The Usenet newsgroup 'comp.dcom.telecom' was started in the early
1980's to serve as a gateway to Usenet readers of the Telecom Digest,
an Internet mailing list which began in August, 1981. The newsgroup
also serves as a gateway for messages from Usenet readers intended for
publication in Telecom Digest. Unlike many newsgroups, comp.dcom.telecom
consists entirely of output from the Digest in single message style,
as opposed to 'message clusters' sent as a batch, newsletter style.

The purpose of the Digest, and thus, the Usenet group 'comp.dcom.telecom' 
is for general discussion on topics related to telecommunications and 
datacommunications. Emphasis is on voice telecommunications, i.e. the
public telephone network, but the group is not strictly limited to
this topic. The group is open for a variety of message types including
social issues relating to telecom and more technical topics. 

Telecom Digest is a moderated and edited mailing list, therefore its
Usenet gateway group 'comp.dcom.telecom' is moderated as well, to
insure that messages to/from Usenet and the mailing list receive the
proper handling and distribution. Through moderation, Usenet and
Telecom Digest readers are each assured of receiving the same messages
and replies as 'the other side' at approximatly the same time and in
the same order. In addition, the moderator is responsible for main-
taining an archives of the newsgroup/mailing list messages and other
telecom-related files of interest. The moderator maintains the mailing
lists for the Digest and updates these lists as additions/deletions
to the lists are receieved or 'bounced mail' is returned.

The moderator is also responsible for the distribution of the Usenet
newsgroup articles to other networks such as FIDO, so that messages
from those networks relating to telecom topics can be exchanged with
comp.dcom.telecom/Telecom Digest readers and vice-versa.  In addition,
the moderator handles routine editing of text, subject titles and
headers to insure duplicates and cross-postings are kept to a minimum,
that 'threads' are correctly maintained, correspondence between users
is facilitated, and that unneccessarily long, unweildly messages and
messages which contain excessive amounts of quoted text from prior
messages are 'repaired' to meet Usenet's requirement of a ratio of not
greater than fifty percent quoted material in each message. Because of
the sensitive nature of some telecommunications data such as passwords
and access codes, etc, the moderator also attempts to keep 'phreak'
and/or 'hacker' (used in a negative connotation) messages from
receiving distribution via the Internet or Usenet.

Messages and articles on *all aspects* of telecommunications and
datacommunications are welecome in Telecom Digest, and by extension,
its Usenet gateway/companion newsgroup comp.dcom.telecom. This charter
specifically demands that as wide a range as possible of thought and
opinion be presented, and that participants not be excluded based on
their knowledge or lack of knowledge regards the technical workings of
telephone systems, etc. This charter also requires that 'novices' be
given an opportunity to ask basic questions about telephony and be
answered in the forum. 


Patrick Townson
Moderator/Editor  TELECOM Digest
Usenet Moderator comp.dcom.telecom


Jon Solomon, Telecom Digest Founder, and Moderator Emeritus, 1981-1988.