The CEO of Internet Australia, Laurie Patton, says there are increasing signs that industry and the community have begun to question the Government’s copper-based multi-technology mix (MTM) model for the National Broadband Network (NBN) and that IA will continue efforts to have the government abandon it in favour of a return to fibre.
That’s the message Patton will deliver to the IA annual general meeting today, also noting that an ACCC proposal for a speed and performance review of the NBN, which IA has supported, is “gaining traction and the media is starting to highlight stories that demonstrate a systemic implementation issue”.
And, citing again previous comments that Australia continues to fall in global average speed rankings and hovers around number 10 in the Asia Pacific region, Patton reminded the AGM that last week’s Essential poll found that 88% of respondents see the Internet becoming an essential service, like water and electricity.
“However, when asked to comment on the Government's copper model versus the Opposition's fibre model, around a third said they didn’t know. To me this says that our job is not finished,” Patton says.
{loadposition peter}Patton covered a number of activities by the IA over the past year which he says have garnered more interest from media and key industry stakeholders.
“We are now seeing our policies being more actively debated in both the technical press and mainstream media. A number of government departments and agencies are now calling on us for expert advice and assistance. This includes the ACCC, the Digital Transformation Office and the Productivity Commission.”
Patton also referred to IA’s recommendations to the Productivity Commission that the telco Universal Service Obligation USO) be expanded to include data and that the government should provide the necessary funding.
“Our ISP SIG has worked in conjunction with the Communications Alliance and finally secured the release of the $128 million package of support for the implementation of the Data Retention Scheme. That said, we continue to point out that the legislation is fundamentally flawed and note that the government’s funding package does not fully compensate ISP’s for their capex outlays and provides no ongoing operational funding. In that basis we have pointed to the likelihood that consumers will end up footing the bill via increased Internet access charges.”
And, on site-blocking, Patton makes the point that IA continues to campaign against the use of site-blocking as a means of dealing with the unlawful downloading of content over the Internet, reiterating IA’s view that the best solution to the issue is for the overseas rights holders to stop using “geoblocking” to price-gouge and to make their content more readily accessible.
Joining with the Communications Alliance, UTS Sydney and a range of industry groups to help establish the Internet of Things Alliance of Australia (IOTAA) is seen by Patton and IA as having the potential to significantly increase Australia’s economic performance and also assist with social development.
Patton tells the AGM that IA now stands at a cross road and appeals to members to indicate how it should proceed and help IAacquire the resources to further increase its effectiveness.