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//////// //////// ///\\\ Internet:secretary@efa.org.au
/// /// /// \\\ PO Box 392
/// /// /// \\\ North Adelaide SA 5006
////// ////// //////\\\\\\ Phone: 08 384 7316 (+618)
/// /// /// \\\ Fidonet: EFA at 3:632/552
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Hello from the guest editor of the EFA Newsletter.
At last we have found the time from our busy schedules to formally produce a
newsletter, and not before time, I hear you say! Unfortunately, as a
fledgling organisation concerned with ensuring a voice representing you "at
the Electronic Frontier", staffed by volunteers who are fully employed,
there are never enough hours in the day and priorities must be imposed. A
reason, and a very good one, but not nearly good enough! The Board will
make a commitment to the membership to ensure that this becomes a regular
feature in your compulsory reading, but it takes a similar commitment from
our membership to assist us to inform you of issues of concern.
Throughout this newsletter you will be asked to volunteer some time and
effort towards the quite formidable task of building Electronic Frontiers
Australia into the peak consumer organisation amongst the electronic
communications community. Please give some thought to what you can do for
the Electronic Frontier and in so doing, for yourself and your family now
and for the future
Cheerio for now
Brenda Aynsley
Issue 1 Editor
Brenda Aynsley at 3:620/243 (b.aynsley@aarnet.edu.au)
EFA Editor at 3:632/552 (editor@efa.org.au.)
In this issue:
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Letters are always welcome, especially from our membership. Please send email
to EFA Editor at 3:632/552 (editor@efa.org.au), make sure you include your
name and tell us if you want a pseudonym used or your real name. Here are
two which might have been sent if we'd solicited mail.
"Dear Editor, Why are minutes not published in the EFA newsgroup for
all members to see?" Interested Member (name and email address supplied)
Dear Interested Member, it is the Board's intention to publish a
summary of the decisions of the EFA Board which meets
approxiamately monthly. I have it on good authority that early
this year you will see this policy put into effect. Editor
"Dear Editor. I want to assist in the activities of EFA, how do I go
about doing that?" Enthusiastic (name and email address supplied)
Dear Enthusiastic, just contact anyone of the Board who will have
a 'chat' with you to determine how you might best be able to
contribute to the growth of EFA. We certainly could use good,
reliable helpers. See the list below of the Board's addresses.
Editor
MEMBERS OF THE BOARD
Position Name Fidonet Internet address
Chairman Michael Baker 3:800/838 mbaker@apanix.apana.org.au
Vice Chair Kimberley Heitman 3:690/254.14 kheitman@it.com.au
Secretary Philip Thornton 3:800/846 pthornton@sawasdi.apana.org.au
Treasurer vacant
Membership Brenda Aynsley 3:620/243 Brenda.Aynsley@aarnet.edu.au
Publicity garth kidd 3:800/828.1 garth@apanix.apana.org.au
(home) (08) 234 0908 (work) (08) 207 7740 (voice) (08) 207 7860 (fax)
List admin Michael Malone 3:632/552 pariah@iinet.com.au
Net Surfing David A Vincent 3:632/552 dvincent@zeta.org.au
1994 MEMBERSHIP REPORT
Membership has been slow but steady in this first year. We currently have
in excess of 50 members and are in need of 200 times that many. Have you
joined yet?
Membership costs just $20 per year and for that you get to belong to the
premier electronic communications organisation in Australia; you get
issues of the Newsletter on line or in the mail if you have no electronic
address, you have the opportunity to contribute to the growth of the
Electronic Frontiers Australia and volunteer your time and talents in
this endeavour. Please consider joining us in this first year as a
foundation member. It only costs $20 and the form to complete is
here.
Come on fill it in and come on board!!
