News and Updates
Internet Australia, the NFP peak body representing Internet users, today expressed support for the Productivity Commission’s draft recommendation that the telco Universal Service Obligation be replaced with a universal service policy objective to provide a minimum broadband service to all premises in Australia using the National Broadband Network infrastructure.
However, CEO Laurie Patton commented that the Productivity Commission’s proposition was predicated on Australia building a 21st Century broadband network and repeated his call for the Government to re-think its current NBN strategy, which IA believes will not meet Australia’s future needs.
15 December 2015 - NEWS RELEASE: "We've been conned" | IA responds to "pointless" site-blocking move
Internet Australia, the NFP peak body representing Internet users, has described the decision to force a limited number of ISP's to block The Pirate Bay and other websites facilitating so-called Internet ‘piracy’ as pointless.
IA, which includes a number of ISPs among its members, has long campaigned against Internet site-blocking.
Internet Australia, the NFP peak body representing Internet users, has told the Productivity Commission it believes the telecommunications Universal Service Obligation should be expanded to include a right to Internet access via fast and affordable broadband.
The Commission is currently holding an inquiry into the USO, which was originally designed to ensure that everyone could have access to a traditional telephone service.
CEO Laurie Patton says "our response is based on the underlying principle of the global Internet Society, of which we are a chapter, that 'The Internet Is For Everyone'. For many people these days Internet access is as important as having a telephone, perhaps more important".
Internet Australia, the peak body representing Internet users, has expressed support for the return to a focus on the use of fibre in the National Broadband Network.
In an op-ed in Saturday's Fairfax newspapers NBN chair Dr Ziggy Switkowski makes serious accusations in relation to two so far unnamed NBN officers. He does this despite no charges having been laid and therefore no opportunity given for the accused to put forward their side of the story.
Internet Australia, the peak NFP body representing Internet users, believes that the alleged actions of these NBN employees and questions as to their motives should be left to be dealt with according to the appropriate legal and parliamentary processes. It is unhelpful and unfair to be publicly disparaging people who, for the moment, are unable to respond. This is especially so during an election period in which the NBN is clearly a germane issue for many voters.
....... Whoever wins the upcoming election should hold an independent review of both the strategic technical direction that NBN is now pursuing and the relevance and veracity of the reports it is making public.