Region 71 FidoNet Policy +---------------------------------------------------------------+ | _ | | The World's First / \ | | BBS Network /|oo \ | | - FidoNet - * FidoNet * (_| /_) | | _`@/_ \ _ | | | | \ \\ | | | (*) | \ )) | | Region 71 ______ |__U__| / \// | | / FIDO \ _//|| _\ / | | Republic of South Africa (________) (_/(_|(____/ | | (jm) | +---------------------------------------------------------------+ F I D O N E T Policy and Procedures Guide Region 71 Republic of South Africa * * * (Version 1 Release 2) * * * * Note well: You are REQUIRED to read AND understand both POLICY4 AND EPOL5_1 which can be found on ALL FidoNet Bulletin Board Systems in the Republic of South Africa. If the above documents cannot be found, please let the Sysop of that BBS know that you require them. This document MUST be regarded as an addition to the above documents mentioned, and not as a replacement. Since FidoNet is completely amateur in both it's setup and control, only the complete co-operation of ALL FidoNet Sysops in Region 71 will ensure the success of this concept in the Republic of South Africa. Region 71 FidoNet Policy Page 1. [1] POLICY4 and EPOL5_1 Documents ================================= In order to clarify certain aspects of FidoNet POLICY 4 and Zone 5 ECHO POLICY, extracts are quoted accordingly. From section 2.1.2 in POLICY4 ----------------------------- 2.1.2 Familiarity with Policy In order to understand the meaning of "excessively annoying", it is incumbent upon all sysops to occasionally re-read FidoNet policy. New sysops must familiarize themselves with policy before requesting a node number. From section 2.2 in POLICY4 --------------------------- You must indicate that you have read, and agree to abide by, this document and all the current policies of FidoNet. Addition for Region 71. ALL new Sysops requiring a node are required to have read AND familiarized themselves with both POLICY4 AND EPOL5_1. If the new sysop cannot prove that he has familiarized himself with the above documents, then NO node number will be given until such time that the new sysop CAN prove that he is familiar with the documents. Reason. There have too many cases in the short history of FidoNet in Region 71 where the new sysop has shown a lack of understanding of the respective policies in force in Region 71 which is part of Zone 5 (Africa). [2] Safe Vouching of New Sysops =============================== Depending on the network coordinator of the particular network, the network coordinator might require that a minimum of one other established FidoNet sysop vouch for the new sysop to assure the network coordinator that the new sysop will be of benefit to the network. Reason. Node numbers have been allocated to new sysops where the sysop is not known to the coordinator, and sometime later, problems and complaints start to arise from other FidoNet sysops and FidoNet users. Region 71 FidoNet Policy Page 2. [3] Point Operations by Prospective Point Sysops ================================================ A point is a system that is not in the nodelist, but communicates with FidoNet through a node defined as a bossnode. A point is generally regarded in the same manner as a user, BUT could also be applied to a system that supports a closed user group that cannot guarentee that the system will be available according the minimum requirements laid down, but can do mail transfers at the system owners discretion. A closed user group could be defined as a group at a research centre or university. It could also refer to a group such as a handicapped home or school. No application for a point should be considered if the point operator will be operating a system that is open to the general public. Only special cases such as a closed user group OR any other group after consultation with NC (and maybe, if needed, the RC and ZC) will be considered over a single usage point. In all cases, the bossnode is still responsible for ALL mail entering FidoNet from that point. Points are addressed using the bossnode's nodelist address; for example, a point system with a bossnode of 491/987 might be known as 491/987.123. Mail sent to the point will be sent to the bossnode, which then routes it to the point. Point operators are not FidoNet members, they are only users of a FidoNet node, and as any other regular user; they have no rights under this policy document. [4] Users On FidoNet Systems in Region 71 ========================================= From 1.2.1 onwards in POLICY4 ----------------------------- 1.2.1 Individual Systems and System Operators The smallest subdivision of FidoNet is the individual system, corresponding to a single entry in the nodelist. The system operator (sysop) formulates a policy for running the board and dealing with users. The sysop must mesh with the rest of the FidoNet system to send and receive mail, and the local policy must be consistent with other levels of FidoNet. 