So, whether you call it censorship or abridging, what the AMSAT BoD has done is censorship ...
Last time I looked, AMSAT was not an arm of the United States government.
They are not censoring anyone. They are moderating and controlling their messagegroups. This is a private party - NOT a government-run entity.
People love screaming, "Censorship!!!' any time they perceive they've been wronged. But read the rules of membership in this newsgroup. And you have the choice to "open the door," enter, and be welcomed, or not be a member.
I dare say there's no one here who has been involved in online legal issues and telecommunications law than I have (1990). And what AMSAT is doing doesn't infringe upon my rights in any manner.
Background and history of your online rights and responsibilities is available at ... http://www.eff.org
Clint, K6LCS