irish internet stuff (1 Viewer)

[dudley]

got this from ireland offline. if you're interested in not getting screwed for your internet access have a read.

The Communications (Regulation) Bill, 2002 goes before the Dáil tomorrow. It has to be passed by 6.15pm or it will be binned. As we speak, IBEC, Eircom and Vodafone are lobbying to get percentage-of-revenue fines - the only item of substance remaining - removed from the Bill. At the same time, IrelandOffline is lobbying to have an amendment allowing for mandated services introduced; and against the other amendment.

If you believe that telecommunications operators should be fined amounts that are directly related to their earnings if they break the law, and/or you believe that a flat-rate product is essential to the progression of Ireland as a connected state, you should write to your local representatives and tell them this. But there isn't much time to do so. You need to do it now. Right now.

The email I wrote to my TD's in Cork South Central is on the Boards.ie thread below, about a dozen posts down (dahamsta): you can use it if you wish; amend it if you believe it too harsh; or better, write your own. Instructions on how to find your TD's email address are in the post above mine (by SkepticOne):

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/show...p?postid=432242

Some of the email addresses won't work, which is a perfect example of the level of understanding and caring the people you put into power have for comms, net and tech issues. Unless something is done, this will not change. They won't do it on their own, they need a push. We have to be the ones to do that.

 

[admin]

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?postid=432242 is the link

 

[Sprite Boy]

dudley (17 Apr, 2002 02:22 p.m.):

The email I wrote to my TD's in Cork South Central is on the Boards.ie thread below, about a dozen posts down (dahamsta): you can

Are you from cork dudley?

 

[dudley]

nope, i just copied that thing verbatim from ireland offline

 

[deniece]

i'm a slow and avoid politics at all costs, because it tends to upset me.
but this actually sounds interesting of a sort would you mind explaining wat exactly is this bill wat does it mean in laymans terms anybody.......
nows your chance to show yer uncliqueness.

 

[admin]

http://www.irelandoffline.org will probably explain it best - irelandoffline.com is meant to redirect to their message board, but i dunno what's up right now

 

[dudley]

i think admin is the man to explain this. i have a tenous grasp on the whole situation really. on most situations in fact.

eircom announced their wholesale adsl prices today, and they, imho, are still far too expensive. €49 for 512 and €79 for 1mb connections. what these prices will be at retail is anyone's guess, plus no mention that i could see of what the caps might be. it sucks.

that message board is actually very helpful to find out about the situation or go to http://www.irelandoffline.org

 

[deniece]

damn work have blocked off all the net thanks for that anyway shall have a look at it when i get to a webcafe quick smart.

 

[deniece]

i'm a big fat liar that site actually works now i've something beside colouring in me own crosswords to keep me entertained.....thanks again....actually why don't I just send you flowers

 

[herv]

"If you believe that telecommunications operators should be fined amounts that are directly related to their earnings if they break the law..."


dudley, are you referring to eircom as a whole, or those employed by them? i work for the compertition, by the way.

 

[admin]

dudley didn't write that - he couldn't string that many coherent sentences together


it's to do with a clause in the bill that says if the telecomms companies don't play ball they get fined a fixed amount of €millions, or 10% of their turnover - whichever is the greater.

At the moment the companies are lobbying the government (through IBEC) to get that bit removed from the Bill, so it'd mean that the ODTR would have no teeth to enforce the bill.

 

[dudley]

again, i just copied that text over

from what i remember it relates that the only power the odtr have is impose this fine on eircom that is absolutely nominal and means v little in the way of a reprimand for them.

i am very unknowledgable about this, but am intrigued by the developments of this week, and just thought others here might be too..

it's all here
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=60

 

[Unclealo]

herv (17 Apr, 2002 03:40 p.m.):
"

dudley, are you referring to eircom as a whole, or those employed by them? i work for the compertition, by the way.

No wonder you have so much time to post Herv!

