Declan writes:

This is important. After all, the FCC's charter gives it jurisdiction over all electronic communications -- ^^^^^^^^^^ though the commission has opted not to exercise its authority in cyberspace.

Here's a fun little thought experiment: Considering the hairsplitting that takes place everyday in courtrooms these days, an arguement could be made that since virtually the entire net these days is optical fiber, there are no 'electronic' communications taking place. Does the FCC charter mention photonic communications as well? At what point does the charter allow them to interfere? Here's some steps on the way... * A mime, 'working' outdoors in daylight. The communication is entirely by photons, and the light source is non-electronic. (I know that many people would like to see mimes suppressed for the good of humanity, but bear with me). * A mime, working by electric light. Does the fact that electricity is involved in creating the light make the communication 'electronic'? I don't think so. (IANAL) It (the mime) is certainly modulating the (electronically generated) light, just as an optical transducer does. * A mime, illuminated by an electric light, and viewed through a fiberscope. There's certainly no new 'electronic' components introduced at this step, so sending modulated, electronically generated, photonic messages through an optical fiber would not seem to constitute an 'electronic' communication. * A mime performing inside a sealed box, illuminated by electric light and viewed through a fiberscope. Once again, no new 'electronic' components have been added. * The mime, finally realising that the box is airtight and unopenable (I told you to bear with me :-), signals for help by sending Morse code down the fiberscope with a flashlight. The other end of the fiberscope enters a similar box, where another mime flashes back "Great 'walking against the wind' technique, but I can't help - my box is sealed too." Is this an electronic communication? This is getting pretty close to the situation of two computers connected by fiber optics - the communication mode is even digital. The boxes are silent, consume electric power, and communicate via optical fiber. I don't think the FCC's jurisdiction extends inside the boxes, where all the 'electronic' portions of the system reside. Just some idle speculation... Peter Trei trei@process.com