
How to Become a RAH Distributor:

Random Access Humor (RAH) is a monthly electronic humor magazine.
RAH is not specific to, or affiliated with, any online system or BBS 
network.  RAH is distributed free for any non-commercial use.  See
our definition of non-commercial later in this document.

The publisher of RAH is looking for Gateway Systems and Official
Distribution Sites throughout the online world. 

Gateway systems must meet the following criteria:

1) They must have a node address on a Fido-technology network to
      which the publisher belongs.  See the publisher listing for a
      current list of eligible networks.  They must also have a node
      address (or other applicable membership identifier) on at least
      one network to which the publisher does not belong.  The other
      network(s) do *not* have to be Fido-technology networks.

2) They must be capable or receiving the monthly issues through
      a "Tick" style file-echo system.  Gateways will receive each 
      monthly RAH issue directly from the publisher's system.

3) They must make the current issue of RAH available for download
      to all first-time BBS callers.  (If they operate a BBS.)

4) They must make the current issue of RAH available for File Request
      by any Wazoo/EMSI compatible system which may call.  They may
      not operate in "curmudgeon mode" as far as RAH is concerned.
      In plain English, Gateways must honor every request for RAH
      made in any valid request format supported by the networks to
      which they belong and the software they operate.

5) They are encouraged to offer back issues of RAH in the same manner
      as in 3 and 4 above, but this is not mandatory.

6) They must also receive the RAHDIST private message echo and "echo"
      it to any Official Distribution Site on any network which they
      service.
                      

Official Distribution Sites (ODSs) must meet the following criteria: 

1) They must obtain the current issue of RAH each month from the
      publisher's system, a Gateway System or another ODS.  They may
      obtain the issues through a "Tick" style file-echo system, by
      FReq or any method they and the supplier can agree on.  Note
      that the Publisher, Gateways and ODSs are *not* obligated to 
      send RAH to any other site at their own expense.

2) They must make the current issue of RAH available for download
      to all first-time BBS callers.

3) They are encouraged to make the current issue of RAH available for
      File Request or through any equivalent technology they may use.
      If the ODS elects to provide this service they should operate
      in "curmudgeon mode" as far as RAH is concerned.  In other
      words, they should not limit requests for RAH to those in their
      "nodelist" or other network list.

4) They are encouraged to offer back issues of RAH in the same manner
      as in 2 and 3 above, but this is not mandatory.

5) They are encouraged to receive the RAHDIST private message echo
      but this is not mandatory.
                    
Both Gateway Systems and ODS systems may display a statement to their
callers identifying the system as an:  "Official RAH Distribution
Site" although this is optional.

All Gateway and ODS systems are urged to obtain each new RAH issue on
the first day of the month.  They are *required* to obtain each issue
by the fifth (5th) day of the month.

All Gateway and ODS system operators are asked to report to the
publisher immediately any unauthorized use of RAH or the copyrighted
contents of any individual issue that they may encounter.  Please 
investigate any hearsay reports of violations before reporting them 
to the publisher. 

Gateway and ODS system operators are granted permission to convert
each RAH issue to a different archival format for use on their own
system, but the original text file must remain unaltered.

Current and back issues of RAH are always available by download or
FReq from the RAH Publishing system:

  The Puffin's Nest BBS       Pasadena, MD. USA    Sysop: Dave Bealer
     FidoNet> 1:261/1129     (410) 437-3463      1200-14400 (V.32bis)
     CinemaNet> 68:1410/101   SailNet> 53:5000/1129
  Current issue:  FReq -  RAH
  Back issues:    FReq -  RAHmmyy.ZIP        mm=month yy=year  
            (e.g. FReq: RAH0992.ZIP to receive debut issue)
  Current copy of this document:  FReq: RAHDIST
  RAH Writer's Guidelines: FReq: RAHWRITE

   There is also a private message echo for RAH Distributors, the
echo-tag is RAHDIST.  This message echo is optional for ODSs, but
mandatory for Gateway Systems.  If you want to "gate" RAH to ODSs
in another network, you must also "gate" the RAHDIST message echo
between the networks.  This requirement exists to ensure that all
distributors without direct netmail access to the publisher may still
keep in touch.  Although the RAHDIST echo is optional at this time, 
the publisher reserves the right to make it mandatory for *all* 
distribution sites at anytime in the future.  RAHDIST is a *private*
message echo.  Only RAH distribution sysops should have access.

   To apply for Gateway status, send a netmail message to Dave Bealer
at 1:261/1129 identifying the names and zones of the networks for
which you can act as gateway.  DO NOT begin gating operations until
your gateway status has been verified by the publisher.

   To become an ODS, contact the publisher or the nearest existing
Gateway or ODS.  You may be required to obtain each month's copy at
your own expense. 

   What constitutes "non-commercial" use of RAH?  Any system which
charges any hourly connect fees is obviously commercial.  Any system
that charges more than $10 per month ($120/yr) for normal download
privileges is considered to be commercial and is not allowed to make
RAH available for download or viewing online.

Remember everyone, this is only a hobby.  We're supposed to be having
fun, aren't we!?

Dave Bealer, Publisher
Pasadena, Maryland, USA  
December 31, 1992