The Undernet Channel Service Guidelines

  
                                                       Revised: May 12, 1995


History & Ethos of The Channel Service

Thanks to a lot of work by Seks and the rest of the Undernet IRCops, Undernet now has a channel service. This service will allow users to run a channel without running a bot. This service replaces the need for a bot on a channel.

This channel service gives the opportunity to users to manage a channel. This is *not* ownership because the service will only be placed on the channel if that there is a general demand for. It cannot be used in channel wars/op wars or in an attempt to end "take over" a channel.

The Channel Service works the same way that a bot works. It can control all channel modes (including ops). One advantage that the service has is if ops are lost either due to someone messing up and deop'ing everyone (or a flooder/hacker doing it intentionally) then the bot can use Uworld (special Undernet service) and regain ops.

The Channel Service has many different modes. AlwaysOp will ensure that the bot always has ops. If ops are ever lost or the bot is unable to join the channel then the bot will use Uworld to gain access. NoOp mode will make it so the Channel Service is the only Op on the channel. All kicks, bans, topic, etc have to be made through the bot. Mode changes still need to be done manually. The bot also has flood protection against nick, kick, topic and mode changes to ensure that channel flooders are not a problem.

The Channel Service retains a userlist for every channel that it is registered on. The manager of the channel (person who registered the channel) controls the list for that particular channel.


Committee Guidelines

Structure of committee, and general aims

(i) The Channel Service committee is a sub committee of User-com (Undernet user committee).
(ii) The CSC (Channel Service Committee) are in charge of administrating the channel service
(iii) The CSC Will (a) NOT enter into discussions on how a channel is run (b) mediate upon discussions of channel managers.
(iv) The CSC will only register 1 channel per USER (this means user, not account or e-mail address). This rule may be relaxed at the discretion of the committee for special channels which provide a service, such as help channels.

Committee Procedure

Standard Registration:

(i) Applications are review once per week by the CSC to ensure the proper information has been included. A response letter is sent to the applicant acknowledging the application when it is reviewed.
(ii) The committee will send a weekly posting to alt.irc.undernet of registration requests, for public viewing.
(iii) Provided there is no objections the channel service will be moved into place on a trial basis, of 14 days. After which it will be permanent, subject to the standard review procedures. The CSC will post an FAQ to the manager.
(iv) The CSC will add the channel to the listing of channels that are covered by the Channel service (ftp site ca.undernet.org in pub/undernet) and changes to the document will be posted to cservice on a regular basis.

Objections

(i) Users have 14 days in which to make an objection to the Channel Service being placed on a channel
(ii) All objections will be considered by the committee. The CSC chall invoke the following procedures:
(a) remove the bot from the channel while discussions take place
(b) attempt mediation between the objectors and the registered owner.
(i) by trying to put them into contact with each other
(ii) by helping if requested to with discussions.
(c) if mediation fails, the BOT will NOT be placed on the Channel.
- a new application may be made in 2 months, but will not be considered before then.
- the committee will suggest that a channel under a different name be registered.
(iii) if an objection is received after that time; the CSC will consider it if:
(a) it is supported by a reasonable number of users (min. 10 - more for larger channels)
(b) has reasonable grounds. A valid objection will be dealt with in the same way as for (ii) above; but with the presumption that if the objector cannot substantiate the claim sufficiently, then the bot will >tay.
(iv) The decision of the CSC in all these matters is Final.


Registering a channel

(i) Make sure that you have read these guidelines carefully, and are willing to use the channel service (X) in conjunction with the rules of use.
(ii) Fill out the form below (copy available by anonymous ftp to: ca.undernet.org:/pub/undernet/CS
(iii) Post this to cservice@undernet.org
 ###########################################################################
 ## E-MAIL COMPLETED FORM TO cservice@undernet.org                        ##
 ###########################################################################
 
 1) Your Name : 
 
 2) The usual nick you use :
 
 3) Your E-mail address :
 
 4) The user@host that you use on irc :
    {if different from your e-mail address}
 
 5) Channel Name:
 
 6) Purpose of channel:
    {brief description}
    
 7) Supporter's list:
 
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Nickname                     | E-mail address                  
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
  1)
  2)
  3)
  4)
  5)
  6)
  7)
  8)
  9)
 10)
 
 Please note, to register your channel, you need 10 supporters
 
 ###########################################################################

Rules:

(i) All e-mail addresses that are used on IRC and at least one mail address that the applicant can be reached at should be included. If a hacked user@host is used on IRC, a valid mail address is necessary.
(ii) At least 10 supporters are needed for the request to be processed. The supporters need to be included on the application with nick and e-mail addresses.
(iii) Any abuse of the channel service by the channel manager will result in the immediate removal of the service. Any abuse of other users will result in their refusal of the service to that user. The above includes anyone "testing". If testing is required, there is a test network of Undernet servers that can be used. If a CSC administrator finds that the Channel Service is being abused in any way, they may remove the channel service from the channel immediately and relay any necessary information to other CSC members and contact the manager of the channel immediately with the reason for the removal. The removal will be open to immediate review by the CSC to ensure that the service was abused and to decide if the Channel Service should be returned the channel or not.
(iv) Please ensure that channel operators and/or bots on the registered channel are not running netsplit hack protection because they will get into an opwar with X. This is considered abuse and can result in the removal of the channel service. X will always win in an opwar.
(v) The registered channel manager must appear on the channel once every 3 weeks. If the CSC is notified of a prolonged absence a the channel - managing may be transferred for the intermittant period. Any abuse of the Channel Service done by the temporary channel manager will be both the responsibility of the channel manager and the temporary manager.
(vi) The Channel Service will be removed from any channel that has low traffic. Channel not being used or only has less than 5 regular users (open to discretion).

Disclaimer

The Channel Service will not be responsible for any activity that occurs on the channel. Anything that occurs on the channel are the resposibilities of the people involved and has nothing to do with the Channel Service, its administrators and the Undernet as a whole, including the Operators that run it. The guidelines may change without notice.

- Original CSC Guidelines
- Amended by Super
- This Draft #Ox.1
- html by striker


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