ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ ÛÛ ÜÜ ÜÜ ÜÜÜÜÜÜÛÛÛÛÛ ÛÛÛ ÛÛ ÛÛßßßÛÛÛ ÛÛÛÛ ÛÛ The PEN is mightier than the sword... ÛÛÜÜÜÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ ÛÛÛÛ ÛÛßßßßß ÛÛ ÛÛÛ Planet Earth Network ÛÛ ßß ßß ßß Welcome to Planet Earth Network, a network which topically discusses the wonderful, and sometimes not so perfect, planet on which we live. Contained within this file are the Network Philosphy and Guidelines which Planet Earth Administration hopes is read and made readily available to one and all. ÚÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ¿ ³ NETWORK GOALS ³ ÀÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÙ Planet Earth is an E-Mail Network for articulate and intelligent discussions pertaining to the world in which we live. It is not the goal and/or purpose of the Network to preach morality or to denounce any group, philosophy or ideology. Plane Earth is here to LEARN, INFORM, PROMOTE, and DISCUSS ideas on how to improve our PLANET: EARTH! Hopefully, through everyones involvement, issues which have an impact on each and everyone of us can be brought to the forefront; and change, where needed, can be promoted through discussion. ÚÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ¿ ³ DISCLAIMER ³ ÀÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÙ Planet Earth Network reserves the right to decline any conference requests that the PEN administration deems to be in any way "inappropriate in nature," and not related topically to the goals and/or spirit of the Planet Earth Network. If your BBS contains this sort of material or caters to "problem users", so be it, it's within your rights to do so, if any member's BBS activities or userbase infringes on the spirit of the Planet Earth Network, that BBS will be swiftly removed from membership, if that BBS takes insufficient action to protect the spirit and image of PEN. Planet Earth Adminstration also reserves the right to change the contents of this file as deemed neccessary. ÚÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ¿ ³ User Rules ³ ÀÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÙ Conference participants are to conduct themselves in a polite, dignified, and considerate fashion. There will be differences of opinion; but, tolerance is still the rule. Moderators are selected to stimulate discussions as needed; and to keep discussions on topic. When a moderator asks that a thread cease or move to a more appropriate conference, the participants must comply immediately. Flaming, bashing or baiting in any dimension will not be tolerated within PEN. There is no ANSI graphics conference, so using ANSI in posts is not permitted. Software-specific macros are not allowed since we cater to several BBS types. Encryption of posts for any reason are grounds for immediate removal from PEN. Messages may not be cross-posted, gated or made available to any non-PEN BBS. "Obvious aliases" are *NOT* permitted for use within any of PEN's conference. Signatures may not be more than (3) lines or (80) characters or spaces at most. Taglines may not be more than (1) line and (79) characters or spaces at most. Quoting must be limited to only what is necessary for proper train of thought. Elaborate quoting utilities (Fancy boxes, dates/times etc) are not permitted. ÚÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ¿ ³ Private Messages ³ ÀÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÙ Pursuant to the Electronic Communications Privacy Act of 1986, 18 USC 2510 et. seq., all Sysops and users participating within PEN, must be aware that there are no facilities provided by PEN for sending/receiving confidential electronic communications. Although PEN maintains the capability and capacity to send/receive mail, which is flagged as "Receiver-Only", mail so flagged is *not* to be considered by any user as actual private messages. The purpose of "Receiver-Only" mail is intended only to provide means to limit the possible number of users that may have access to the mail for display purposes. Every message entered into all PEN conferences become the property of Planet Earth Network unless the author posts an explicit copyrighted notice in the message. ÚÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ¿ ³ Sysop Rules ³ ÀÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÙ PE-NetAdmin Conference mail must be read at a minimum of YA or as addressed to YOU, PERSONAL, to ALL. Failure to respond to personal mail is reason for removal from PEN. General announcements from the network administration are addressed to ALL