From: steve@zero.com (Steve Urich)
Newsgroups: rec.radio.amateur.policy
Subject: Re: Pres. Clinton speech via Packet?
Date: 25 Jan 93 07:23:12 GMT
Organization: Beyonet - Zero Network

In <14600040@hpnmdla.sr.hp.com>, alanb@hpnmdla.sr.hp.com writes:
[...]
>If it is sent in a 2-way QSO with another station, no problem.  If it is
>broadcast via a packet BBS bulletin, then it violates the restrictions
>on broadcasting:
	You mean to tell me all the other non-ham packet bulletins are 
actually a form of illegal broadcasting and nobody is saying anything
not even the FCC? Or do you mean if it is repeated over and over again
in UI frames blatantly into the airwaves from a packet bbs then its
considered being broadcast. 
>
>     97.113 (c)  No station shall transmit communications in order to
>     engage in any form of broadcasting... 
>
>     97.3 (10)  Broadcasting.  Transmissions intended for reception
>     by the general public, either direct or relayed.  ...
Here is the clincher. ``General Public''. Now if a bbs fwds messages to
another bbs and the ``General Public'' has a tnc on a scanner would that
be broadcasting if that ``General Public'' person complains to the FCC
about what is being sent over the air?

>     (23) Informational bulletin.  A message directed only to amateur
>     operators consisting solely of subject matter of direct interest
>     to the amateur service.
What is the difference between informational bulletins directed to amateur
if these bulletins have nothing to do with the Amateur Radio service and
broadcasting?

>     97.111 (b) In addition to one-way transmissions specifically 
>     authorized elsewhere in this Part, an amateur station may transmit
>     the following types of one-way communications:   ...
>     (6)  Transmissions necessary to disseminate information bulletins.
So this is the section of part 97 that allows hams to do oneway fwding 
transmissions to disseminate information bulletins. Back to how many bulletins
have nothing to do with ham but are still informative to hams because of
similiar interest link they have to the amateur service.


>In other words, you can send bulletins of interest to the amateur service 
>as such, but not bulletins of interest to the general public.
	Very Good. This means that packet is more loosely packaged with non
	ham info then say Eastlink broadcasts on Repeaters which only have
	mostly space and amateur service info. Because the ``General Public''
	cannot usually receive packet transmissions.

>I know of no legal limitation on political QSOs.  It's probably a good
>idea to steer clear of controversial political discussions, however,
>because they can so easily degenerate to shouting matches, which does
>no good for amateur radio.

	I have gotten e-mail about the speech and the political qsos. All
	saying it wasn't illegal so I guess it is the old wives tale that
	kept it from happening again.... :-)

>AL N1AL

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