managing a public domain software development program that promises wide access to existing and future networks without intensive training. * The EFF is active in keeping the present and future costs of network access low to ensure that this nation and the world not devolve into the "information rich" and the "information poor." * The EFF has commissioned studies on the future of computer networks, their practicality, and their impact on the nation and the world. * The EFF is supporting an expanded electronic and print publication program to inform people of the issues on the electronic frontier, and to help both new and experienced network users maximize their own and the technology's potential. * The EFF builds and manages coalitions of public interest, academic and corporate groups and concerned individuals for specific actions on specific items of legislation and policy on the federal and state level. * The EFF helps to defend people wrongly accused of computer crime, and to ensure that users of these new technologies are extended the full range of constitutional protection. * The EFF provides advice and counsel on new issues arising in this information age to citizens, companies, government organizations, h)0*0*0* the media, and other public interest groups. * The EFF works to raise the consciousness of citizens, companies, and government bodies regarding both the rights and responsibilities of computer network users through speeches, panels, interviews, meetings, and publications. * The EFF actively manages discussion groups on several major computer conferencing systems, and is a presence in many more. * The EFF maintains a legal hotline for people in need of advice or references in the case of legal difficulties arising from computer-based communications. * The EFF, in both its Cambridge and Washington offices, remains alert for opportunities to influence public awareness and shape public policies in order to maximize freedom, competitiveness, and civil liberties in the electronic social environments created by new computer and communications technologies. In short, thanks to the moral, technical, and financial support of our members and constituents, the EFF in two short years is well on its way to fulfilling its original goals. Emerging out of the computer networks it represents, the EFF has become an organization that people, companies, the media, and governments turn to when they look for insight into questions involving new communications technologies and life on the electronic frontier. EFF's Open Platform Proposal The EFF is urging Congress to establish an Open Platform for Information Services in the United States. We advocate the rapid deployment of widely available, affordable ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network). We believe that this can be the basis of a consumer information delivery system to be used until national switched broadband options become available in the 21st century. Narrowband ISDN, if offered nationwide and priced at affordable, mass-market rates, can offer end-to-end digital service without major infrastructure investments. With an ISDN platform in place, information entrepreneurs will soon be able to reach an expanded market in which to offer text, video, and interactive multimedia services. Public agencies, private communications, computer, and publishing firms, and even individuals will be able to access an inexpensive, widely available medium in which to publish and communicate electronically. Other networks and technologies such as the cable televisionh)0*0*0* network may also play an important role in providing digital access, but because of the public telephone network's ubiquity and common carrier regime, ISDN has a key role to play. ISDN will not only spur innovation, it will establish, with appropriate safeguards, a level playing field for all who wish to provide information services over the telephone network. For many months, the EFF has been exploring the technical and economic feasibility of our Open Platform Proposal. We have received valuable comments and support from key players among the regional Bell operating companies, interexchange carriers, information providers, our members, individuals on the Internet or associated systems, and public service commissions. All these believe that ISDN can play a crucial role in developing the information arena for the benefit of all today. As of July 1992, we have reached the following conclusions: 1. ISDN can meet many of the information needs of residential and commercial users long before a public, switched broadband network is available. For example, with advances in compression technology, ISDN makes it possible to distribute interactive voice, data, and video services over the copper wire telephone network currently in place throughout the nation. 2. ISDN can be deployed nationwide within the next three to five years without massive infrastructure investment or new technology development. 3. ISDN can be tariffed as a basic service at affordable rates. 4. ISDN is a critical and even necessary transitional technology on the path toward the future broadband fiber optic national public network. 