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Date:        Wed, 09 Feb 94 16:09:08 EST
From: pcalarco <FPCA@MUSICB.MCGILL.CA>
Subject: File 7--Regulation of BBSes in Canada

     The CRTC (Canadian Radio & Television Comission) is the most
powerful government organization in Canada regarding radio,television,
telephone, and telecommunications service.  Recently, there have been
unconfirmed rumours abounding across Fidonet and some mailing lists
that the CRTC is looking at regulating computer bulletin boards as well.
A recent story on BBSes on one of our national television networks (CTV,
5/2/94) focused on the proliferation of 'pornographic BBSes' in Canada
in recent years, and the question naturally came up, "Should we regulate
computer BBSes?"  To the general public watching this, the response
probably would be "Yes!" after seeing the very great danger to the
moral fibre of this nation's youth <har!>.  An interview with the new
Minister of Communications, Mr. Jon Gerrard, on CBC Radio the same even-
ing did not discount the idea.  Mr. Gerrard evaded the pointed questions
quite nicely, and gave no answer one way or the other as to whether
regulation of BBSes was being considered.  As Minister of Communications
Mr. Gerrard is directly responsible for policy input into the CRTC, and
can direct the CRTC to new areas.  The recently-passed Telecommunication
Act of June, 1993 does not include computer networks (and BBSes specific
-ally) in its mandate, but their are clauses in the document that leave
regulation of areas not specified by the legislation to fall under
regulation at any future point, at the discretion of the CRTC.  As
to whether this is some nasty rumour or covert fact, none of us who
have been investigating the issue can find out.  Mr. Gerrard, however,
did release his e-mail address on the Saturday night CBC program, and
invited inputs from Canadians on this specific issue.  I would venture
to say that Americans should take interest in this issue as well. With
the II initiative in the U.S. heating up, escrow still remaining very
much a probabability in the Clinton administration, and the prolifera-
tion of BBSes and Freenets in both countries, the issue of increased
regulation of computer networks, especially at the more grassroots
level, is a very real possibility.  Along with regulation of the
medium, we can see a number of consequences here in Canada:  1) a
licensing fee of some kind, which hobbists presently running BBSes
may or may not be able to afford; 2) a definite limit as to what is
and what is not permissable to archive/disseminate/discuss on these
licensed boards; 3) those not adhering to licensing, would become, in
effect, 'pirate' boards, due to their non-registration, regardless of
content; 4) a general homongenization of the BBS scene: the rules
would be in favour of larger, more established (re: commercial) boards,
killing off small hobby boards, and limiting all BBSes content.

   I urge all Canadians and Americans to please respond to Mr. Gerrard.
Tell him from your perspective what you think the effects of regulation
of our media would be.  The more pressure we can place at earlier stages
of policy development, the more effect we can have on any policy.  Mr.
Gerrard's Internet e-mail address is

       Gerrard.jon@istc.ca

Please be polite and respectful.  Coming off as boorish and juvenile
will get this effort nowhere.  I am also archiving any files & info
that I can on the subject on my BBS, RadioCityZen, here in Montreal.
All new users will have full access to all the file bases, and there
are no download ratios.  The files are contained in file SIG #27:
CRTC & BBS licensing.  Thanx for your time!  Anybody with new info
as things develop, please post to can.legal or alt.bbs.allsysop.


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