From comnets at u.washington.edu Fri Jan 10 12:29:43 1997 From: comnets at u.washington.edu (Douglas Schuler) Date: Fri, 10 Jan 1997 12:29:43 -0800 (PST) Subject: DIAC-97 planning meeting Message-ID: <199701102029.MAA32523@saul6.u.washington.edu> The next "Community Space and Cyberspace: What's the Connection?" meeting is this Monday night (jan 13) at 8:00 PM downstairs in the cafe at Elliot Bay Book Company in Pioneer Square. I'll give a brief status report and we'll take a serious look at what needs to be done next. Things are going very well but there are still lots of things that we need to do. We still need volunteers especially for local arrangements and we could *really use* somebody that could serve as the volunteer coordinator. We also need to hear from organizations (local and national) that want to be co-sponsors. We have about 20 so far and the list keeps growing. Members of co-sponsoring organizations can attend at the CPSR rate. We list co-sponsors on our web page, in printed material, and they can distribute their literature at the conference. In return we ask that they let their members know about the conference. Thanks! Hope to see you Monday! -- Doug PS. Stay tuned for big announcement next week... * * * * * * * * * * * * * * From the Listowner * * * * * * * * * * * * . To unsubscribe from this list, send a message to: majordomo at scn.org In the body of the message, type: unsubscribe scn END From douglas Mon Jan 13 12:16:56 1997 From: douglas (Doug Schuler) Date: Mon, 13 Jan 1997 12:16:56 -0800 (PST) Subject: FYI -- is this applicable to SCN?? Message-ID: <199701132016.MAA22060@scn.org> FCC AUTHORIZES UNLICENSED DATA NETWORKING EQUIPMENT Source: COMMUNICATIONS DAILY COMMUNICATIONS DAILY via Individual Inc. : FCC at agenda meeting Thurs. agreed to set aside 300 MHz of spectrum for development of high-speed data devices that could link computers and other equipment over distances up to 5 miles. Apple Computer and Wireless Information Network : Forum (WinForum), composed of other manufacturers, filed separate petitions with Commission about 20 months ago asking it to authorize such equipment so users could be linked within buildings or campuses without expensive wiring. Time frame to announce decision is considered short for creating new spectrum allocation, although FCC didn't go as far as Apple had requested -- company had urged it to approve power limits high enough to permit communications over about 12 miles. Action is expected to lead to development of computers and other devices with built-in antennas that could be used in same way as cordless phones; users simply would buy ready-to-go equipment and wouldn't need to contract with carrier for transmission service as required for cellular phones. FCC officials said they couldn't specify how equipment would be used because that would be up to manufacturers. However, it's expected that such equipment will have wide-ranging uses. For example, computers in office setting could be linked to each other or to printers without wiring. Medical devices could be linked within hospitals and small networks could link computers between 2 college campuses. New wireless devices are expected to be beneficial in outfitting older scho ols with classroom computers where inside wiring could be too expensive. Equipment, which FCC calls Unlicensed National Information Infrastructure (U-NII) devices, would operate in 5.15-5.35 GHz and : 5.725-5.825 GHz. That spectrum also is used for amateur radio, scientific and medical devices and fixed satellite service. To minimize interference to existing users, FCC established 3-tier set of power limits: (1) In 5.15-5.25 GHz, only very low-power devices will be permitted, transmitting at no more than 200 mw, and only indoor use allowed. Stringent limits are required to avoid interference with satellite feeder links, FCC officials said. Richard Smith, chief of FCC Engineering & Technology Office, said that power level could be used, for example, to connect computers within offices or schools. (2) In 5.25-5.35 GHz, 1 w would be permitted, enough to cover area such as college campus. Smith said that would let students use laptop computers anywhere on campus to connect to central computer. (3) In 5.725-5.825 GHz, 4 w, would be permitted. That could permit small community networks across distances of 6-8 km, Smith said. Henry Goldberg, attorney who represents Apple, said company "is delighted with the allocation and with the speed with which it was made." He said that if there's disappointment, it would be over lower range of communications networking allowed. However, Apple first must : analyze FCC order before commenting on that, he said. FCC Chmn. Hundt emphasized that power restrictions would be revisited if they prove unnecessary or too stringent based on practical experience. Several commissioners and FCC staff members said during meeting that decision was balancing act between encouraging new services and protecting existing services from interference. Comr. Ness said spectrum selected for new devices would encourage export because it's same band used in Europe for similar services. She said: "Economical computer-to-computer and computer-to-Internet connections are now a step closer to reality with the authorization of a new category of unlicensed, short-range, broadband digital devices." NTIA Dir. Larry Irving said FCC action will advance efforts to deploy advanced information services to schools and libraries and "could have a profound impact on the way individuals, groups and public institutions communicate." He said NTIA is "optimistic" that FCC's technical restrictions will enable new U-NII devices to co-exist with govt. operations that use same bands. