** OPEN LETTER FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE **

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August 9, 1993

IAMU
International Association of Modems Users
c/o 2508 5th Avenue, #141
Seattle, WA  98121

To Whom It May Concern:

I have just been made aware that the State of Massachusetts is now
attempting to charge citizens for information access and communication.

In particular, I am referring to the case involving Channel 1 BBS in
Cambridge, involving the Massachusetts State Department of Revenue
attempting to collect thousands of dollars, retroactively for taxes
in connection with their information access and retrieval.

It is clear that perhaps that department does not have a clear
understanding of their own state's laws of of the Constitution
of these United States which guarantees unequivocally, our citizens'
right to free speech (meaning unencumbered by the government).

These attempts will not stand.  They are an outrage to the severaal
million people that use modems to communciate with their friends,
relatives, business associates and centers of research.

Should local and state governments follow Massachusetts' lead, we
will all find ourselves sitting squarely with these issues in some
sort of Constitutional Convention whereby the will of the people to
remain free in matters of communications will prevail.

I urge the legislators, regulators and bureaucrats of Massachusetts
and all the other states, commonwealths and territories to re-think
the path that they are about to embark upon.  The citizens of this
country will not be forgiving if they proceed on this course.

Sincerely,

 /signed/

James Leonard
International Association of Modem Users

  -Hard Copy to Follow via US Mail-

  cc:

        Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF)
        Governor Weld, Boston, MA.
        Mitchell Adams, Commissioner of Revenue, Boston, MA
        Vice President Gore, White House, Washington, D.C.