&channel = local to that specific server
Nope they arent.. im from sweden, and i can chat with people from *.us on a &channels, and since they arent allowed on *.se servers, then they must be able to join the &channels from a *.us server.. this is on ircnet tho, but why use "local" channels? that take away the whole point in a irc-
network, and what i know you cant have a "local" channel on any networks, the &channels was firstly created to stop takeovers, "they are harder to split in to", dont ask me why and how, but that was why they inplanted them on ircnet servers..