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * From the Listowner * * * * * * * * * * * * . To unsubscribe from this list, send a message to: majordomo at scn.org In the body of the message, type: unsubscribe scn END From tt at way.com Sun Jan 19 00:15:43 1997 From: tt at way.com (Tempting Tear-outs) Date: Sat, 18 Jan 1997 14:03:43 -1812 Subject: ===>> FREE 1 yr USA Magazine Sub sent worldwide-270+ Choices! Up to $64.00 value! Message-ID: A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: text/enriched Size: 13758 bytes Desc: not available URL: From tt at way.com Sun Jan 19 11:00:48 1997 From: tt at way.com (tt at way.com) Date: Sun, 19 Jan 1997 00:48:48 -1812 Subject: ===>> An Interesting FREE Offer Message-ID: A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: text/enriched Size: 13765 bytes Desc: not available URL: From banerian at scn.org Fri Jan 31 06:28:48 1997 From: banerian at scn.org (banerian) Date: Fri, 31 Jan 1997 06:28:48 -0800 (PST) Subject: Forums slated for possible removal. Message-ID: In accordance with the decision last year, regarding inactive forums, the following have been inactive for over 9 months, and will be removed unless serious question arises. scn.arts-ent.childfare scn.arts-ent.movies.misc scn.arts-ent.music.forsale-trade scn.arts-ent.poetry.misc scn.arts-ent.theater.misc scn.arts-ent.theater.performances scn.arts-ent.theater.reviews scn.community.csl scn.community.government.sii scn.government.league.campaign-issues scn.issues.concord.q+a scn.pwd.wccd-dis scn.wtc.discuss This list will be posted in several forums on SCN, for users' comments. ciao -- stefani banerian banerian at scn.org * * * * * * * * * * * * * * From the Listowner * * * * * * * * * * * * . To unsubscribe from this list, send a message to: majordomo at scn.org In the body of the message, type: unsubscribe scn END From dltooley at speakeasy.org Fri Jan 31 09:43:17 1997 From: dltooley at speakeasy.org (Doug Tooley) Date: Fri, 31 Jan 1997 09:43:17 -0800 (PST) Subject: Aki Namioka Interview in the Seattle Press (fwd) Message-ID: Hi all: Here's one version of the my interview with Aki in the Seattle Press (circulation 25,000 N. of Denny in ?Seattle) The print version is available at nearly 700 locations in the North End. -Doug ***** Computer activist Aki Namioka may not be well known to people here in Seattle outside the circles of the computer and internet cognoscenti. Her impact though, like that of the tools she works with, are becoming increasingly important to all of us. Here in Seattle we are fortunate to have many of the gurus of the computer world. The contributions of Bill Gates and Paul Allen to the computer business have been and will remain legendary. Yet as with any technology it is not the inventor that determines the final impact of the tool, but the users of it. Alexander Graham Bell may have invented the telephone, but the true value (as well as profitability) of the invention is made with each and every use of the device. Namioka may well have as much influence over the final adoption of computer technology as a Gates or Allen. Namioka's influence will not be built through well funded corporate public relations strategies but rather how each and of us uses this technology. And just as importantly how our government uses it. She brings the right spirit to the task. Raised in Montlake she stands as testimony to the strength and depth of that neighborhood's well thought out approach to activism. She is an established professional, working as a project manager in the computer programming field. This experience provides a solid foundation for these after work endeavors, those that are left after taking care of her Greenwood home. Namioka is a 1977 graduate of Garfield High school and has obtained two degrees from the University of Washington. She is currently employed with IBM Global Services as an Object-Oriented Application Development consultant. Namioka serves as the president of two grass-roots organizations. The national organization Computer Professionals for Social Responsibility (CPSR) and the Seattle Community Network (SCN), a local grass roots oriented internet organization. The mission of CPSR is to provide the public and policymakers with realistic assessments of the power, promise, and problems of information technology. Founded in 1981 by a small group of computer scientists concerned about the use of computers in nuclear weapons systems, CPSR has grown into a national public-interest alliance of information technology professionals and others. CPSR has 22 chapters in the U.S. Perhaps better know locally is the Seattle Community Network, SCN, currently with over 10,000 members in the greater Seattle Area. For our interview we met at the Speakeasy Cafe - Seattle's bohemiam internet cafe modeled on those of Paris. We had the opportunity to discuss many issues of importance to our emerging technological future, from a perspective decidely different from the voluminous coverage of the corporate media. Our conversation ranged over the twin issues of privacy and censorship, from our local neighborhoods to the international marketplace, arriving at a cursory overview of current internet and computer concerns, from the perspective of a responsible citizen. Though these printed pages don't allow you to join this particular conversation these issues are being discussed all over the internet. Feel free to join