Subject: Guidelines for Group Creation for uk.*
Summary: The officially recognised procedures for creating newsgroups within
.the uk.* hierarchy.
Supersedes: <Do0nIG.7H3@clw.cs.man.ac.uk>
Date: Sat, 6 Apr 1996 18:59:07 GMT


Posting-frequency: every 4 weeks

The procedures for coordinating newsgroup management within the UK hierarchy
are contained in three documents, of which this article contains the first.

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


The following Guidelines were accepted on 07 Aug 95 by a vote conducted on
uk.net.news with 93 votes in favour and 11 votes against.


.GUIDELINES FOR GROUP CREATION WITHIN THE UK HIERARCHY

REQUIREMENTS FOR GROUP CREATION:

It is hoped that most creations of new newsgroups within the UK hierarchy
can be accomplished speedily and without the necessity for voting. When
dissention arises, however, voting may be the only method of resolution.

These guidelines have the approval of the major UK service providers, who
have declared that they will only carry and propagate groups created using
them.

It should be pointed out here that, as always, the decision whether or not
to create a newsgroup on a given machine rests with the administrator of that
machine. These guidelines are intended as an aid in making those decisions.
On the other hand, it should be understood that groups created contrary to
these guidelines are unlikely to propagate far.

THE DISCUSSION

1) A request for discussion (RFD) on the creation of a new newsgroup should
   be posted to uk.net.news.announce (or alternatively mailed to
   control@usenet.org.uk who moderates that group). uk.net.news.announce is
   moderated, and the Followup-to: header will be set so that the actual
   discussion takes place only in uk.net.news.config.

   The RFD should be cross-posted among any other groups or mailing lists
   related to the proposed topic or likely to be affected. Do not post
   directly to those other groups (Control will do this so as to ensure that
   it appears in all groups at the same time).

   The RFD should include as much as possible of the following information
   concerning the proposed group:
.The Name
.The Charter
.Whether it is to be Moderated
.The name of the Moderator (if appropriate)
.A One-line Summary of the charter (max. 79 characters)
.The Initial Time to be allowed for discussion (which must be at
.least 10 days).
   Any of these items missing from the RFD must be resolved during the
   discussion.

   The Charter should make clear what the topic of discussion within the
   group is to be (useful if arguments about what is "on-topic" should arise
   later on). It is also advisable for the Charter to indicate whether or
   not advertisements are welcome within the group, and if so of what sort.
   The same applies to the admissability of job adverts, binaries, etc.
   The One-line Summary will eventually go into the "newsgroups" file which
   many newsreaders make available to users as a quick guide to the intent
   of each newsgroup. As regards group Names, it is advisable to read the
   relevant FAQs published in uk.net.news.announce, and also the "DRAFT FAQ:
   Guidelines on Usenet Newsgroup Names" published in news.announce.newusers.

2) If the RFD is in the correct form, and if the name of the proposed group
   falls within the normal accepted practice for the uk.* hierarchy,
   control@usenet.org.uk (as moderator of uk.net.news.announce) will post it.
   Otherwise, he will refer it to the Committee for resolution (which may
   involve negotiation with the original proposer). A proposer who needs
   help in choosing a name, or is looking for any other guidance in the
   creation procedure, may send email to committee@usenet.org.uk before
   issuing his RFD. He may then be referred to a member of
   group-mentors@acpub.duke.edu.

3) Discussion should take place in uk.net.news.config and should continue
   initially for 10 days, and thereafter as required until consensus is
   reached, or at least the important issues have been identified. It should
   be concerned with finding the final form of the Name, Charter, and other
   items listed above. Additional RFDs may be issued if substantive changes
   arise during the discussion.

4) If, by the end of the initial discussion period, a consensus has been
   reached and the proposal appears to be straightforward and
   non-controversial, the proposer may ask control@usenet.org.uk to create
   the group by the "fast-track" method. If Control (as advised by the
   Committee) is satisfied of this, he will announce in uk.net.news.announce
   that, in the absence of valid objections, the new group will be created
   on a date not less than 5 days thence.

   Otherwise, the matter shall be determined by vote.

   Note than only control@usenet.org.uk may issue 'newgroup', 'rmgroup' and
   'checkgroups' messages which are to be regarded as valid under these
   guidelines.

5) The rules for conducting votes are described in the companion document
   VOTING PROCEDURES WITHIN THE UK HIERARCHY.

6) A proposal which has failed a valid formal vote should not again be
   brought up for discussion until at least three months have passed from the
   close of the vote.

7) If a newsgroup remains empty of articles for a period of three months,
   Control may publish a message in uk.net.news.announce and in that group
   asking if there is any cause or just impediment why that newsgroup should
   not be removed. In the absence of objections he may issue a 'rmgroup'
   command for that group after a further one month.

8) The procedures described above may be used, with appropriate changes, for
   the removal, renaming, splitting or combining of groups, for introducing
   major changes to the hierarchy, for changing the moderation status, or
   for forcing a change of moderator (under normal circumstances, it is
   accepted that a retiring moderator appoints his successor).

9) All objections and appeals will be decided by the Committee. Their
   decisions will be posted to uk.net.news.announce.


..Creation of UK.NET.NEWS.ANNOUNCE

Newsgroups line:
uk.net.news.announce For RFDs, CFVs, FAQs, etc. within the UK Hierarchy. (Moderated)

CHARTER

This group is to be moderated by control@usenet.org.uk on behalf of the UK
Usenet Committee. Its purpose is to publish RFDs, CFVs, Result of votes, etc.
produced in accordance with the Guidelines For Group Creation within the UK
Hierarchy and the Voting Procedures within the UK Hierarchy. It will also
publish FAQs and summaries relevant to the management of the UK Hierarchy.
..
..Creation of UK.NET.NEWS.CONFIG

Newsgroups line:
uk.net.news.config Discussions of RFDs posted in uk.net.news.announce.

CHARTER

For discussions concerning the creation, renaming or deletion of newsgroups
within the UK Hierarchy, especially those arising from RFDs published in
uk.net.news.announce in accordance with the Guidelines For Group Creation
within the UK Hierarchy. Discussions relating to connectivity, propagation,
and other non-configuration issues should take place in uk.net.news.

-- 
Charles H. Lindsey -------------------------------------------------------------
           At Home, doing my own thing.           Internet: chl@clw.cs.man.ac.uk
Voice/Fax: +44 161 437 4506                       Janet:    chl@uk.ac.man.cs.clw
Snail: 5 Clerewood Ave., CHEADLE, SK8 3JU, U.K.   UUCP:     mucs!clerew!chl
