EFFector Online Volume 6 No. 4 10/29/1993

 ********************************************************************

           //////////////     //////////////     //////////////

         ///                ///                ///

       ///////            ///////            ///////

     ///                ///                ///

   //////////////     ///                ///

********************************************************************

EFFector Online Volume 6 No. 4       10/29/1993      editors@eff.org

A Publication of the Electronic Frontier Foundation   ISSN 1062-9424

In This Issue:

Markey Applauds Initiative to Put SEC Corporate Filings on Internet

Commerce Dept.'s Economic Bulleting Board on the Internet

First European Conference on Computers, Freedom and Privacy

Extenisve Govt. Fax/Email Gateways Provided in Canada

--==--==--==-<>-==--==--==--

Subject: Markey Applauds Initiative to Put SEC Corporate Filings on Internet

WASHINGTON -- Representative Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Chairman of

the House Telecommunications and Finance Subcommittee, today

applauded the National Science Foundation's decision to fund a

pilot project aimed at making corporate disclosure documents

available through the Internet computer network.  The project

will take corporate filings submitted to the SEC's Electronic

Data Gathering and Retrieval (EDGAR) system and make them

available electronically, where they can be accessed by the

public.

"This project will launch EDGAR right into cyberspace," said Rep.

Markey, who explained that, "Soon, the public will be able to

obtain low-cost electronic access to a mother lode of

information, including registration statements, and annual and

periodic reports from virtually every major U.S. corporation."

Rep. Markey said, "This pilot project may help to demonstrate new

and more efficient ways of making large government databases

available to the public over the information superhighway."

"It can potentially benefit investors seeking access to current

information about companies, economists and other researchers

interested in corporate trends and developments, journalists

covering the business beat, and other individuals or public

interest groups interested in understanding what is going on in

corporate America."

Since the early 1980's, the SEC has been developing the EDGAR

program to automate the filing, acceptance, dissemination, and

analysis of the more than 10 million pages of disclosure

information annually submitted by public companies.

In February, the SEC approved formal implementation of the EDGAR 

program, under which the first mandatory electronic filings began

earlier this week for about 500 large corporations and investment

companies.  Another 1,200 companies were required to use the

system starting in July, and over 3,0000 companies will be

required to file their disclosures using EDGAR by the end of this

year.  Eventually, all 15,000 SEC-registered companies will be

required to use the system.

As the EDGAR program has moved towards operational status, many

potential users of the filings -- such as investors, finance

professionals, journalists, researchers, and public interest

groups -- have expressed concerns about the potential high cost

of public access to EDGAR information under the SEC's current

dissemination strategy.  This strategy relies on a private

information vendor, who sells EDGAR at a regulated wholesale

price to other retial information vendors, who in turn resell the

data to the public.  Over the last several months, the

Subcommittee on Telecommunications and Finance, which has

jurisdiction over the SEC and is responsible for national

telecommunications policy, has been examining the adequacy of

this dissemination strategy.

In response to the Subcommittee's inquiries, in April, the SEC

announced two steps aimed at offering the public greater access

to corporate filings submitted through its Electronic Data

Gathering Analysis and Retrieval (EDGAR) system, including

providing CD-ROMs to Federal Depository Libraries and making

diskettes available through the SEC's public reading rooms.  At

the same time, the SEC expressed technical and cost concerns

regarding suggestions that it directly fund electronic access to

EDGAR data.

In July, the House of Representatives approved the SEC's

Authorization Bill (H.R. 2239), which earlier was reported by the

Subcommittee and the full Energy and Commerce Committee.  The

Committee report accompanying the bill expressed support for

initiatives aimed at making EDGAR data available over the

Internet, stating that:

     The Committee agrees that there exists a need for a

     broad-based government policy on information

     dissemination, and it also believes that it would be

     unacceptable if time- and cost-efficient access to

     Commission filings in electronic form were denied to

     significant groups of market participants and other

     interested parties because of a failure of the existing

     dissemination approach to meet their needs.

The Committee noted that the prospects for a significant retail

market for EDGAR data developing "are at present uncertain" and

that therefore, "a pilot project aimed at providing EDGAR data to

the university research community and other interested persons

over the Internet ... may prove to be a useful supplement to the

current dissemination strategy, which will continue to rely on

private vendors for distribution of EDGAR data."

