It has been over a month since we first heard that Burns was going to introduce a bill to free up encryption software exports. It isn't here, yet, as you may have noticed. However, I don't think that's the real problem. The real problem is that we have seen essentially no information on it, and we (by we, I mean the entire Internet community) have not had an opportunity to study it and comment BEFORE it is introduced in Congress. See, the usual practice of introducing it in Congress first and only then letting the public see the bill is, by my way of thinking, an example of extreme rudeness on the part of the politicians. Bills are far easier to change before they've been officially filed, which I suppose is the point. We're not getting the opportunity to fix minor mistakes, or at least make Burns (or any other supporter) aware of them. This is a glaring "take it or leave it" philosophy, one that we should reject. Does he really intend to insult us? I see no reason to believe that Burns should be able to produce an adequate bill with the assistance of only industry lobbyists, but not the help of other citizens of varying degrees of expertise. Burns should immediately release the text of the bill developed up until now, and then wait at least a few weeks before introducing it formally, after changes are proposed, considered, and accepted. Jim Bell jimbell@pacifier.com Jim Bell jimbell@pacifier.com