in! ***** Seattle Press - You serve as President of the national organization, Computer Professionals for Social Responsibility, CPSR. The organization is somewhat unusual in that it is dedicated to acting as a watchdog an industry by the employees of that industry. How does CPSR balance activism and professionalism? Aki Namioka - We focus on issues. CPSR has focused on asking questions i about what we do on our jobs, for example computers and ethics as well as reliability and risk issues. We started out talking about reliability and risk in military computer systems, specifically the 'Star Wars' nuclear development effort. People join CPSR because of a belief in certain policies and to use CPSR as a vehicle to advance that belief. Caller ID is a great example of a recent issue we've focused on. With Caller ID every Regional Bell Operating Company (RBOC), including US West, owns the data that is generated and they can do whatever they want with it, even if you've paid for unlisted service. The various RBOC's said we can't do anything about it. CPSR's response was to say that it is just a computer program. They were using the word can't when the word should have been won't. Rhetorically we were able to say - give it to us and we'll 'debug'' it, which had the effect of helping them to implement a policy they didn't want to implement. SP - the Communications Decency Act was a major issue this past year. Are there any specific risks to privacy or freedom of speech left over from this initiative? AN - Over the last 2 years in Washington State we've seen similiar efforts. There's a significant risk that with a Republican controlled Legislature that it could happen again. We are fortunate that Governor Lowry vetoed both of those efforts and hopefully Governor-elect Gary Locke will do the same. At the national level we may see additional efforts as well. Rick White (R, 1st Congressional District) tried to modify CDA to something we dubbed 'Censorship Light'. I think we will see attempts again to implement some form of 'Censorship Light'. Another question is the fallout from the Telecommunications Reform Bill of 1996. With the deregulation of the communications industry you are going to see a lot of mergers which are already starting to happen. It will also make it harder for the smaller publishers to be represented, to have access to the airwaves and other medium. So I think you are going to see a clamp down on freedom of speech just from an access standpoint. SP - Peter Marshall of radio station KSER has accused you of working on behalf of US West on regulatory issues. Is there any truth to this? AN - I've never worked on behalf of US West and I've spoken out against their recent 30% tariff raise request. SP - US West donated approximately $100,000 to State Legislators in the last year leading up to their current effort to disband the Washington Utilities and Telecommunications Commission (WUTC), the regulatory body here in Washington State. (Author's note: This effort was just abandoned ... at least for now.) AN - I'm certainly opposed to that. I'm a big supporter of the WUTC. It's not the case in every State that the telephone company and the regulatory commission are so separated. SP - Is the internet competition to US West? AN - No. I think the internet is good for US West. Look at all the people ordering additional phone lines for internet service as well as fax lines. SP - There are a lot of local companies offering internet service. What sorts of things should one check out when looking into these firms? AN - The Internet as a whole is not a completely reliable infrastructure right now, certainly not as reliable as other networks, like our road or electrical distribution networks. Signing up with a smaller company is no different from engaging a small firm for anything. For a neighborhood group or other non-profit, Seattle Community Network, SCN, is a great choice. You can find out more information about them at any Seattle Public Library Branch. SP - You also serve as President of the SCN Association - Seattle's Freenet. SCN works closely with the Seattle Public Library. Do you have any observations about the recent controversy over the termination of SPL Director Liz Stroup? AN - We've not been impacted. We are sorry to see Liz go as she has always been a strong supporter of SCN. SP - Do you see any risk to the the historical role of the Library as a provider of open information through these current events? AN - No. The Liz Stroup concerns seems to be an issue with the Library Board. Until they find a new Librarian it will be hard to say. Liz had a vision for the Library of the future that included integration with the internet. Any public librarian worth their salt is going to have to be thinking about that. SP - SCN currently receives some of its funding indirectly through the Seattle Public Library. Have you been able to use the internet to advocate for more funding? AN - SCN doesn't receive any direct support. We see it more as an ally type of relationship. For example we're working with Tina Podlodowski on the "Community Space and Cyberspace" conference. SP - Do you have any favorite internet information resources for activists? AN - If you are interested in Washington State info go to their home page and start there. They also have a service call leginfo which is great way to keep up on a bill if you know the bill number. The City of Seattle has PAN, the public access network. For national issues there is also the usenet, which has specific discussion groups on over 10,000 different topics. The