Rep. Markey concluded, "I want to commend the National Science

Foundation for their leadership in taking the initiative to

provide the funding for this project.  Both the New York

University Stern School of Business and the Internet Multicasting

Service are performing an invaluable public service in agreeing

to investigate ways of making EDGAR data available over the

Internet, and I wish them success as they move forward with this

important project."

  ****

According to Carl Malamud of the Internet Multicasting Service, EDGAR

should be available for public access "sometime early in 1994."  To get a

copy of the press release, and info on how to get updates on the EDGAR

database's availability, send requests to  edgar-announce@town.hall.org.

--==--==--==-<>-==--==--==--

Subject: Commerce Dept.'s Economic Bulletin Board on the Internet

The Commerce Department's Economic Bulletin Board (EBB) will be accessible

through the Internet without charge between July 26, 1993 until September 30,

1993.  During this introductory period, the EBB will be available via telnet.

To access the EBB, telnet to EBB.STAT-USA.GOV and login as TRIAL; no password

is required.

The EBB is a one-stop source for current information from the Department of

Commerce, Department of Labor, Treasury Department, the Federal Reserve Board,

and many others federal agencies.  Over 2,000 files covering topics such as

gross domestic product, employment, foreign trade information, financial and

monetary indicators, and regional statistics, are available.

You can search for files among the following general topics:

 Summaries of Current Economic Conditions    U.S. Treasury Auction Results

 National Income and Product Accounts        Regional Economic Statistics

 Major Economic Indicators                   Energy Data

 Price and productivity Data                 Daily Trade Opportunities (TOPS)

 Foreign Trade Data                          International Market Insights

 Industry Sector Analysis                    Current Business Statistics

 Industry Statistics                         Fiscal and Monetary Policy Data

 U.S. Trade Representative Press Releases    Employment data

 Bureau of Export Administration Notices     Special Studies and Reports

For more information, please call (202) 482-1986 or send E-mail to

awilliams@esa.doc.gov

--==--==--==-<>-==--==--==--

Subject: First European Conference on Computers, Freedom and Privacy

ECPF-93

The New Cavendish Club

London, England

20th November 1993

Organised by ECFP Ventures Limited

Co-operating organisations :

  The Libertarian Alliance

  Privacy International, UK

  UK Cryptoprivacy Association

SCOPE

______________________________

The widespread use of computers and 

communication systems has brought considerable 

benefits to our business and personal lives and will 

continue to change and shape the way in which we 

live. However, with those benefits come unprecedented 

threats to our personal privacy and potential for abuse.

A variety of different models for protection of 

individual privacy in the electronic age have been 

suggested, ranging from state regulation to individual 

action through the use of strong cryptography. 

However, these solutions bring with them their own 

class of problems, including excessive state 

involvement in private matters and the frustration of 

law enforcement and national security objectives.

The First European Conference on Computers, 

Freedom and Privacy will both provide an introduction 

to these issues and the technological developments 

that drive them, and examine different ways in which 

individual rights can be guaranteed. These questions

are central to the preservation of a free society in the 

Information Age.

John M. Brimacombe

Conference Chair

KEYNOTE SPEAKER

______________________________

John Gilmore

Email: gnu@cygnus.com

OTHER SPEAKERS

______________________________

John Brimacombe (Chairman)

Email: john@mantis.co.uk

Simon Davies

Email: davies@privint.demon.co.uk

Tom Burroughes

Email: tom@reptile.demon.co.uk (after 10 October 1993)

David Chaum

Email: chaum@digicash.nl

Duncan Frissell

Email: frissell@panix.com

Elaine Fletcher

Chris Tame

Russell Whitaker

Email: whitaker@eternity.demon.co.uk

FEES

______________________________

   Student                         10.00  ($16.00 U.S.)

   Normal                          17.50  ($28.00 U.S.)

     Normal before 1 Nov 93:       15.00  ($24.00 U.S.)

   Press                           (Contact for arrangements)

You may pre-order copies of transcripts of the proceedings,

which will be shipped within 90 days after the conference:

Video and audio recordings will be made of the conference, in

its entirety.  No pre-sales will be made; tapes go on sale in

December 93/January 94.

For more detailed information, contact:

   16 Circus Road

   MM Box 8593

   London  NW8 6PG

   England

Please direct any further enquiries to the above address, or:

   ecfp-1st@eternity.demon.co.uk  (Email)

   +44 81-812-2661  (Manned message service; quick response)

Note: this is a shortened form of the conference announcement.  The full text,

giving information on the speakers, registration form, directions, schedule,

etc., is available as /pub/EFF/Temp/Confs/cfp1.uk, by anonymous ftp to

ftp.eff.org.

