What's Up With the ABBL? The ABBL is a comprehensive list of Atlanta Bulletin Boards for many years now. The list is very visible and can be found on many boards from coast to coast as well as on the Internet. Computer Currents reviewed the OASis bulletin board along with the ABBL and commented that it was a very accurate and frequently updated bulletin board list. The latest ABBL has 300 bulletin boards listed as active and member systems. Since the ABBL has grown to such a large task the guidelines for any board to be listed are as follows: Your system must be on-line 24 hours a day for 7 days a week. The list is too large to verify a part-time system and many people have called to complain that those systems are either down or unavailable. New systems must be verifiable during the verification cycle. This cycle usually lasts from a week to a week and a half. The only way to make sure that a new system is actually on-line is to be able to get a carrier. Systems that have been listed in the ABBL in the past but do not answer for 3 consecutive verification cycles will be listed as a DOWN system. If you are unable to keep your system on-line reliably for 3 months its hard to verify. We have stepped up distribution of the ABBL sending it over the Internet in the list news group. Many of the networks that I belong to get a copy of each version as its updated spreading the list nationwide. If you haven't been on the OASis as of late to update your ABBL listing keep in mind that it is each sysop's responsibility to maintain their listing. This includes any added features and name or telephone number changes. Keep an eye on the main board for a message from me announcing that the verification process has started and any updates past the posting will be reflected in the next verification process and 2 version of ABBL in the future. I hope all these procedural changes helps everyone to understand how the list is verified and how the updates work. IF you want to list a new board, the sysop of the system should call the OASis and leave a message to the OASis sysop stating that you need access to the ABBL door. Once Marshall Brown upgrades your account you will be able to open the ABBL door and enter your new listing. Only you will be able to make any changes to your listing. That's why it is so important for you to keep your listing current.