Last Updated:  18th December 2003
Last Changes:  Notice of email server removal

Totally 'unofficial' but may be useful to people.

This is 'unofficial' as this is a summary of announced resources, as well
as the fact that this has been created by one person on their own. Some 
input from others has been received.

** Email replies to this posting go to an automated system not read
   by a human. Use postmaster@... for replies.

Sections of this document

0.     Introduction
1.     General Comments
1.1    Configuring Newsreaders
2.     Pointers to Information on uk.* newsgroups and creation
2.1    World Wide Web (WWW) resources
2.1.1  The Perils of Moderated Newsgroups
2.2    FTP archives
2.2.1  Imperial College
*2.3    Email Servers
2.4    Mentors (need help with your proposal)
3.     How to see only updated versions of this document

* = changed sections
=----------------------------------------------------------

0.     Introduction -

    uk.net.news.config is for discussing the creation/modification of uk.*
    hierachy newsgroups. If you wish to propose a new group, see the
    document "Guidelines for Group Creation within the UK hierarchy", posted 
    to uk.net.news.announce and available from many sources shown below.

    Posts relating to HOW the hierarchy is managed or voting methods
    SHOULD be posted in uk.net.news.management .

1.     General Comments

    RFDs and any other correspondence with 'control' and 'committee' is
    preferred as PLAIN TEXT, as that is how the RFD/Charter/Fast-Track 
    announcement will appear as Plain Text.

    Use of MIME, web pages ( HTML ) and word-processor formats will
    only cause delays, to any proposal as the proponent will be asked
    to resubmit in plain text format. This posting has been sent
    using plain text format.

    When sending email 'control' and/or 'committee' email addresses, use
    your REAL email address. Use of 'spam-blocking' and 'address munging'
    will mean any proponent will not see any responses, acknowledgements
    or their proposal going forward.

1.1    Configuring Newsreaders

    For a guide on how to configure your web-browser or newsreader for
    posting to uk.* newsgroups it is recommended that users see
    <http://www.usenet.org.uk/ukpost.html>.

2.     Pointers to Information on uk.* newsgroups and creation

    Ever since the committee (<mailto:committee@usenet.org.uk>) and
    control (<mailto:control@usenet.org.uk>) got established there has been
    a growing collection of archives and information about the uk.* newsgroup
    hierarchy.

    This is an attempt to gather together all known internet resources that 
    hold information about the hierarchy, newsgroup that exist as well as 
    rules and procedures for setting them up. Most of the information is 
    frequently posted in uk.net.news.announce, which you are recommended to 
    subscribe to.

2.1    World Wide Web (WWW) resources

    These are listed below as URL (web page) and then description.

         <http://www.darkstorm.org/ukusenet/uk.usenet.faq.html>

    A very useful FAQ and overview of the procedure and common questions
    asked about creating newsgroups.

         <http://www.usenet.org.uk/>

    The rules and procedures about the hierarchy along with group and 
    hierarchy charters.

         <http://homepage.ntlworld.com/smb1001/Paul/newsgroups/>

    This is the Lay guide for newsgroup creation also posted regularly to
    uk.net.news.config .

         <http://www.ukvoting.org.uk/>

    Home pages of UK-VOTING

         <http://www.uk-mentors.org.uk/>

    Home page for UK Mentors to assist in group creation.

         <http://www.ckdog.co.uk/rfdmaker/>

    The RFD maker, web site is a way to assist in writing an RFD for
    a new newsgroup, if still in doubt contact the UK Mentors above.

2.1.1  The Perils of Moderated Newsgroups

    Often proponents would like to create a moderated newsgroup, to
    reduce the off-topic posts and spam. Please be aware this is NOT
    an easy thing to do, as it really requires:-

    either a team of moderators

    or    arrangements with a permanently connected machine to run
          moderation software (which the proponent will have to find).

    For an FAQ on the problems of single moderator on a newsgroup see the
    following web page - <http://www.eyrie.org/~eagle/faqs/mod-pitfalls.html>.
  
2.2    FTP archives

2.2.1  Imperial College
         <ftp://src.doc.ic.ac.uk/usenet/news-info/news.answers/uk>

    file         Description
    ---------------------------
    guidelines   GUIDELINES FOR GROUP CREATION WITHIN THE UK HIERARCHY
         <ftp://src.doc.ic.ac.uk/usenet/news-info/news.answers/uk/guidelines>
    voting       VOTING PROCEDURES WITHIN THE UK HIERARCHY
         <ftp://src.doc.ic.ac.uk/usenet/news-info/news.answers/uk/voting>
    committee    THE UK USENET COMMITTEE
         <ftp://src.doc.ic.ac.uk/usenet/news-info/news.answers/uk/committee>

*2.3    Email Servers
*
*       Due to diminishing usage of email server with more and more easier
*       web access and increasing spam levels. This service is being withdrawn
*       early in 2004.
*
*       Regular postings of this FAQ and others will still continue.
*
2.4    Mentors (need help with your proposal)

    See also <http://www.uk-mentors.org.uk/>

    There is a group of volunteers able to provide assistance with your
    proposals, called the UK Mentors. This is run by a mailing list and
    their assistance can be sought by

      a)   Asking control or the committee to forward your proposal
           for assistance. They might also suggest you contact the
           UK Mentors in some cases.

      b)   Contacting the UK Mentors directly via email at

               <mailto: mentor-request@uk-mentors.org.uk>

    Please see the UK Mentors document <http://www.usenet.org.uk/mentors.html>
    or from other sources, to see what the mentors can do for you.

    Note That the mentors can assist you with formation of your RFD and
         the proposal's passage through the creation process. This does NOT
         guarantee your proposal will be successful and will _still_ require
         work from the proponent for a successful proposal to become a new
         newsgroup.

3.     How to see only updated versions of this document

    For those who are familiar with this post and know how to use killfiles,
    it is possible to avoid downloading this FAQ under normal circumstances
    by adding a reference to kill on the following line:-

        X-Changes: NONE

    When a new version appears this will be modified for the first time it is
    posted, hopefully saving bandwidth..


-- 
For some links to other sites and more information see also
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