5. The benefits of other networks that are already important information distribution media can be enhanced by interconnection with a digital narrowband ISDN telephone network. We are optimistic that ISDN is an important step on the path to the development of a telecommunications infrastructure that meets the diverse needs of the nation. As a result we are now working to get the principles of the Open Platform Proposal adopted as legislation in Congress, and by public utility commissions nationwide. To do this we are building a coalition behind our proposal. In recent months, we have garnered the interest and support of key computer firms, including Microsoft, Sun Microsystems, Apple Computer, Novell, Lotus and Adobe. We are now seeking support for the Open Platform Proposal from the communications industry, consumer groups, library associations, other nonprofit public interest groups, and our membership. If we work together, we can break the telecommunications deadlock and take a significant steph)0*0*0*Ԍtoward a national public network. Structure of the EFF The EFF maintains offices in Cambridge, Massachusetts and Washington, D.C. EFF/Cambridge deals with member services, publications, legal counsel, technical development, and the support of our online discussion and news groups. EFF/Cambridge also maintains the central library and our main computing facilities, including eff.org proper, which hosts our mailing lists; ftp.eff.org, home of our anonymous ftp archives; and wais.eff.org, our WAIS archive site. EFF/Washington is charged with policy-making, coalition building, congressional liaison, and the administration of the Communications Policy Forum. The EFF is a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization. It is an operating foundation and does not make grants. The EFF is a membership organization with both individual and corporate members from throughout the United States and the world. EFF/Cambridge * We organize and maintain continuing online newsletters and active discussion groups on USENET (comp.org.eff.talk, comp.org.eff.news, also available as Internet mailing lists), which are read by 25,000 to 50,000 people a month; on the WELL (Whole Earth 'Lectronic Link), whose membership is about 5,000, and on CompuServe, which has over 900,000 subscribers. In addition, much of our material is echoed to BIX, GEnie, Fidonet, America Online, and numerous other electronic bulletin board systems in the United States and around the world. * To advance ease of use and maximum connectivity, we have launched the Intersuite Project. Working with Software Tool and Die, operators of The World, a public access Unix system in Brookline, Massachusetts, we will develop an easy series of applications for connecting to the Internet from personal computers. Once completed in 1993, these applications will be released into the public domain. * As our major conference of the year, we inspired and helped to organize both the first and second Computers, Freedom and Privacy conferences (CFP). CFP is an annual four-day event that brings together, in search of knowledge and common ground, representatives from computer networking, law enforcement, and privacy advocate groups. * In order to recognize worthy individuals, the EFF organized and hosted the first annual Pioneer Awards (at CFP II). This event, h)0*0*0* which drew hundreds of nominations, honored five outstanding individuals who had contributed to the growth of computer-based communications. * To keep our members and other interested parties apprised of our activities, we have produced and distributed more than 30 issues of our electronic newsletter, EFFector Online. * We have published the first two issues of our quarterly print newsletter, EFFector, as well as numerous policy studies and white papers, such as the seminal "Building the Open Road." * We continue to expand our presence on, and usefulness to, the Internet with our connected systems, which have recently been enlarged to five Sun SPARCstations and six gigabytes of disk storage. * To take advantage of this technology, we created a heavily used FTP archive on ftp.eff.org. This archive provides documents on computer networking and privacy law as well as a number of online publications. * Because we believe in finding common cause with a multiplicity of organizations, we have hosted groups such as Index on Censorship and the Computers and Academic Freedom mailing lists on our systems. * In order to fulfill our role as a bridge between often disparate interest groups, EFF staff members have spoken to groups of librarians, software and hardware developers, law enforcement officers, lawyers, and many others on the issues of civil liberties and computer networking. * Using our library and personal resources, we have built solid relationships with both print and broadcast media to become a "place of first and last resort" for reporters covering stories involving telecommunications policy, legislation, and the new information technology. * To make it easier to use networking, we have begun a complete guide to the Net for both novices and experienced users for publication in late 1992. * Because of early work with the Massachusetts legislature, we have been invited to spearhead the Massachusetts Computer Crime Commission, established to study the need for new or revised laws addressing computer crime. * As part of our efforts to educate, we have spoken at and participated in the conferences of various members of the judicial and law enforcement community, such as the High Tech Criminal Investigation Association, the American Society of Criminologists, and the FBI. * We have contributed articles and position papers to such publications as The Quill, Communications of the ACM, Discover, and Scientific American. * We have routinely given legal information and advice to lawyers, online systems, system operators, the