TELECOMMUNICATIONS
Love It Or Lose It

The following is a special to ENA's NETWEAVER publication.
All rights belong to the author, Brock N. Meeks
(c) copyright 1985

There was a time, not so long ago, when micro-based telecommunications was a subset of the entire computing community. Telecommunications was reserved for a group of people fond of late-night keyboard sessions, but nothing "serious" was developing in the world of online telecommunications. Oh, how time flies.

In California, a Los Angles sysop became an Information Age celebrity because he was arrested for activities taking place on his bulletin board. Tom Tcimpidis' Mog-Ur BBS was confiscated (up to and including backup disks) by security officers of Pacific Bell because someone openly posted stolen AT&T and Sprint telephone account numbers.

After a long and heated debate between Pacific Bell and Tcimpidis' lawyer (not to mention hundreds of online participants discussing the case's ethical and legal
implications) the phone company relented and decided not to carry its case to the courts.

The case became a rallying point for those concerned with online "electronic freedom of speech." When the phosphor settled, California Assemblywoman Gwen Moore introduced an Assembly Constitutional Amendment (ACA-9) that, if passed, will guarantee electronic communications the same protections provided to mail and telephone conversation. Federal and state legislation affecting telecommunications is being written, introduced and passed--right under the cursor of the online community. Some of this legislation will change the nature of telecommunications immediately; all of it will, in some way, shape the evolution of telecommunications.

As one online wag stated: "This is no time to let sleeping dogmas lie."

The statement "Information Is Power" would draw little debate. Combine that power of information with telecommunications and you begin to see why the area of "telelaw" is one of the hottest issues around.

Of the many areas in the telecommunications industry being challenged by legal actions and championed by lobbyist groups, three key issues are recognized: the privacy rights of electronic communications, illegal computer access, and the Federal regulation of data communications.

The following is a listing of the pending legislation on the Federal level. Not included is a bill about to be introduced by Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VA) that will, if passed, amend the Wire Tap Act. Sen. Leahy's bill is known as the Electronic
Communication Privacy Act of 1985. Leahy contends that there must be a Federal policy that protects what is being transmitted, not the way it is transmitted.

So rise up, ye modem minutemen, an active part on the behalf of telecommunications is needed--now.

There are several bills on Capitol Hill that deal with telecommunications. Listed below are the bills that have been introduced to Congress at press time.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.R. 293: Impact on Privacy
H.R. 296: Privacy Protection
H.R. 642: Telecommunications Policy Coordination Act
H.R. 744: National Information Policy
H.R. 745: National Technology Foundation
H.R. 930: Systems Protection
H.R. 995: Medical Records Protection
H.R. 1001: Computer Fraud
H.R. 1175: International Telecommunications Competition
H.R. 2889: Computer Security Training


THE SENATE

S. 440: Computer Systems Protection
S. 610: Access of Government Computers
S. 728: Japanese Telecommunications Products Prohibited
S. 786: Information Age Commission
S. 1305: Bar Computer Porn


Where to ask:

The best way to determine the status of pending legislation is


to contact the Bills Status Office, Capitol, Washington, DC
20515, (202) 225-1772.

By searching a computerized database (you must supply a subject keyword to search on) this office can answer any questions you have regarding a piece of legislation.

Another helpful office is the Congressional Information Service, 1701 Wisconsin Ave., Washington, DC 20014, (301) 654-1550. A useful publication of this office, the Congressional Information Service Index, can supply you with information regarding congressional committee research on the topic of your choice, or
identify the availability of relevant congressional hearing transcripts.

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Author's note: Brock Meeks is a San Diego-based free lance
writer. He is a contributing editor for PROFILES MAGAZINE.