--==--==--==-<>-==--==--==--

Subject: Extensive Govt. Fax/Email Gateways Provided in Canada

Planet Communications & Computing Facility in association with

Digital Chicken is pleased to announce a new fax/email gateway

for City and Metropolitan Toronto Politicians, Greater Toronto

Members of Parliament, Hospitals, Ontario Government ministries,

churches, etc. etc.

As many of you know, we have a funny mailing address, and since

our node is still unregistered (registration Nov. 5th - we hope)

in order to take advantage of this gateway you must address your

email as follows.

        utgpu!plan9!chyk!<user_id@utcc.utoronto.ca

Please substitute the <user_id above with the correct USER I.D.

listed below for the organization or individual you want to

reach.

Please remember, this is mainly a fax gateway - so include your

fax telephone number or/and address so that the individuals /

organizations listed can reply to you.  I hope you enjoy the

service and find it beneficial.

Name/Individual/Organizations   User I.D.       Fax Number

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

June Rowlands, Mayor Toronto    rowlands        416-392-0026

Green Party of Canada           green           613-232-3081

Chief McCormack                 mccormac        416-324-6026

Metro Toronto Police

  General                       metcop          416-324-0695

  Public Complaints Bureau      metcopcb        416-324-0551

  Board of Commissioners        metcopbr        416-324-0693

Ontario Police Public

  Complaints Commissioner       copcomp         416-325-4704

Premier of Ontario              ontprem         416-325-3745

Minister of Health              onthlth         416-326-1571

Minister of Finance             ontfin          416-326-9096

Ombudsman of Ontario            ombud           416-586-3485

Chief Electoral Officer

  of Ontario                    elect           416-321-6853

York Regional Police            yorkcop         905-853-5810

Peel Regional Police            peelcop         905-453-7370

Ontario Provincial Police       opp             705-329-6195

Halton Regional Police          haltcop         416-825-9416

Minister of Agriculture & Food  ontagri         416-326-3083

Ontario Film Review Board       ontfilm         416-314-3632

Minister of Transportation      onttrans        416-327-9185

Town of Ajax                    ajax            905-686-8352

Town of Oakville                oakville        905-815-2025

City of Mississauga             mississ         905-896-5575

City of Toronto                 toronto         416-392-1446

City of Etobicoke               etobicok        416-394-8895

Borough of East York            eastyork        416-778-9134

City of North York              noryork         416-395-7337

City of York                    york            416-394-2803

City of Brampton                brampton        905-874-1119

Minister of Economic Trade

  & Development                 ontecdev        416-325-6918

Minister of Labour              ontlabor        416-326-1449

Solicitor General and Minister

  of Correctional Service       ontsolg         416-326-5085

Attorney General                ontatg          416-326-4016

Minister of Natural Resources   ontnatur        416-314-2159

Minister of Citizenship         ontcitiz        416-314-0022

Minister of Consumer and

  Corporate Relations           ontcons         416-326-5820

Minister of Community and

  Social Services               ontsoc          416-325-5221

Minister of Education           ontedu          416-325-2608

Minister of Environment         ontenvir        416-323-4682

Minister of Housing             onthouse        416-585-6935

Ontario Human Rights

  Commission                    onthumrt        416-314-4533

Canadian Human Rights

  Commission                    canhumrt        416-973-6184

MPP Don Mills                   donmills        416-696-0181

MPP Oakville-South              oaksouth        905-842-0332

MPP Fort York                   fortyork        416-363-0835

MPP Lake Nipigon                nipigon         416-327-0968

MPP Dovercourt                  overcou         416-653-1054

MPP Etobicoke-West              etobwest        416-695-1222

MPP Mississauga-South           misssth         416-278-1525

MPP Oriole                      oriole          416-494-2440

MPP Downsview                   dwnsview        416-740-2474

MPP Eglinton                    eglinton        416-482-2776

MPP Etobicoke-Lakeshore         etoblake        416-259-3704

MPP Beaches-Woodbine            beachwd         416-421-3741

MPP Oakwood                     oakwood         416-781-4116

MPP Etobicoke-Humber            etohumb         416-233-4321

MPP High Park-Swansea           highpark        416-762-4499

MPP Lawrence                    lawrence        416-785-4524

MPP Mississauga-North           missnor         416-826-4553

MPP Mississauga-West            misswest        416-566-5264

MPP Etobicoke-Rexdale           etobrex         416-745-5670