1.2.1.1 Users The sysop is responsible for the actions of any user when they affect the rest of FidoNet. (If a user is annoying, the sysop is annoying.) Any traffic entering FidoNet via a given node, if not from the sysop, is consid- ered to be from a user and is the responsibility of the sysop. (See section 2.1.3.) Region 71 FidoNet Policy Page 3. Addition for Region 71. (Still to be ratified by agreement by ALL *C's in Region 71) The sysops of Region 71 are required to try and validate ALL new users to their FidoNet node BEFORE allowing the new user to have WRITE access to any regional, inter-regional, and inter-zonal conferences. Reason. There have been several cases where one or two users have been uncouth enough to enter messages in different conferences that have annoyed the FidoNet community. Please remember that FidoNet being the medium that it is, falls under publication laws. This procedure is to try and avoid this in the future, and to avoid any possible comebacks from relevent government authorities. [5] Objectional Material ======================== No FidoNet BBS in Region 71 shall make available ANY objectionable material to ANY user, OR have stored on his system any objectionable material. Objectionable material shall be any material as defined by the laws of the country that Region 71 falls within. Reason. There have been cases where files have been transferred from a country where such laws do not exist into Region 71. As a result, there have been problems with the law enforcing entities in Region 71. Region 71 nodes do not need this type of problem. If in doubt about files, please contact fellow FidoNet sysops for advice. [6] Piracy and Pirated Programs =============================== No FidoNet sysop shall make generally available to users any pirated programs AND shall avoid wherever possible, the use of any pirated programs. If pirated programs DO exist on any FidoNet BBS, then the sysop shall not publish a generally available list of these programs. If possible, the FidoNet sysop should try and aquire ALL commercial programs used in a legal manner. Also, it is desirable that NO FidoNet sysop gets a reputation for piracy of commercial programs. Reason. FidoNet and FidoNet sysops being public accessable will be, and are open to public scrutiny just like publicly available newspapers are. Remember that some users on FidoNet BBS's are dealers in the computer field. We have to be our own watchdogs. Region 71 FidoNet Policy Page 4. [7] Compulsory Conferences ========================== The following conferences are compulsory. ALL nodes in Region 71 MUST belong to these conferences. Comments on the conferences follow on the same line. REG71 Only open to the sysop of the FidoNet Node. No visiting sysop or non-FidoNet sysop is allowed without express permission from the Region 71 Coordinator. This conference is to allow the Regional Coordinator to keep in contact with ALL nodes in ALL NETS in Region 71. SANET Only open to FidoNet Nodes and FidoNet Points. Please contact the SANET conference moderator for the conference RULES file. This conference is to allow FidoNet sysops to keep in touch with each other as well as keeping in touch with their points. [8] Other Compulsory Conferences ================================ A Network Coordinator may deem it necessary to have a NET ONLY conference that is local to only that network, and that this conference is compulsory for all nodes and maybe points in that net to belong to it. Please contact the local Net coordinator to see if this is the valid and if so, what the conditions are to belong to the conference. [9] Availability of Documents ============================= All FidoNet sysops in Region 71 shall make ALL documents mentioned in this document, including this one, publicly available to all users and prospective new sysops for download in a "free" download file area. The latest nodelist should also be in the same download file area. Documents mentioned are:- POLICY4.* EPOL5_1.* REG71POL.* where * indicates the extension that the archive program that is used by the individual FidoNet sysop. This may be .ZIP or .ARC or .PAK or .ZOO or .LZH or .ARJ or in self-extracting format or the documents maybe left in their raw ASCII format. =================================== End of Document =================================== Region 71 FidoNet Policy Page 5. ========================================