media, and individuals about the evolving case law in the area of computer-based communications. * We have repeatedly aided students in restoring computer accounts suspended merely for showing interest in information relating to system security. * We are pursuing litigation against the Secret Service to establish constitutional limits on the search and seizure of computers, BBS systems, books, and manuscripts at Steve Jackson Games in Austin, Texas. * We have lobbied effectively at the state level to change legislation inimical to computer networking and are represented on the Massachusetts Computer Crime Commission. EFF/Washington, D.C. With the advent of the Washington office, the EFF has begun the complicated and arduous task of tracking pending legislation and working with numerous policymaking bodies and organizations. * The EFF in Washington leads the way in moving the elements of the Open Platform Proposal into the legislative process. * The EFF is leading the coalition of telephone, computer, communications and public interest groups to oppose the recent FBI-sponsored initiative to require all communications firms, as well as public and private networks, to automatically enable wiretapping and anti-encryption in digitized communications. * To foster the dialogue about the shape and design of the national public network, EFF administers the Communications Policy Forum. The CPF offers consumer and public interest groups, telecom companies, computer industry groups, and policymakers a forum in which to discuss telecommuncations issues. It conducts meetings and workshops and undertakes nonpartisan research. It is cosponsored by the Consumer Federation of America and the ACLU. * We have filed formal briefs with the FCC regarding the regulation of 900 numbers that support the position that 900 numbers and other information services be carried on a common carrier basis. * We have testified several times before the Federal Communications Commission concerning the public access and design needs of the National Research and Education network. * We are helping to define the issues of protecting BBSs, Internet h) 0*0*0* sites, and other telecommunications carriers from unwarranted risks and liabilities. * In response to legislation passed in the House to make it a crime to scan cellular telephone signals, the EFF has commitments from the Senate to either substitute or include a feasibility study of cellular encryption in the FCC appropriations bill along with the scanner penalties. * The EFF is credited by sponsors with having helped to enact the High Performance Computer Act of 1991. * In November, 1991, the EFF joined in a public interest letter to the House and Senate commerce committees, urging them to ensure that phone companies carry all 900 number services without regard to content. * The EFF has joined with the IIA, the ACLU, ADAPSO, the Software Publishers Association, and others to oppose H.R. 191 and similar legislation in the Senate to give the government a software exception under Section 105 of the copyright act, which prohibits the government to copyright public information. * The EFF is working with the information industry and library associations to prevent Congress from passing Section 534 of the Maritime Act, which would allow the Federal Maritime Commission to charge above cost for electronic data, thus exercising a quasi-copyright over government information. * This year the Senate introduced legislation, S. 1940, to establish an electronic freedom of information act (EFOIA) to ensure that public access to information applies to electronic public data. The EFF spearheaded the legislation and helped to draft it. * The EFF is now a proponent of legislation before Congress to establish a positive obligation on the part of government agencies to disseminate information in electronic as well as paper formats. Compromise legislation satisfactory to the administration, information industry, library groups, and public interest organizations is in the works. These are known as amendments to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1992. * We have endorsed H.R. 3459, the Improvement of Information Access Act, introduced by Representative Major Owens, and indicated our willingness to work on the GPO WINDO proposal, H.R. 2772. In our view, all of these bills support broader public access to information and should be enacted into law. * We have supported OMB's recently published Revised Circular A-130 on government information dissemination policy, which embodies broad principles endorsing active and equitable federal agency dissemination of electronic public information, at marginal cost, through a diversity of public and private sources.h) 0*0*0*Ԍ * We commissioned a study, now complete, from Economics and Technology, Inc., of Boston that establishes the affordability of ISDN when fully deployed. * We have been developing and promoting guidelines for magistrates who issue search warrants for computer data and hardware. * We write a monthly legal column for an electronic bulletin board magazine, BBS Callers Digest. * We have met with specialized usergroups such as Senior Net and the Public Library Association, to work on shared goals and concerns. * We have researched civil liberties issues related to telephone company efforts to reclassify hobbyist BBSs from residential to business services. How to Connect to the EFF Internet and USENET: General information requests, submissions for EFFector Online, and the like can be mailed to eff@eff.org. If you receive