MPP Mississauga-East            misseast        416-276-6933

MPP Brampton-North              bramnor         416-840-7845

MPP Durham-West                 durwest         416-683-8643

Ministry of Northern

  Development & Mines           northern        416-327-0665

Ministry of Culture, Recreation

  and Tourism                   tourism         416-325-6195

Information and Privacy

  Commissioner/Ontario          ipcont          416-325-9195

Roman Catholic Archdiocese of

  Toronto                       romantor        416-977-6063

Anglican Church of Canada       anglican        416-968-7983

United Church of Canada         united          416-925-3394

Bahai' Faith Toronto            bahaitor        416-889-8184

Letters to the editor

  Toronto Star                  torstar         416-869-4322

  Globe and Mail                globe           416-585-5085

  Toronto Sun                   torsun          416-947-3228

  Now Magazine                  now             416-461-2886

  Xtra!                         xtra            416-925-6674

  Eye Weekly                    eye             416-971-7786

City Councillors

City of Toronto - Councillors   council         416-392-1050

Chairman, Metro Toronto

  Council                       chairman        416-392-3799

The Hospital for Sick Children  sickkids        416-813-7161

The Toronto Hospital            torhosp         416-340-5888

Addiction Research Foundation   addict          416-595-5017

Donwood Institute               donwood         416-425-7896

Casey House (AIDS hospice)      casey           416-962-5147

Humber Memorial Hospital        humber          416-249-1312

Oakville Trafalgar Memorial

  Hospital                      trafalg         416-338-4636

Orthopaedic/Arthritic Hospital  ortharth        416-967-8593

Sunnybrook Health Science

  Centre                        sunny           416-480-4588

Doctor's Hospital               doctors         416-923-1370

Central Hospital                central         416-969-4183

Wellesley Hospital              wellesly        416-926-4874

North York Gen.Hospital         nyghosp         416-756-6384

Etobicoke Gen.Hospital          eghosp          416-747-8608

York-Finch Gen.Hospital         yfghosp         416-747-3883

Bloorview Children's Hospital   blrview         416-494-9985

Hugh McMillan Rehabilitation

  Centre                        hughrhb         416-425-6591

St. Michael's Hospital          stmike          416-864-5669

St. Joseph's Health

  Centre (Toronto)              stjoetor        416-530-6346

Queensway Gen.Hospital          queens          416-253-0111

North York Branson Hospital     branson         416-635-2537

Toronto East General &

  Orthopaedic Hospital, Inc.    tegh            416-469-6106

Scarborough Centenary Health

  Centre                        scarcent        416-281-7323

Scarborough Grace General

  Hospital                      scargrac        416-495-2631

Scarborough General Hospital    scargen         416-438-9318

Grace Hospital, Toronto         gracetor        416-925-3211

Northwestern General Hospital   nwestgen        416-658-2192

Mount Sinai Hospital            mtsinai         416-586-8787

Princess Margaret Hospital      prmarg          416-926-6547

Women's College Hospital        womens          416-323-7314

Lyndhurst Hospital              lyndhrst        416-422-5216

Peel Memorial Hospital          peelmem         416-451-8439

Ajax-Pickering General

  Hospital                      ajaxpick        416-683-1262

Mississauga General Hospital    missgen         416-848-7139

Credit Valley Hospital          credit          416-820-0020

Queen Street Mental Health

  Centre                        queenst         416-583-4307

Clarke Institute of Psychiatry  clarke          416-979-5679

Markham-Stouffville Hospital    mrkstouf        416-472-7086

Shouldice Hernia Surgery        shouldic        416-889-4216

Toronto Transit Commission      ttc             416-485-9394

Prime Minister of Canada        primemin        613-941-6900

Toronto Public Library          torlib          416-393-7782

Etobicoke Public Library        etoblib         416-394-5050

Scarborough Public Library      scarlib         416-396-8808

Brampton Public Library         bramlib         905-799-0806

Mississauga Public Library      misslib         905-615-3615

City of York Public Library     yorklib         416-394-2781

East York Public Library        eylib           416-396-3812

North York Public Library       nylib           416-395-5542

Metro Toronto Reference

  Library                       referenc        416-393-7229

East York Board of Education    eyedu           416-465-2237

Etobicoke Board of Education    etobedu         416-394-3803

Metro Toronto Roman Catholic

  Separate School Board         rcssbedu        416-229-5345

North York Board of Education   nyedu           416-395-8210

Peel Board of Education         peeledu         905-890-6698

