(N282 EP) Net 282 Echomail Policy 1 1:282 June 20, 1991 Draft I PROLOGUE This document sets forth the policy governing the transmission of Echomail within Net 282. It is not meant to supercede, but rather is meant to supplement ECHOPOL. It shall act more as an addendum to ECHOPOL. This Policy applies to Zone One Net 282 Backbone Echomail conferences. Changes to Net 282 Echo Policy may be proposed by anyone in the Net. Adoption of changes will require a sufficient discussion period in 282_NEC, the official 282 Net Echo Coordinator Echo. The NEC will weigh his/her decision based on this discussion, although, the NEC is not obligated to make any change that (s)he deems may be detrimental to the net. The main purpose of utilizing this policy is to ensure the safest and most efficient transmission of Echomail. The greatest threat to the smooth transmission of Echomail is the creation of dupe-loops. I. DEFINITIONS (not in ECHOPOL) 1. LOCAL BACKBONE CONFERENCES: A local backbone conference is one in which the conference does not leave the net, but flows up and down the net structure from the NEC. 2. LOCAL CONFERENCES: A local conference is one that does not flow to or from the local backbone carried by the NEC. 3. LOCAL RESTRICTED DISTRIBUTION CONFERENCES: A local restricted distribution conference is one which is restricted only to eligible recipients. Notable examples include TC-SYSOP, the Net Coordinator Echo Conference and 282_NEC, the Net Echo Coordinator Echo Conference. 4. NET STRUCTURE: The Net Structure is the path or topology through which all Zone One Backbone and Local Backbone Echomail Conferences will flow. II. STATEMENT OF POLICIES 1. LOCAL RESTRICTED DISTRIBUTION CONFERENCES: Participating Nodes shall honor and support the restrictions placed upon restricted distribution conferences. TC-SYSOP - access restricted to those listed in the nodelist and those given permission by the NC. 282_NEC - access will be denied to all points, unless this person is in residence with, and has joint financial responsibility for the system listed in the nodelist or has the approval of the NEC. 2. LOCAL BACKBONE CONFERENCES: Each node may receive all Local Backbone Conferences without charge. 3. NET STRUCTURE AND MESSAGE FLOW: All Zone One Backbone and Local Backbone Echomail Conferences will follow the topology as set forth by the NEC. Violations of this clause may result in the loss of Zone One Backbone and Local Backbone Echomail privileges. 4. HUBS: The NEC may appoint Hubs, with the approval of the NC, to assist in the distribution of Echomail. All Hubs will report directly to the NEC. The Hubs will be governed by all rules of Policy set forth by FidoNet, as well as individual Net rules. A Hub may be removed from his position by the NC, or NEC, only after the transfer of his/her feeds have been completed so as not to interrupt the flow of mail. 5. NEW NODES AND ECHOMAIL: No new node may be fed Zone One Backbone or Local Backbone Echomail Conferences without approval from the NEC. Any node sending Zone One or Local Backbone Echomail Conferences to a new node without approval is in violation of policy and may result in the loss of Zone One Backbone and Local Backbone Echomail privileges. 6. CHARGING FOR DISTRIBUTION: The long distance costs incurred with bringing in the Zone One Backbone Echomail Conferences shall be shared by all nodes receiving at least one of these conferences (including the NEC). In addition, a fair and equitable amount will be allotted to the Regional Hub from which these conferences originate. The donation to the regional hub will vary depending on the number of nodes receiving Zone One Backbone Echomail, but will range from $.50 to $1.00 (rounded to the nearest $.25) to ensure the Regional Hub receives $25-$40 per month from this Net. This total cost shall be shared equally. 7. BILLING: Billing will be done on a monthly basis. A message will be posted in 282_NEC outlining details of each month's bill. To accomodate those not receiving 282_NEC, the NEC will make available for File Request a billing statement outlining the monthly cost-recovery charges. 8. PAYMENT RESPONSIBILITIES: It is the responsibility of all nodes receiving at least one Zone One Backbone Echomail Conference to make payments in a timely manner. Should a node not receive a bill, it is the responsibility of that node to contact the NEC or to File Request the billing statement. 9. DELINQUENCIES: Since any node receiving at least one Zone One Backbone Echomail Conference is responsible to share in the costs incurred with bringing in these conferences, lack of a bill will not be accepted as an excuse for being delinquent. Any node who is delinquent might receive additional netmail reminders, but even if a reminder notice does not come, the node's obligation for all delinquencies and any new charges still exists. 10. DELINQUENT ACCOUNTS: Any node that goes 45 days delinquent on cost-sharing obligations for distribution of Zone One Backbone Echomail Conferences will have their echomail privileges revoked at the discretion of the NEC. No matter whether they care to ever get Zone One Backbone Echomail Conferences again, they are still responsible for these payments and may be subject to further Net action should these funds not be paid. Once a Node's Zone One Backbone Echomail Conference privileges have been revoked for lack of cost-sharing payments, these privileges will not be reinstated until all financial obligations are met. Once a node's account is brought to current status, Zone One Backbone Echomail Conferences will again be allowed to be transferred to that system. 12. LOSS OF ECHOMAIL PRIVILEGE: Once a Node's Zone One Backbone Echo- mail privileges have been revoked, no other Net Node may feed the severed Node any Zone One Backbone Echomail Conferences. Violations of this clause may result in the loss of Zone One Backbone Echomail privileges for the Net Node sending Zone One Backbone Echomail to the severed Node. 13. NODE WITHDRAWAL: Any node who drops their Fido node or discontinues receiving Zone One Backbone Echomail Conferences is still obligated to pay their share of the long distance cost-sharing arrangement with the NEC during the period they were receiving Zone One Echomail Conferences. 14. UNCOLLECTIBLE COST-SHARING PAYMENTS: Any payments deemed delinquent, which remain delinquent for a period of six months, may be recouped by the NEC. These delinquencies will be added to the next month's normal billing, to be shared by all nodes receiving Zone One Backbone Echomail Conferences.