EFFector Online Volume 6 No. 6

[David Farber <farber () central cis upenn edu>]

  ________________             _______________          _______________
 /_______________/\           /_______________\        /\______________\
 \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ \          |||||||||||||||||       / ////////////////
  \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\/          |||||||||||||||||      / ////////////////
   \\\\\\_______/\            ||||||_______\        / //////_____\
    \\\\\\\\\\\\\ \           ||||||||||||||       / /////////////
     \\\\\\\\\\\\\/____       ||||||||||||||      / /////////////
      \\\\\___________/\      |||||              / ////
       \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ \     |||||             / ////
        \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\/     |||||             \////


=========================================================================
EFFector Online Volume 6 No. 6         12/06/1993         editors () eff org
A Publication of the Electronic Frontier Foundation        ISSN 1062-9424




In This Issue:


 A Superhighway Through the Wasteland?
 Patent Office Seeks Advice on "Information Super-Highway"
 Please Help Us Get EFF's BBS Up and Running!
 Government Accounting Office Report on Communications Privacy
 Industry Leaders Join in Demo of Pioneering Telecom Technology




--==--==--==-<>-==--==--==--




dleted due to prior distribution via interesting people list


--==--==--==-<>-==--==--==--




Subject: Patent Office Seeks Advice on "Information Super-Highway"


The Patent Office is soliciting suggestions and comments on intellectual
property aspects of the National Information Infrastructure. (They had a
public meeting on the 18th at the Patent Office).  Some of the questions
they seek comments on are:


Is the existing copyright law adequate to protect the rights of those who
will make their available via the NII? What statutory or regulatory changes,
if any, should be made?


Should standards or other requirements be adopted for the labeling or
encoding of works available via the NII so that copyright owners and users
can identify copyrighted works and the conditions for their use?


Should a licensing system be developed for certain uses of any or all works
available via the NII?  If so, should there be a single type of licensing or
should the NII support a multiplicity of licensing systems?


What types of education programs might be developed to increase public
awareness of intellectual property laws, their importance to the economy, and
their application to works available via the NII.


 (More information can be found in the November 9, 1993 Official Gazette).


You can send your ideas to the Patent Office up until December 10, 1993.


Address your comments to:
                Terri Southwick
                c/o Commissioner of Patents and Trademarks
                US Patent and Trademark Office
                Box 4
                Washington, DC  20231


                fax: 703-305-8885
                tel: 703-305-9300


Greg Aharonian
Internet Patent News Service




--==--==--==-<>-==--==--==--




Subject: Please Help Us Get EFF's BBS Up and Running!


The Electronic Frontier Foundation is working to start an EFF bulletin
board system to reach the "other half of cyberspace" -- BBSs, including the
tens of thousands of participants in BBS networks such as FidoNet.  EFF
considers these hobbyist grassroots pioneers as important to the future of
communications as experienced net.surfers, and both cultures of the
online world have much to gain or lose by the issues at stake.


The EFF BBS will provide a full mirror of our FTP/gopher/WAIS archives, as
well as networked messaging, including FidoNet's and UseNet's relevant
conferences, such as BBSLAW, SYSLAW, comp.org.eff.talk, alt.security.pgp,
alt.politics.datahighway, and more.  The board will serve as a place for
those with modems but no Internet access to get the information they need
to avoid pitfalls and to support campaigns to preserve our rights online.


However, money does not grow on trees, and EFF is asking for contributions
and hardware donations so that the project can get rolling.


Still needed:




Basic system - 486DX2-66 or 468DX-50
Large SCSI hard drive, and controller
8-16 MB RAM
SVGA card and monitor
ethernet card
SCSI or parallel tape backup
4 fast modems (19.2 USR DS, 28.8 Hayes V.fc, 19.2 ZyXEL, and one other,
  undecided yet, probably Telebit V.terbo)


We're interested in new or used equipment in working condition, and any
donations will be gratefully accepted.