in the PE-NetAdmin conference and will be kept to a minimum. Any PEN member Sysop who is asked to remove the access of a user must do so immediately and failure to do so can result in the removal of the BBS itself. PEN Sysops may never "edit" any mail relayed via PEN, including any form of manual modification or with the use of any utility to do so automatically. PEN Hub Sysops must relay mail every day and must carry all 22 conferences. PEN Hub Sysops have the authority to remove the access of one or more of its nodes should problems exist, such as duplicates, script bombs, etc. A note to Gary Inman or Bruce Vigil in PE-NetAdmin is necessary if this action is taken, but Hub Sysops do NOT need administrative approval first, to take such action. PEN Hub Sysops must forward completed applications to the PEN Host BBS via our private Regionals conference or via a RoseNet message. All Planet Earth Net taglines must begin with either of these: þ PEN þ or þ Planet Earth þ with your choice of delimiting characters. S/R's or Hub are encouraged to indicate such status in their taglines. ÚÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ¿ ³ Becoming a PEN Hub ³ ÀÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÙ To be any level of hub for PEN your BBS must meet some minimum criteria, such as: 1) not using sluggish "XT" computers 2) plenty of hard disk space 3) the availability of time for Hubs or Nodes to access your system 4) that you do not charge any Hubs and/or Nodes for the sole purpose of accessing PEN, and lastly 5) High speed modems are required for those systems seeking HUB status and and/or exchanging mail directly with the Host system. All lines on the on the HOST support v.32 and v.32bis connection. Line 2 also supports HST 9600/14400 connections. PEN is also available for downlink via satellite but replies must still follow traditional transfer methods. Information on this is to follow as it becomes available. The PE-Regionals conference will NOT be available via satellite due to the applications processed through it. PEN is looking for Super-Regionals Regionals and Hubs in many areas around the world and a few U.S. areas, so if you are interested in hubbing for the Planet Earth Network, and if an opening is available in your region, we will give you top priority in getting set up with us! We do not wish to duplicate many areas with multiple SR and Hubs though so if you are interested, contact us soon. ÚÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ¿ ³ HUB Responsiblities ³ ÀÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÙ PEN S/R's, Regionals, and HUBs are charged with the responsibilty of approving new member systems. As such, S/R's, Regionals, and HUBs are responsible for the systems which they approve. If a prospective member system's application is declined, please inform Gary Inman, in PEN-Regionals, as to the reason why the prospective system was declined for PEN membership. ÚÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ¿ ³ Conference Configs ³ ÀÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÙ PE-NetAdmin is PEN's Administrative conference and is required to be carried by all PEN Sysops. PE-NetAdmin is fully public and must be accessible to all users unless Tcan'd. PE-Regionals must be carried by all PEN Super Regionals, Regionals or Hubs. Hubs must NEVER give access to PE-Regionals to any Node or user relaying through them or calling their BBS. Messages in PE-Regionals must never be made public without expressed written permission from the PEN administration. ÚÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ¿ ³ BBS/Network Software ³ ÀÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÙ PEN members must use legally purchased or obtained NETWORK and BBS software as defined by the software documentation/licensing agreements. The software which is authorized for mail relays within the Planet Earth Network is as follows: PCBoard - RoseMail/Qnet/Rnet/Cam-Mail Wildcat - Tnet, WcGate GAP - GapQWK TriBBS - TriNet Spitfire - Jnet Auntie - QWiKerNet. Sychronet - Synchronet UltraBBS - CNet If you are a PCBoard Sysop using RoseMail, we are network number 5 in your RM conference setups. So if the BBS software you are using is not listed above, it's not authorized for use in the Planet Earth Network. While this may change in the future, we currently are not accepting applications from BBS Sysops using any software that is not mentioned above. ÚÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ¿ ³ BBS Approval Process ³ ÀÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÙ Applicants must meet some minimum requirements: 1) Applicants must be recommended by their proposed hub. 2) The applicant's BBS must be in operation for 3 months (minimum) 3) Only "approved" BBS and/or QWK networking software may be used. 4) Planet Earth Net Hub Sysops may, at their discretion, ask approved applicants for the QWK configuration file to ensure that tags or conference assignments are OK If the above conditions are met, and your sponsoring HUB approves your system, applicants can be relaying with Planet Earth Network in as little as 24 hours. Applicants may apply at any Planet Earth Network Hub or preferably the PEN Hub the applicant wishes to relay through. If your BBS is approved for relays with the Planet Earth Network, please *do not* send through more than 1 "_________ BBS is now echoing this conference" type message. Only 1 message is permitted per approved applicant and in our PE-NetAdmin conference (only). The Planet Earth Network is a free network, but we are "private", not public. Sysops are invited to join, but no Sysop has the "right" to membership in PEN. Failure to abide by PEN rules will result in the removal of the offending BBS. In the advent that your system is declined for PEN membership you can write or E-Mail the PEN Administrators at the addresses listed below. Please state the HUB through which you applied and the date that you applied. PEN Administrations will review you request for Administrative Review and hopefully will reply within one week of reciept of your request; allowing the Administration time to contact the declining HUB. ÚÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ¿ ³ Conference Moderators ³ ÀÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÙ Conference Moderators are selected by Bruce Vigil (Co-Administrator) and may be removed and/or replaced should a moderator fail to perform their duties as outlined below: 1) Maintain the friendly atmosphere that represents PEN 2) Assist in the answering of questions relating to the subject of the conference to the best of their ability 3) Read the PE-NetAdmin Conference on a timely basis 4) Keep posts on topic and/or politely direct off topic users to the appropriate conference 5) Notify the Administration of problems regarding any configuration errors such as duplicate messages, cross-echoes, cross-posts etc. If a user(s) causes any problems for you: 1) Issue polite a warning to user(s) failing to follow rules 2) If a user persists in a manner that you feel warrants suspension, let Bruce Vigil or Gary Inman know in PE-NetAdmin and they will review the matter PEN has an image consisting of good will and friendliness, so if a thread develops that is deemed inappropriate, you are to ask that it cease. Users who fail to do so will be removed, which is invaluable for ensuring your conference maintains its quality image. ÚÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ¿ ³ Host BBS ³ ÀÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÙ Host BBS equipment is NOT the property of any system relaying the Planet Earth Network. No claims may be made against the software or hardware that comprises the Host BBS. Software and hardware required to run the Host BBS is privately owned and is used by the Planet Earth Network administration with expressed permission of the owners of the equipment. PEN is operated as a public service with operations based at HUB-LA, West Los Angeles, CA. While PEN operates as a public service, it is NOT a public access network. PEN is a "private" network, thus the rules of operation set forth in this document supersede any and all rights outside the boundaries of this document. Planet Earth Network, PEN, all PEN distribution files and logos are copyright 1993 HUB-LA and may not be altered. Alteration without permission is in violation of all applicable copyright laws. ÚÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ¿ ³ HUB-LA ³ ÀÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÙ HUB-LA is a privately held venture, funded by Gary Inman and Bruce Vigil. Gary Inman is the Sysop/Owner of West Los Angeles BBS. Bruce Vigil is the Sysop/Owner of Skeleton Crew BBS a subsidiary of Vigil Ltd. HUB-LA is the HOST BBS for Planet Earth Network which in turn transmits from West Los Angeles BBS, West Los Angeles, CA. Gary Inman Bruce Vigil Planet Earth Network Planet Earth Network 1817 S. Holt Ave 2436 Penmar Ave Apt B Los Angeles, CA 90035 Venice, CA 90291-5049 West Los Angeles BBS - PEN Host Data: 310-838-9229 v.FC 28.8k (public line) 310-559-5333 v.32bis USR/DS (members) 310-559-5334 v.FC 28.8k (members)