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a 'facility' which enables 'computer-readable materials' to be stored by one person at one point in time, and 'accessed' by another person at a later point in time

Computer-Readable Materials include:

unformatted text
formatted text
tables of numerical data
executable code (programs)
unstructured 'bit-map' images (akin to photographs)
structured graphics (akin to technical drawings and business presentation graphics)
sounds (including voice)
video ('moving pictures', i.e. successive still images which are largely a result of taking pictures of the real world)
animation (successive still images which are largely man-made in origin)
synchronised sound and video or animation
compound or multi-media documents comprising any two or more of the above

The Two-Phase Use of Bulletin Board Systems

Some Basics About BBS

A BBS Operator is the organisation, unincorporated body, or individual responsible for the provision of the service

The person who performs the work may be referred to variously as:

a systems administrator or 'sysadmin'
a 'sysop'

The motivation(s) for a BBS Operator may include:

service to the general community
service to a specific community
hobby
profit

Functions commonly performed:

hardware and software
management of the storage-space
backup and recovery
dissemination of location, purposes, modus operandi
(possibly) registration, fee collection

Functions generally not performed:

monitoring of the materials posted
management of the materials
verification of identities and characteristics

The Diversity of BBS

Various Classes

newsgroups
electronic conferences or discussion groups
on-line databases
on-line shared community noticeboards

Differences

'physical' accessibility
'logical' accessibility
capacity
basis of operation
additional services

Proliferation and Popularisation
Geographical Reach

The Quickly-Growing Sophistication of BBS

Access Alternatives

Dial-up using the PSTN and Austpac
Magnetic Media (diskettes, tapes) and CD-ROMs
Telecommunications Services Providers
- - corporations with their own wide-area networks
  - newer Internet-connection providers
- - professional and industry associations
Workplace gateways to Telecomms Providers
- - universities
- - corporations
- - government agencies
- - schools

The Volume of Materials
The Number of BBSs
Navigation Intermediaries
Storage Intermediaries

Some Key Regulatory Issues

The Objects of Regulation
- Materials
- Acts and Actors:
  - The Origination and Originator of the Material
  - The Posting and Poster of the Material
  - Services Providers:
  - The Storing and the Storer (BBS Operator)
  - The Transmitting and Transmitter (the Telecommunications Carrier)
  - The Fetching and Fetcher of the Material
Practicalities of Regulation
- Capacity of the Regulated Parties to Comply
- Classification of Materials
- Evidence
- Jurisdiction
Risk Management Alternatives
- Controls
  - Preventative
  - Detective
  - Investigative
- Pre- versus Post-Regulation
- Costs and Negative Impacts of Pre-Regulation
- Education

Personalia

Photographs
Presentations
Videos

Access
Statistics

The content and infrastructure for these community service pages are provided by Roger Clarke through his consultancy company, Xamax.

From the site's beginnings in August 1994 until February 2009, the infrastructure was provided by the Australian National University. During that time, the site accumulated close to 30 million hits. It passed 75 million in late 2024.

Sponsored by the Gallery, Bunhybee Grasslands, the extended Clarke Family, Knights of the Spatchcock and their drummer

Xamax Consultancy Pty Ltd
ACN: 002 360 456
78 Sidaway St, Chapman ACT 2611 AUSTRALIA
Tel: +61 2 6288 6916

Created: 15 October 1995 - Last Amended: 15 October 1995 by Roger Clarke - Site Last Verified: 15 February 2009
This document is at www.rogerclarke.com/II/BBSReg.html
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