Algol Broadcasting Foundation
A small to medium-sized broadcasting entity within the NoCoZo.
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Algol Broadcasting FoundationA small to medium-sized broadcasting entity within the NoCoZo. |
The ABF was formed around 6500, and shortly thereafter began its
transmissions. The business idea of the ABF is part profit, part
philanthropy. By dispersing the knowledge of the more evolved systems,
it eases the technological progress and cultural stream-lining among
the fringe to medium-sized worlds. There are several levels to the
service provided. At the core lies free, charity if you will,
broadcasts. These are transmitted in the most basic and universal of
protocols, so as to be available to all. In these broadcasts, the
recipient is made aware of the originator's nature and purpose, for
further marketing purposes. The contents of the free broadcasts are
diverse, giving a hint of what paying customers receive. They are more
than enough to build a technical civilization capable of interstellar
trade on, though. An effect of this has been the eradication of
"provolve-charlatans" within the broadcast area, as well as
establishing a lower bench-mark as to what information is actually
worth charging for.
The next step is the fly-by of an ABF info-merchant. Well-armed and
equipped with its own interstellar transmitter array, it makes an offer
that most fringe worlds would be foolish to refuse. Tailored access to
the premium part of the ABF broadcasts, with the possibility of ABF
installing a decent transceiver array for free (with ABF ownership, of
course) once the system has crossed certain demographical growth
boundaries. As payment, the merchant requires all public (and some
secret) content in the system archives / databases. It also wants stock
options, long-term bonds and other derivatives. Last comes some token
industrial goods to be lobbed at ABF home system, along with refuelling
and refitting of the merchant, so it may continue on its rounds.
Being a foundation, the ABF has neither stock nor owners. Its financial
needs are handled primarily through bond issues on the various worlds
where it has local offices. So far, it has not defaulted on any of the
issues.
The editorial style of the ABF is one of slightly smug neutrality.
They're a non-profit organisation at core, and they love teasing the
rest of known space with it. The foundation charter specifies
neutrality in politics, along with a very broad customer group
(virtually everything from semi-intelligent provolves to twice ascended
AI:s). Be that as it may, the transmitter arrays of the ABF frequently
give out breaking stories and important financial news relevant to
NoCoZo worlds.