Donators of funds or equipment over $40 will receive a one-year membership
in EFF if they wish, and all contributors will be listed in a "thank you"
notice in our online newsletter, and in a permanent bulletin on the BBS.
Please note that donations are tax deductible.


BBS software has already been donated, though various other software is
still needed (utils, editors, Fido mailer, etc.)




--==--==--==-<>-==--==--==--




Subject: Government Accounting Office Report on Communications Privacy


A few days ago, the Government Accounting Office (GAO) -- an important
internal government investigative organization that's about a lot more
than accounting -- issued a report on communications privacy.


The report makes four very important findings:


1. Privacy-protecting technology (crytopgraphy) is increasingly important
for protecting the security of business communications and personal
information.  But federal policy is getting in the way of this technology.


"Increased use of computer and communications networks, computer literacy,
and dependence on information technology heighten US industries risk of
losing proprietary information to economic espionage.  In part to reduce
the risk, industry is more frequently using hardware and software with
encryption capabilities.  However, federal policies and actions stemming
from national security and law enforcement concerns hinder the use and the
export of U.S. commercial encryption technology and may hinder its
development."


2. The NSA's role in this area is has been extensive, and possibly beyond
the spirit of the Computer Security Act.


"Although the Computer Security Act of 1987 reaffirmed NIST's reponsibility
for developing federal information-processing standards for security of
sensitive, unclassified information, NIST follows NSA's lead in developing
certain cryptographic standards"


3. Opportunity for public input in the standards process has been
insufficient, leading to proposals like Clipper which lack public support.


"These policy issues are formulated and announced to the public, however,
with very little input from directly affected business interests, academia,
and others."


The report draws no specific policy conclusions, but provides excellent
ammunition for those of us who are trying to open up the standards process
and get export controls lifted.


Full text of the report (GAO/OSI-94-2 Communications Privacy: Federal
Policy and Actions) has been made available by ftp from GAO.


The document can be obtained from EFF's FTP site as
~pub/eff/papers/osi-94-2.txt




--==--==--==-<>-==--==--==--




Subject: Industry Leaders Join in Demo of Pioneering Telecom Technolgy


Project Represents First-in-the-Nation Collaboration
Among Local Cable Companies


Boston, MA (November 16, 1993) - In an unprecedented collaboration among
Massachusetts' leading cable companies, Cablevision of Boston, Continental
Cablevision and Time Warner Cable today demonstrated a breakthrough wireless
telephone call using interconnected cable television systems bypassing the local
telephone company. The demonstration,  which occurred at Faneuil Hall,
illustrated how cable technology can be utilized to create what developers call
a Personal Communication Network (PCN).


"The implications of this pilot project are enormous for Massachusetts," said
Henry J. Ferris, Jr., General Manager of Cablevision. "The cable-based PCN will
give consumers a competitive choice in the wireless communication market as the
cable industry moves towards seamless service areas on the electronic
superhighway."


The PCN makes use of existing cable systems to transmit voice, data and video
communications with increased clarity. Cable transmissions are carried over
fiber and coaxial broad band networks, offering improved sound quality and
capacity.


"This first-ever cooperative experiment among three cable companies signals the
enormous possibilities which exist when we combine out resources and expertise,"
said Terry O'Connell, President of Time Warner Cable's Greater Boston Division.


Frank Anthony, Senior Vice President of Continental Cablevision noted, "By
exploiting the enormous technological potential of the cable networks already in
place throughout New England, our Personal Communications Network significantly
advances the creation of a powerful electronic superhighway for the region. With
this kind of cohesive infrastructure, opportunities for advancements in the
telecommunications industry are limitless."


The Faneuil Hall test used existing Boston-area cable lines to deliver a
wireless phone conversation from Boston to Newton, demonstrating how cable
television infrastructure can be a regional provider of wireless communications
services. Massachusetts Lieutenant Governor Paul Cellucci, using a wireless
handset, placed a call to Newton Mayor Theodore Mann via cable. Cablevision's
system in Boston carried the call through Boston to Continental Cablevision's
service border; Continental routed the call through Dedham, Needham, Newton and
Cambridge to Teleport Communications Group where a #5 ESS switch enabled the
call to come back over Continental's regional fiber network where it was
received by Mayor Mann using a portable phone on Heartbreak Hill in Newton.


