Starting a Usenet Newsgroup

Usenet consists of thousands of discussion groups, called newsgroups, organized by subject and hierarchy. While many groups already exist, it’s possible to formally propose the creation of a new group.

Requesting a Newsgroup Be Created

To start a new newsgroup within the Big 8 hierarchy (comp., humanities., misc., news., rec., sci., soc., and talk.), a formal request process must be followed. This is overseen by the Big 8 Management Board.

Steps to Start a New Usenet Newsgroup

1. Visit the Big 8 Management Board Website

   • Learn more about the group creation process and access proposal templates.

2. Review the Proposal Guidelines

   • Understand the requirements and expectations for submitting a new group request.

3. Submit a Request for Discussion (RFD)

   • Post your RFD to the newsgroup news.groups.proposals. This begins a public discussion where the Usenet community can provide feedback.

4. Participate in the Discussion

   • Engage with feedback and revise your proposal if necessary.

5. Wait for a Call for Votes (CFV)

   • If the proposal gains support, a CFV will be issued for the community to vote on the group's creation.

6. Creation of the Newsgroup

   • If the group receives enough affirmative votes, it will be added to the Usenet hierarchy.

Once created, the newsgroup will begin propagating across Usenet servers. When it starts receiving articles, it will automatically appear in the Easynews interface.

Additional Notes

• Propagation May Vary: Not all servers carry every newsgroup. Availability depends on individual provider policies.

• Indexers May Take Time: Usenet Indexers may delay listing newly created groups.