Information highway need not be a toll road

The River Reporter
Thursday, July 6, 1995

By TOM RUE

Traveling the information superhighway need not be costly, thanks to the rapidly growing popularity of computer bulletin board systems around the country.

Commercial on-line services like CompuServe, America On Line, Prodigy, GEnie, and others all charge monthly fees, which in addition to phone bills can mount up fast.

With a computer, a modem and a telecommunications program like Telix or Procomm-Plus, electronic mail service and other Internet services are available for free or very little cost across the U.S., thanks to the efforts of the mostly unpaid system operators who run computer bulletin board systems (BBSs) out of heir homes and small offices.

Hundreds of thousands of computer files of all sorts are available locally for free downloading. BBSs can be used for recreation (some specialize in games), but the practical value of some of the software and text files which can be found for free is immense.

Government workers, volunteers and members of the public may find it easier to keep current by accessing files on specialized topic BBSs via toll-free numbers which are financed by public and foundation funds.

BBSing can be a treasure hunt for useful information, and is fairly simple once you get into it.

Bulletin Board Services
Sullivan County area

The Cult of the Tentacle, Bethel - (914) 583-6155
Data Avalanche, Liberty - (914) 292-6503
The Death Zone, Fallsburg - (914) 434-5315
Digital Paradise, Bethel - (914) 794-1576
*The Leading Edge, Wurtsboro.(914) 888-4264/4295/4138/4632
The Main Frame, Barryville - (914) 557-3567
The Midnight Hour at Livingston Manor HS - (914) 439-4681
Monticello High School BBS, Monticello - (914) 794-8904
Planet Mayhem, Barryville - (914) 557-8011
The Shuttle, Jeffersonville - (914) 482-3239
The Sky...and Beyond, Grahamsville - (914) 985-7309
*The Space Station, Liberty - (914) 292-0670/2329/2379/0611
This End Up, Port Jervis - (914) 856-8674

*Some BBSs charge a monthly fee, though a trial period is usually offered at no cost. (Most welcome donations.)

Wayne County area

Brinkman Hollow, Hamlin - (717) 689-3123

The Chief's BBS, Lake Ariel - (717) 689-1971

Landscape Connection, Welcome Lake - (717) 729-8102

The Soviergn Domain, Honesdale - (717) 253-6970

Government and Nonprofit

Drinking Water Information Exchange BBS - (800) 932-7459

Federal Information Exchange BBS - (800) 232-4879

Gulfline BBS (coastal environment issues) - (800) 235-4662

Methodist Computer AIDS Ministry BBS - (800) 542-5921

National Head Start BBS - (800) 477-8278

USDA, Biological Impact BBS - (800) 624-2723

USDA, Economic Research BBS - (800) 821-6229

US Department of Interior, Job Postings - (800) 368-3321

US EPA, Pollution Control BBS - (800) 658-8815

US Postal Service, Rapid Information BBS - (800) 262-9541

US Small Business Administration BBS - (800) 697-4636

Wastewater Treatment Information Exchange - (800) 368-3321

Note: Additions to the above list or other comments may be sent to Tom Rue in care of this newspaper or via the Internet at TomRue@reporters.net.