Following the Newton call, the Lieutenant Governor placed a wireless call to
Malden Mayor Edwin Lucey, which again traveled via the Cablevision network,
through Continental's system, then along Time Warner Cable infrastructure in
Malden.


By using Teleport Communications Group switching capabilities, both calls were
routed independently of the local telephone company, demonstrating the
autonomous power of the interconnected cable infrastructure to provide seamless
telephone call transport. The demonstration calls also highlighted the audio
clarity provided by cable technology.


A main focus of the demonstration was the PCN architecture itself which is the
result of extensive research and development by the cable industry. Calls routed
over two or more cable system are connected via a fiber-optic-based regional
network and a centralized switching center. The quality of voice transmission
surpasses that of cellular services. Because the cable television systems are
already in place, obviating the need for large capital investments in
infrastructure, the cable industry can offer a cost-effective alternative to
cellular telephone service.


Recognizing strong consumer demand for competitive alternatives to cellular
technology, the cable industry's wireless telephone service features full
mobility in vehicles moving at various speeds, far-ranging, "ubiquitous"
coverage and reduced cost as imperative for commercial viability in wireless
communications.


The PCN facilitates the marriage of portable computer, telephone and fax
technology to wireless telecommunications. Users of the PCN are assigned a
personal telephone number, which is not tied to a particular address but,
rather, travels with the person allowing users to communicate with other users
at any location. Such a system frees individuals from the constraints of wired
networks which leave devices such as telephones, fax machine and computers
limited to a single location. This "lifestyle" coverage goes where the user goes
and allows for person-to-person rather than point-to-point communication.
Cablevision of Boston, Continental Cablevision and Time Warner Cable officials
expect that this local network will pave the way for futuristic
telecommunications application on the electronic superhighway in Massachusetts.




--==--==--==-<>-==--==--==--




EFFector Online is published biweekly by:


     Electronic Frontier Foundation
     1001 G Street, N.W., Suite 950 East
     Washington, DC 20001, USA
     Phone: +1 202 347 5400,  FAX: +1 202 393 5509
     Internet Address:  eff () eff org or ask () eff org


     Coordination, production and shipping by:
     Stanton McCandlish, Online Activist <mech () eff org>


Reproduction of this publication in electronic media is encouraged.  Signed
articles do not necessarily represent the view of the EFF.  To reproduce
signed articles individually, please contact the authors for their express
permission.


*This newsletter is printed on 100% recycled electrons.*


--==--==--==-<>-==--==--==--


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 bi-weekly electronic
newsletter, EFFector Online (if you have an electronic address 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 and $40.00 per year for
regular members.  You may, of course, donate more if you wish.


--==--==--==-<>-==--==--==--


Mail to:
         Membership Coordinator
         Electronic Frontier Foundation
         1001 G Street, N.W.
         Suite 950 East
         Washington, DC  20001  USA


Membership rates:
            $20.00 (student or low income membership)
            $40.00 (regular membership)




[   ]  I wish to become a member of the EFF.  I enclose: $_______
[   ]  I wish to renew my membership in the EFF.  I enclose: $_______
[   ]  I enclose an additional donation of $_______


Name:


Organization:


Address:


City or Town:


State:            Zip:           Phone: (      )                  (optional)


FAX: (      )                   (optional)


E-mail address:


I enclose a check [  ].
Please charge my membership in the amount of $
to my Mastercard [  ]  Visa [  ]  American Express [  ]


Number:


Expiration date:


Signature: ______________________________________________


Date:


Optional:
I hereby grant permission to the EFF to share my name with
other nonprofit groups from time to time as it deems
appropriate.                       Initials:______________________