RemailNet

[David Koontz]

>        A small historical note.  It was not until 1986 that most
>unauthorized interceptions of microwave radio common carrier
>transmissions such as AT&T Long Lines TD-2 and TH routes were definately
>and clearly made illegal (in the ECPA).  Before that time such
>interception for other than foreign government espionage purposes was a
>gray area in the law, quite possibly there deliberately as was a curious
>similar absence of any prohibition at all against interception of any kind of
>digital data or record communications such as telegrams, twxs, faxes
>etc.  transmitted over any media.

The Radio Act of 1934 makes no such distinctions, and does state that
it is illegal to use information intercepted.