MATTERS OF CONCERN/INTEREST TO ELECTRONIC FRONTIERS AUSTRALIA IN 1994
- Activities of the
Broadband Services Expert Group
- Activities of the Copyright Convergence Group
- Activities of the Attormey General's Department re
Bulletin
Board Task Force
- Activities of the Attorneys General (State and Federal re
classification of computer games)
- Visit by
Professor David Farber,
Board of Trustees,
EFF
(USA) - co-hosting two public meetings "Democracy in
Cyberspace " with
ACS
and PCUG ACT in Canberra and ACS in Sydney
- Participated in the industry feedback to the
ASTEC Report
- Research Data Networks Working Party
- Responded to proposed changes to the Queensland
Criminal Code affecting BBS and Internet users and operators
- Represented at the Department of Social Security community
consultations for the Community Information Network (CIN)
- Represented at the Centre for Networked Information Round
Table in Canberra
- Preparation of documents as Advice for Parents of
children using Bulletin Boards
ELECTRONIC FRONTIERS AUSTRALIA'S SUBMISSIONS IN 1994
- BSEG
- The main focus of
EFA's submission to the
Broadband Services Experts Group
was that the broadband network must be fully bi-directional and
it must be easy for any person to provide services. Many of the
issues that EFA thought important had already been raised by the
Australian Computer Society and Pegasus Networks Communications in
their submissions. Rather than repeat them EFA endorsed their
contributions and concentrated on areas it thought especially
important.
- A-G's BBS TASK FORCE
- EFA's
submission to the BBS taskforce
contained much background
information and observations on current trends within the network
communications area. Recomendations made by EFA were based on the
following principles: Regulation of BBS's should be no more onerous
that that of physical counterparts; BBS's should not expect special
treatment; Self regulation is preferable; The reader/viewer/writer
should be responsible for what (s)he reads/views/writes; Parents
should be responsible for what their children do; And material not
illegal in other formats should not be exculded from BBS's.
- Recomendations made by EFA in its submission were that: There should
be a voluntary Code of Practice for BBS's; There should be no BBS
specific legislation; Any defects in existing laws should be remedied
by amending those laws; Any search or seizure of BBS equipment should
require court orders, back-up copies of data to be made, and be
subject to early review; And any regulations should be uniform across
Australia.
- COPYRIGHT CONVERGENCE GROUP
- EFA's comments to
the Copyright Convergence group pointed out that by focusing on
industry (rather than authors, artists and composers) there is a
danger that what emerges will stifle rather than enhance innovation
and diversity. The CCG, which had no e-mail address, was also
urged to obtain an one, and hold discussions on the work of the
group on electronic networks. The following principles were
suggested to the group: Copyright law should encourage innovaiton;
Balance is required between the interests of publishers and
authors; And copyright law should be size neutral as well as
technology neutral.
GOALS FOR 1995
- Reputation building, promotion and membership drive
- Establishment of a legal fighting fund
- Development of a model code of conduct for BBS and
Internet sysops/admins and service providers as a self regulation
exercise
- Lobbying for/against various pieces of local, state and federal
legislation
- Responses to all relevant government inquiries with well
researched answers
- A concerted PR campaign, including advertising, media releases
and appearances, and possible stands at various computer shows
- Creation of an EFA library (both physical and electronic)
- Relevant seminars held in 1995
- Attendance at inaugural EF conference in June 1995
- Preparation for an international conference which will be run in 1996
- Assist in the establishment of regional EF groups eg
EF-Indonesia, EF-Singapore, EF-Japan.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED Apply Now!!
In order to achieve these goals, we need manpower and womanpower. Who can
spare some regular weekly time and is willing to contribute to the success
of EFA?
Immediate Vacancies exist for the following:
- Volunteer Co-ordinator
- Duties:
- recruit and maintain enthusiastic volunteers from within
and without EFA Membership
- initiate projects, in accordance with the Vision Statement,
and under direction of the Board
- report to the Board monthly on activities and their status
- Newsletter Editor
- Duties:
- recruit and maintain contributors of relevant and
interesting material
- prepare and publish an on line newsletter no less often
that every two months
- arrange with the Secretary/PR/Membership Coordinator to
distribute printed copies to non-on-line members,
journalists and the like
- respond to Letters to the Editor in consultation with the
Board
- Treasurer
- Duties:
- usual range of Treasurer's duties, including recruitment of
corporate members, negotiation of corporate membership fees, and
obtaining corporate sponsorship. Contact the Chairman, Michael
Baker at 3:800/838
(mbaker@apanix.apana.org.au)
to discuss your nomination if you are interested in this
challenging and fulfilling position.
LAST WORD
Well this was our first Newsletter. Tell us what you think of it please.
What would you like to see next issue?
If you need any further information please don't hesitate to contact one of
the Board Members who will be only too happy to help.
EFA NEWSLETTER ISSUE #1
Volume 1 Number 1
January 1995
___________________________________________________________________________
Brenda Aynsley at 3:620/243 (b.aynsley@aarnet.edu.au)
