Prisoner Update

Frank Darden (one of the Atlanta hackers) writes:

"Well, here I sit.  A prisoner of my own hobby.  I'm currently being held in a Federal Prison Camp in Talladega, Alabama.  I wish I could tell you that Prison Camp is not that bad.  Sure, it's mot like the prison you see on TV, but it's really sucking.  [The above is] what I received instead of 2600.  Apparently your magazine poses a threat to the security of this institution.  Let me also say that my hacking days are over.  Also, I'd like to add, to any hackers out there, make sure you know what you're getting into.  Consider the price you have to pay.  Believe me, im my eyes it's not worth it.  It was fun while it lasted.  Play safe!  The Leftist"

We pursued the matter and in July received this response from Warden Roger Scott of the U.S. Department of Justice:

"After careful review of your magazine and conferring with the institution's electronic technician, I feel the below listed articles to be improper as they contain information which promotes the illegal use or disruption of coin operated type telephones (COCOT).  Since the telephones used by the inmate population are of the coin operated type, I do not feel these articles are appropriate for reading by the inmates: 'COCOT Troubles' on Page 24 describes how to make unauthorized calls from COCOT type telephones.  'Another Method' on Page 26 describes how to make unauthorized calls from COCOT type phones without charges and how to disrupt the operation of the phone.  'Suggestions' on Page 27 describes how to make illegal telephone calls with the help of recorded tones and by use of two telephones.  Based on these three articles, I feel I have no alternative but to stand by my previous decision to reject this issue of your 2600 magazine."

The "articles" he refers to are, of course, actually letters.  We think it's very unlikely that a prison would have COCOTs.  It's very likely, though, that he doesn't even know what a COCOT is and is just assuming that all payphones are the same.  In the end, technical ignorance by the authorities prevents Darden from reading the only magazine that talks about the technical ignorance that put him in prison.  Sometimes it seems like an endless loop.