Scarborough Board of Education  scarbedu        416-396-4856

Toronto Board of Education      toredu          416-393-9969

York Board of Education         yorkedu         416-727-3984

CityTV                          citytv          416-593-6397

CFMT TV                         cfmttv          416-265-0509

CFTO TV                         cftotv          416-299-2273

Canadian Broadcasting

  Corporation (CBC)             cbc             416-963-9036

Global Television Network       global          416-446-5371

CTV Television Network          ctv             416-928-0907

Beaches-Metro News              beachmet        416-698-1253

Ontario Legal Aid Plan          olap            416-979-8669

Ontario Legal Aid Plan

  Scarborough Area              olapscar        416-750-7184

Fire Departments

  City of Toronto               torfire         416-392-0161

  City of Scarborough           scarfire        416-396-7765

  City of North York            nyfire          416-395-7286

  City of Etobicoke             etobfire        416-394-8589

  City of York                  yorkfire        416-394-2764

  Borough of East York          eyfire          416-396-3757

  Town of Ajax                  ajaxfire        905-683-8119

  City of Brampton              bramfire        905-874-2727

  City of Mississauga           missfire        905-615-3756

Ambulance Services

  Metro Toronto                 ambulanc        416-392-2008

Art Gallery of Ontario          artont          416-979-6646

New Democratic Party of Canada  ndpcan          613-996-9584

Canadian Federal Immigration

  and Refugee Board             immrefbr        416-954-1165

Government of Canada

  Minister of Health & Welfare  health          613-952-7746

  Minister of the Environment   environ         819-953-3457

  Minister of Transportation    transpor        613-995-0327

  Minister of Fisheries/Oceans  fisherie        613-990-7292

  Minister of Labour            labour          819-953-3419

  Minister of Supply & Service  supply          819-953-1908

  Minister of National Revenue  revenue         613-952-6608

  Minister of Agriculture       agricult        613-996-9219

  Minister of Consumer and

   Corporate Affairs            consumer        819-953-4930

Toronto Blue Jays               bluejays        416-341-1250

Toronto Maple Leafs             leafs           416-977-5364

EFFector Online is published biweekly by:

     Electronic Frontier Foundation

     1001 G Street, N.W., Suite 950 East

     Washington, DC 20001, USA

     Phone: +1 202 347 5400,  FAX: +1 202 393 5509

     Internet Address:  eff@eff.org or ask@eff.org

     Coordination, production and shipping by:

     Stanton McCandlish, Online Activist <mech@eff.org>

Reproduction of this publication in electronic media is encouraged.  Signed

articles do not necessarily represent the view of the EFF.  To reproduce

signed articles individually, please contact the authors for their express

permission.

*This newsletter is printed on 100% recycled electrons.*

--==--==--==-<>-==--==--==--

MEMBERSHIP IN THE ELECTRONIC FRONTIER FOUNDATION

In order to continue the work already begun and to expand our efforts and

activities into other realms of the electronic frontier, we need the

financial support of individuals and organizations.

If you support our goals and our work, you can show that support by

becoming a member now. Members receive our bi-weekly electronic

newsletter, EFFector Online (if you have an electronic address reached

through the Net), and special releases and other notices on our

activities. But because we believe that support should be freely given, you

can receive these things even if you do not elect to become a member.

Your membership/donation is fully tax deductible.

Our memberships are $20.00 per year for students and $40.00 per year for

regular members.  You may, of course, donate more if you wish.

--==--==--==-<>-==--==--==--

Mail to:

         Membership Coordinator

         Electronic Frontier Foundation

         1001 G Street, N.W.

         Suite 950 East

         Washington, DC  20001  USA

Membership rates:

            $20.00 (student or low income membership)

            $40.00 (regular membership)

[   ]  I wish to become a member of the EFF.  I enclose: $_______

[   ]  I wish to renew my membership in the EFF.  I enclose: $_______

[   ]  I enclose an additional donation of $_______

Name:

Organization:

Address:

City or Town:

State:            Zip:           Phone: (      )                  (optional)

FAX: (      )                   (optional)

E-mail address:

I enclose a check [  ].

Please charge my membership in the amount of $

to my Mastercard [  ]  Visa [  ]  American Express [  ]

Number:

Expiration date:

Signature: ______________________________________________

Date:

Optional:

I hereby grant permission to the EFF to share my name with

other nonprofit groups from time to time as it deems

appropriate.                       Initials:______________________