This week's guest editorial is by Tom Jennings.

     There is much legislation going around to restrict the use
     of computers connected to the phone system.  Much of it is
     very 1984 type stuff, tramps on First Amendment rights in
     the name of law and order, is deadly serious, and will be
     deadly to BBSing as we know it.  A very few bills are
     actually good things.  PLEASE try to stay aware of what's
     happening.  Some form of control is going to happen.  Just
     what it consists of depends on whether we get a say in it or
     not.

             The crooks in DC don't announce to the world when
     they are about to do something to someone; the less who
     know, the fewer complaints.  If you read something related
     in the newspaper, please spread the word!  Don't assume that
     "everyone else knows this already".  Many of these things
     are sneaked through quietly, so make noise!  Submit them to
     FidoNews, upload to your local BBS, tell other BBSers.

             At some point in the future some actions groups will
     coalesce; please be prepared to support them.  Write
     letters, mail money.  This applies to everyone; when the Tom
     Tcimpidis case in LA happened, in 1984, a lot of sysops took
     the "head in the sand" approach.  This is guarenteed to lose
     us our boards.  There are a lot of us, sysops, users and
     all.  If we all do something, I think we'd all be suprised
     at how many there are of us.  No one is going to be shot, so
     stand up for your rights!


     Ref: FidoNews 2-29 (02-Sep-1985)
     http://195.226.109.55/jhassler/wif/doks/fnews/fido229.txt
     By: Tom Jennings