============================================================================ THE SYNDICATE REPORT Information Transmittal No. 11 Released May 19, 1987 Featuring: Pacific Bell Delays Testing on Project Victoria Device (i.w 5\12) Coalition Fights Efforts to Deregulate Bell (i.w 5\12) Hackers at High School Make Report Cards (cmp.chn 5\14) Gambling Hackers Break Casino Computer (cmp.chn 5-14) FBI Warns Computer Stores In Wake of Serial Bombings (i.w 5\18) State Bill Protecting Electronic Communication (i.w 5\18) New England Bell Planning to Offer ISDN (i.w 5\18) by The Sensei ============================================================================ Exposition: Once again, TSReport now excepts outside sources. Anyone can write/provide information to the Syndicate Report. The Syndicate Report is also altering format. Rather than concentrating mainly on BELL orientated information, the Syndicate Report now has a more broad interest. Thus, TSR now handles all types of news gatherings. All articles have been presented by me unless shown at the end of the article as the information provider(s). Extra Note: 10 Days as of this date before summer freedom! ============================================================================ PACIFIC BELL DELAYS TESTING ON PROJECT VICTORIA DEVICE: In a responce to an FCC decision concerning Project Victoria equipment, Pacific Bell said it has postponed its fall LA field test of that technology and further development on it. Project Victoria is a technology that uses multiple-channel access system at each site to allow a single telephone line to carry up to seven simultaneous voice and data channels. The lineis divided into two 32-kbps voice channels, one 9600-bps datachannel, and four 1200-bps data channels. Currently, seven telephone lines are needed to provide this capability. The Common Carrier Bureau of the Federal Communications Commission ruled March 30 that the multiple-channel access system must be treated as customer premises equipment (CPE). In other words, the bureau said the device was similar to a telephone and consequently could be provided by an vendor. Pacific Bell had wanted the device to be classified as a multiplexer, which would allow it to be considered part of the service and not available from other vendors. Pacific Bell recently filed a statement with the FCC asking for reconsideration. The companies that have opposed Pacific Bell include IBM, Tymnet, Telenet, Western Union, and the Independant Data Communications Manufacturers Associations (IDCMA). ============================================================================ COALITION FIGHTS EFFORTS TO DEREGULATE BELL: The unlikely coalition of computer manufacturers, consumers, and AT&T is opposing efforts by the Department of Justice to deregulate the regional Bell Operating Companies (BOCs), which would allow them full entry into computer and information service activities. Currently, the BOCs are restrained from making equipment and providing many information services. Those restrictions are being challenged in the courts via a Department of Justice brief, and in Congress via H.R.2030, a bill introduced on April 9. "The Justice Department, three short years after the breakup (of AT&T), is proposing another round of radical chang in the system -- change that could drive rates up and bring service down," said Sen. Howard Metzenbaum in April 30 hearings on the Justice Department's move. Officials from BOCs testified that current regulations hamper their efforts to provide services and harm the United States' utilization of existing phone networks. The Justice Department's proposal is being considered by Judge Harold Greene of the US District Court in Columbia, who presided over the breakup of AT&T three years ago. Department of Jusice officials do not except him to make a decision until late summer at the earliest. :::::::::::::::::::::Information provided by HP Hatcher::::::::::::::::::::: ============================================================================ HACKERS AT HIGH SCHOOL MAKE REPORT CARDS: Northwest Virginia- Most public high schools in Virginia uses desk top computers. But, Northdual High school uses these computers not only to educate the students, but also to develop report cards. It seems that a group of hackers from the school got into the school's computer via datacommunications, and copies the desk top and file for making the report cards. They sold the report cards to fellow students with pre-marked grades. The hackers were caught after a locker search. Each student hacker are suspended till the end of the year. No charges were pended. ============================================================================ GAMBLING HACKERS BREAK CASINO COMPUTER: Las Vega- A group of computer hackers employed at a Casino in downtown Las Vegas were charged with tampering with Casino Computers. Apparently the computers were used by the Casino Room to pre-radomly pick cards and distribute them to the players. The Casino Hackers cracked the gambling computer and copied from defined cards in decks. The hackers used them to bet millions of dollars on the card game. They were caught with the numbers while exchanging valid codes. The Casino Room's name and Hackers were not identified. ============================================================================ FBI WARNS COMPUTER STORES IN WAKE OF SERIAL BOMBINGS: An unidentified serial bomber who has already killed one man and injured 21 others may be targeting computer-related businesses and university depart- ments, the FBI said last week. The agency is warning computer retailers and universities that the bomber may strike again soon, according to F. Call, and special agent with the FBI. Since 1978, the bomber has either mailed or placed at least a dozen explosive devices in eight cities from Chicago to San Francisco. The last two incidents have occurred at computer stores in Sacramento, Calif., and Salt Lake City. A bomb placed outside the rear entrance of Rentech in Sacramento on December 11, 1985, killed the store's owner. The last bombing linked to the man occurred on February 20, 1987, at Caam's Inc., Salt Lake City computer store, injuring one employee. The materials and techniques used in making the bombs have led investigators to conclude they are the working of a single individual. A special task force call Unabom, composed of agents from the FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, and U.S. Postal Inspectors is offering a 60,000$ reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the bomber. Persons with information about the bomber are asked to call the Unabom hotline at 801-359-1917, or their local FBI office. ::::::::::::::::Information provided by Mrs. Isle Addict:::::::::::::::::::: ============================================================================ STATE BILL PROTECTING ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATON: Sacramento, CA -- An amendment to the Calif. state constitution that would give electronic communicaton the same freedom of expression and privacy protection as print and verbal communication has been proposed by a LA legislator. Assembly Constitutional Amendment No. 36 (ACA 36), drafted by assemblywoman Gwen Moore, would amend the state's constitution to prohibit any law from restrining or abridging access to the means of electronic communication. It would also protect personal data stored in electronic info. systems and computer databases from search and seizure without a warrant describing the location to be searched. While no other state has a similar law, the bill resembles the Electronic Communications Privacy Act passed by Congress last October. But that protects users from federal untrusion, while ACA 36 would protect Calif. users from state intrusion as well. If the amendment eventually passes both houses of the state legislature, the public would vote on it in June 1988. WRITE YOUR CONGRESSMAN PEOPLE! I know I would want this bill to be passed. ============================================================================ NEW ENGLAND BELL PLANNING TO OFFER ISDN: New England Telephone and Telegraph Co. plans to offer its customers the high speed voice, data, text, and video transmission capabilities of ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network) after testing the technology this summer. The intro. of ISDN technology into New England Telephone's network will begin in July with a trial conduted between four of its downtown Boston locations. The trail is scheduled to last eight months and will involve 75 ISDN lines. ISDN tech. allows voice, text, data and video to be transmitted simultaneously over the telephone line at high speeds. Initially, the company will connect 50 personal computers, several local area networks, and approximately 100 ISDN telephones. After the completion of the July test, the company plans to offer ISDN to its customers in the New England area. The fees have not been determined. New England Telephone estimates that it will spend more than 2$ billion between 1987 and 1989 on ISDN tech. Currently, more than 100 digital switching systems are in service, along with more than 50,000 miles of fiber cable in its fiber optic telephone systems. ============================================================================ If there is any question to the information in this file, contact the author. Now can be found on the following systems: Metal Shop Private in the 314. Proving Grounds 612-645-7132. ============================================================================ This concludes this transmittal No. 11 provided by: The Sensei of The Syndicate Report Released May 19, 1987 ============================================================================