any USENET newsgroups, your site may carry the newsgroups comp.org.eff.news and comp.org.eff.talk. The former is a moderated newsgroup for announcements, newsletters, and other information; the latter is an unmoderated discussion group for discussing the EFF and issues relating to the electronic frontier. For those unable to read the newsgroups, there are redistributions via electronic mail. Send requests to be added to or dropped from the eff-news mailing list to eff-request@eff.org. Mail eff-talk-request@eff.org to be added to a redistribution of comp.org.eff.talk by mail; please note that it can be extremely high-volume at times. A document library containing all of the EFF news releases, John Barlow's "Crime and Puzzlement", and other publications of interest is available via anonymous FTP from ftp.eff.org. Mail ftphelp@eff.org if you have questions, or are unable to use FTP. To be on a mailing list specific to a discussion of technical and policy issues relating to the EFF's Open Platform Initiative, send a request to pub-infra-request@eff.org. The WELL: There is an active EFF conference on the WELL, as well as many other related conferences of interest to EFF supporters. Access to the WELL is $15/month plus $2/hour. Outside the San Francisco area,h) 0*0*0* telecom access for $5/hour is available through the CompuServe Packet Network. If you have an Internet connection, you can reach the WELL via telnet at well.sf.ca.us; otherwise, dial +1 415 332 6106 (data). CompuServe: Our forum on CompuServe has also opened recently. GO EFFSIG to join. Many of the files on ftp.eff.org, as well as other items of interest, are mirrored in the EFFSIG Libraries. Our Addresses: The Electronic Frontier Foundation, Inc. 155 Second Street Cambridge, Massachusetts 02141 +1 617 864 0665 +1 617 864 0866 FAX Internet: eff@eff.org The Electronic Frontier Foundation, Inc. 666 Pennsylvania Avenue S.E., Suite 303 Washington, D.C. 20003 +1 202 544 9237 +1 202 547 5481 FAX Internet: eff@eff.org MEMBERSHIP IN THE ELECTRONIC FRONTIER FOUNDATION In order to continue the work already begun and to expand our efforts and activities into other realms of the electronic frontier, we need the financial support of individuals and organizations. If you support our goals and our work, you can show that support by becoming a member now. Members receive our quarterly newsletter, EFFECTOR, our bi-weekly electronic newsletter, EFFector Online (if you have an electronic address that can be reached through the Net), and special releases and other notices on our activities. But because we believe that support should be freely given, you can receive these things even if you do not elect to become a member. Your membership/donation is fully tax deductible. Our memberships are $20.00 per year for students, $40.00 per year for regular members, and $100.00 per year for organizations. You may, of course, donate more if you wish. Our privacy policy: The Electronic Frontier Foundation will never, under any circumstances, sell any part of its membership list. We will, from time to time, share this list with other non-profit organizations whose work we determine to be in line with our goals. But with us, member privacy is the default. This means that you must actively grant us permission to share your name with other groups. If you do not grant explicit permission, we assume that youh) 0*0*0* do not wish your membership disclosed to any group for any reason. ========================================================================= Mail to: The Electronic Frontier Foundation, Inc. 155 Second St. #AB Cambridge, MA 02141 I wish to become a member of the EFF. I enclose: $_______ $20.00 (student or low income membership) $40.00 (regular membership) $100.00 (Corporate or organizational membership. This allows any organization to become a member of EFF. It allows such an organization, if it wishes to designate up to five individuals within the organization as members.) [ ] I enclose an additional donation of $_______ Name: Organization: Address: City or Town: State: Zip: Phone: ( ) (optional) FAX: ( ) (optional) Email address: I enclose a check [ ]. Please charge my membership in the amount of $ to my Mastercard [ ] Visa [ ] American Express [ ] Number: Expiration date: Signature: ________________________________________________ Date: I hereby grant permission to the EFF to share my name with other non-profit groups from time to time as it deems appropriate [ ]. Initials:___________________________ ``````````````````^^^^^^^^^^^^'''''''''''''''''' Last Update: 12 August 1992 -- Rita Marie Rouvalis rita@eff.org Electronic Frontier Foundation | Brown eggs are local eggs, 155 Second Street | and local eggs are fresh! Cambridge, MA 02141 617-864-0665 | End of article 133 (of 135)--what next? [npq] Article 134 (1 more) in comp.org.eff.news (moderated): Newsgroups: comp.org.eff.news,comp.org.eff.talk From: rita@eff.org (Rita Marie Rouvalis) Subject: T-Shirt Update Followup-To: comp.org.eff.talk Originator: rita@eff.org Nntp-Posting-Host: eff.org Organization: Electronic Frontier Foundation Date: Mon, 21 Sep 1992 19:15:30 GMT Lines: 16 XL's are all gone, folks. I do still have Mediums and Smalls. For those who wanted one, but didn't get one (but, I mean, we've been selling them for months already), we will becoming out with another design in the foggy future. -- Rita Marie Rouvalis rita@eff.org Electronic Frontier Foundation | Brown eggs are local eggs, 155 Second Street | and local eggs are fresh! Cambridge, MA 02141 617-864-0665 |