 

[herv]

dudley (17 Apr, 2002 03:49 p.m.):
again, i just copied that text over

from what i remember it relates that the only power the odtr have is impose this fine on eircom that is absolutely nominal and means v little in the way of a reprimand for them.

i am very unknowledgable about this, but am intrigued by the developments of this week, and just thought others here might be too..

it's all here
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=60

blocked as usual, but thanks, this is interesting.

 

[dudley]

http://www.erinselbow.com/errorcom/

 

[admin]

This should help explain some stuff:

###BEGINS###

[FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE]

IRELANDOFFLINE WELCOMES MOVES TOWARDS BITSTREAM AND LLU DISPUTE RESOLUTIONS, BUT RECOMMENDS IMMEDIATE ACTION ON FLAT-RATE SERVICES

DUBLIN, IRELAND -- April 17, 2002 -- IrelandOffline, an independent
organisation working to bring affordable Internet access services to
Ireland, has said that it is encouraged by news of the resolution of
Bitstream and Local Loop Unbundling negotiations between Eircom Plc and the
Office of the Director of Telecommunications Regulation (ODTR). The
organisation also called for a parallel introduction of flat-rate services,
to encourage Irish consumers and businesses to make more use of the
Internet; and accelerate Ireland's economic and cultural development towards
convergence with our European neighbours.

"Our members are encouraged to hear that ADSL is only a matter of days and
weeks away now," said IrelandOffline Chairman, David Long, "and we are
relieved that the parties have finally come up with a technical solution to
the bitstream standoff, and one that appears to resolve the uncertainty
involved in Local Loop Unbundling. There is still a lot of work to do, but
this is definitely a step in the right direction. We hope that the ODTR,
Eircom and the Other Licensed Operators (OLO's) will continue to work
towards our primary goal of affordable Internet access for all."

When asked what more could be done for Ireland, IrelandOffline explained
that the next two days will be absolutely critical for the future of the
telecommunications marketplace. The Communications (Regulation) Bill, 2002
comes before the Dáil on Thursday, and has to be passed by 6.15pm the same
day. If it does not pass, it will need to be redrafted after the General
Election, and IrelandOffline is concerned that the Bill will be put on hold
for another lengthy period. The Bill contains vital measures needed to
ensure competitiveness in the telecommunications marketplace, such as
percentage-of-revenue fines for lawbreaking operators.

"There is a lot of lobbying going on in the background against that
provision, which must be resisted" said David Long, "these fines will only
be levied when operators contravene the terms of their licences, and are
convicted in a court of law. If the operators don't break the law, they run
absolutely no risk of being fined these enormous amounts. But the threat has
to be there, because the system is unquestionably being abused."

The organisation also called on Government and Opposition parties to
introduce an amendment to the Bill, that will allow the new Commission to
mandate services urgently needed to encourage competition. IrelandOffline
says that several other European countries have already mandated flat-rate
services in their territories, and in some cases this has been achieved
using the same European Directives that apply to Ireland. However, the Irish
Telecommunications Regulator, Etain Doyle, believes that she is unable to do
so with the current transposition of the European Directives, and that local
legislation will be needed for her to do so.

David Long commented: "This is an ideal opportunity for the Government to
give the Commission the powers it needs. The Government has already taken
the need for competition into account, by re-introducing the
percentage-of-revenue levies for licence infringements. An amendment
allowing for the mandate of services like flat-rate dialup will hasten the
creation of a competitive marketplace. We're falling farther and farther
behind our European counterparts by the day, an imaginative and substantive
move like this is needed to guarantee Ireland's future in the communications
and technology sectors."


Press Release drafted by Adam Beecher <[email protected]>.


###ENDS###

_______________________________________________
Announce mailing list
[email protected]
http://irelandoffline.taint.org/mailman/listinfo/io-announce

 

[steven stealberg]

i contacted the taoiseach, minister for enterprise and my local td's threatening my lack of support for their re-election if they did nothing about this internet deal and all i got was a crummy response from 2 lackeys...i mean PA's (not the ones you use for gigs)
irish politicians suck

 

[dudley]

apparently an amendment to the bill is being rushed through this afternoon, that will actually facilate large fines for the operators. keep mailing td's!
more on the irish offline board at http://www.boards.ie