usenet also has two forums for local discussion, seattle.general and seattle.politics. I'm serving as the outreach chair for a major conference in March sponsored by CPSR as part of their series on Directions and Implications of Advanced Computing called "Community Space and Cyberspace - what's the connection" We've got a great list of speakers including Howard Rheingold, as well as a growing list of co-sponsors. Local activist Doug Schuler has also written a great book for activists - it's called 'New Community Networks, Wired for Change' published in 1996 by Addison Wesley. Lastly I'd really encourage people to send e-mail. Often legislators don't hear from public interest people. It's almost always worthwhile to send an e-mail message to your representative or City Council person. SP - How do you find e-mail addresses for elected officials? AN - For the Seattle City Council it's firstname.lastname at ci.seattle.wa.us - so for example Charlie Chong would be 'charlie.chong at ci.seattle.wa.us . (Author's note: The King County Council is the same format so for example to send e-mail to Brian Derdowski you'd address it: 'brian.derdowski at metrokc.gov'.) SP - Do many neighborhood organizations work with SCN? > AN - Yes. We work with several neighborhood organizations - I believe our most recent addition with an ad-hoc group for the Meridian neighborhood at 55th and Meridian. SP - Do you see any risk of the internet becoming a bureaucracy of activists as opposed to opening up the bureaucracy to more citizen communication? AN - The bigger threat to the internet is commercialization rather than too many activists. SP - Are there other Cities to look at as models? AN - There are several other freenets, like SCN, around North America. The National Capital Freenet in Ottowa, Canada is a great example. Virtually Wired is doing some great work in Boston, just next to the Boston Commons. SP - Are you aware of any situations where the internet has influenced an election? AN - Clinton/Gore certainly made an issue out of the information superhighway in '92 and it was important in that election. SP - Both Rick White and Maria Cantwell made the internet an imporant issue in the First Congressional District - from different parties. Are computer issues bi-partisan? AN - Certainly freedom of speech is not breaking down along party lines. Both very conservative and very liberal people believe in freedom of speech. Then of course you get classic liberals like Diane Feinstein and the Christian Coalition who are both opposed to free speech on the internet. Another example is Paul Zimmerman, author of PGP, Pretty Good Privacy, a security program. He received a lot of donations to his legal defense fund from Republicans and he's been quite grateful for it even though he's not of that particular political persuasion. Of course it didn't appear to help Maria Cantwell in her election, unfortunately, because I did like her. Hopefully in the future we'll have more legislators that are technically savvy. SP - Do you have any political ambitions yourself? AN - No. There's a long line of people that have asked me that question and you can join that line. I don't have any political ambitions myself. I like the freedom of being able to state my opinion without worrying about stepping on anybody else's toes. SP - Should the government have any role in the internet? AN - Government does have a role. They need to legislate public interest policy. I would also like to see Government insure access to the internet for everyone. School's should get funding for updated wiring. Libraries should get funding. Perhaps corporations and Government should work together, like the highways were built, to bring the information highway to every home. I think the biggest role for the government is to pass smart laws that are workable on the internet that insure our continued freedoms on the information superhighway as it is built. SP - The philosophy of the City of Seattle under Mayor Rice has been to use government subsidies to support big business to the detriment of small business. Do you see the internet as being a threat to small business? AN - As far as I know the fast growing cottage industry around here is web publishing and Internet Service Providers. The biggest threat is going to come from government not standing up to big business. SP - Some people say that the internet makes the world a single community, that it takes down all boundaries. How can we as individuals, residents of neighborhoods or small business people maintain our identity in light of this? AN - Right. We don't want to become one big electronic blob. I don't think the internet is going to cause us to lose our identities. Some things are going to breakdown a bit - for example currency and national boundaries. But there's still so much value in face to face communication and communities geographically where you are located. You still have to participate somehow where you live. One fear that I have is that a lot of cultural identity is based on language. The internet, by default, makes English the language of the world. Are people going to lose their language or just aquire another one? ********* Aki Namioka can be reached via e-mail at aki at scn.org. The author can be reached at dltooley at speakeasy.org. For more information about Seattle Community Network visit your local library; for group web page information on SCN e-mail nancyk at scn.org * * * * * * * * * * * * * * From the Listowner * * * * * * * * * * * * . 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