Broadband News
Tue, 13th Jul 2010
yARN: Conroy's cleverest move yet on the filter
When the mandatory ISP filter got delayed last week, many detractors saw it as a big win for the anti-filter movement. But what seemed to some a humiliating back down is more likely to be a well-timed move by the Communications Minister, Senator Stephen Conroy.
Source: ARN
Mon, 12th Jul 2010
Filter response shows Conroy the way
On Friday, three of Australia's largest internet service providers (ISPs) simultaneously announced that they would filter some internet content from reaching their customers.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Do you support the Internet Filter?
In an attempt to gauge the real level of support for or against Sen. Conroy's Internet Filter proposal, a large number of IT media outlets are supporting a combined survey.
Source: iTWire
How the tech industry defused the internet filter
Howls of IT industry protest may have alerted the wider community to the Federal Government's plans to filter the internet, but it was diplomacy that secured the delay in its implementation.
Source: iTnews Australia
No opt-out for Optus, Telstra filter
Two of the three major broadband providers that have voluntarily signed up to block child abuse websites have confirmed today that customers would not be able to opt out of the providers' new filter, meaning customers may turn to smaller providers that have revealed they will not join the block in the immediate future.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Internode, iiNet, VHA won't filter for now
National broadband provider Internode this afternoon stated that -- unlike Telstra, Optus and Primus -- it would not voluntarily filter its customers' internet for websites that are known to contain child pornography and child abuse material, while iiNet said it would wait to see the detail in the proposal and VHA is awaiting a code for the mobile industry.
Source: ARN
Industry reacts to Net filter delay
There were mixed reactions from politicians, industry and lobbyists on Friday to communications minister, Stephen Conroy's revelation that the Government's controversial internet filtering legislation would be delayed for a year while a review was held into the Refused Classification category of content which the filter would block.
Source: Computerworld
NBN 101: The Internet or applications?
The Internet is often seen as a single entity; one point of contact in which all online communication and activity takes place. This is understandable: While the Internet itself is made up of thousands of inter-connected networks, systems and applications, it usually appears as a single item on your monthly bill.
Source: Computerworld
Point Cook stats reveal desire for fibre
More than 300 houses covered by a fibre-to-the-home trial network in Point Cook near Melbourne have traded their copper lines for superfast broadband, Telstra said.
Source: iTnews Australia
Conroy's filter masterstroke
Communications Minister Stephen Conroy's Friday filter announcement was obviously designed to get the toxic topic of internet filtering out of the news before the election, giving an impression of progress without a real policy change. Clever, but will the strategy work?
Source: ZDNet Australia
Sun, 11th Jul 2010
Internet filter: we're guilty until proven guilty
It would seem that Senator Conroy is on a mission to shut down the courts. First step is the Internet filter - with that in place, it won't be possible to break the law related to banned material. Easy, no more cases before the courts. What's next?
Source: iTWire
Sat, 10th Jul 2010
Q&A: National Party Senator, Barnaby Joyce, on ISP filtering, Telstra and the NBN
The leader of The Nationals in the Senate, Barnaby Joyce, is a forthright Queensland Senator who supports the ISP filter and opposes the National Broadband Network. He talks about the differences between his party and the Liberals and why he regrets not separating Telstra.
Source: ARN
Update: Conroy delays Internet filter till next year
The Federal Government's mandatory Internet filtering plans has been pushed back to next year.
Source: ARN
Fri, 09th Jul 2010
Google welcomes web filter retreat
Google has welcomed a delay in Stephen Conroy's controversial mandatory web filtering scheme but maintains the plan is still too "broad" in scope.
Source: Australian IT
Government delays mandatory net filter by a year
Stephen Conroy has capitulated to critics of his automated internet censorship scheme and will delay its compulsory implementation by a year to allow a review of censorship rules.
Source: APC Magazine
Telstra, Optus, Primus to filter child porn
Three of Australia's largest internet service providers have agreed to voluntarily block online child pornography material ahead of the federal government's planned internet filtering plan.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Conroy delays ISP filter until after content review
Communications Minister Stephen Conroy will delay the introduction of mandatory ISP-level filtering until a proposed review of refused classification (RC) guidelines is completed.
Source: iTnews Australia
Broadband fibre via sewer mooted for Brisbane
A successful trial of a system for running fibre optic cables through sewers has been completed in Brisbane, and a large-scale rollout may follow.
Source: iTWire
ISPs cry foul over Telstra 'price squeeze'
Following a Telstra revamp of its retail DSL pricing, competitors are considering lodging complaints with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) over an alleged "price squeeze" between the company's wholesale and retail margins.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Opposition mounts for Gillard's filter push
Members of the parliamentary cyber-safety committee have criticised new Prime Minister Julia Gillard for standing behind her party's controversial internet filtering proposal.
Source: iTnews Australia
Barnaby Joyce gets behind an ISP filter
Maverick Nationals Senator, Barnaby Joyce, has revealed his strong support for the filter and dissatisfaction over rural and regional broadband.
Source: ARN
Thu, 08th Jul 2010
Maps: Second release of NBN Co sites
Darwin, Perth, Geraldton, Mandurah, Townsville, Toowoomba, inner-city Brisbane, Adelaide, Western Sydney, Coffs Harbour, Melbourne and Bacchus Marsh among those to get NBN fibre services in 2011.
Source: iTnews Australia
Gillard should halt filter plan: Greens
The Greens have urged Prime Minister Julia Gillard to put the controversial ISP filtering plan on hold or risk affecting Labor's election chances.
Source: Australian IT
Filter cops criticism in cyber-safety commitee
Telecommunications providers and Internet advocate groups have called for more funding to educate Australian Federal Police (AFP) and state law enforcement on lawful data interception and cyber-safety.
Source: Computerworld
NBN Co releases 14 new trial sites
NBN Co has announced 14 new sites next in line to be strung up with fibre broadband services as part of the rollout of the National Broadband Network.
Source: iTnews Australia
Labor ups NBN trial sites
The Gillard government has rushed ahead with its NBN plans even though the project will be cancelled if it loses the next election.
Source: Australian IT
TIO mulls Twitter as complaints gateway
The Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman (TIO) is exploring Twitter and Facebook as potential new avenues for consumers to file complaints against their telecommunications or internet service provider.
Source: iTnews Australia
Vodafone and 3 gets new mobile broadband plans
Vodafone Hutchinson Australia (VHA) has enhanced its mobile broadband plans.
Source: ARN
Foxtel shelves Telstra net TV deal
Foxtel has scrapped a controversial plan to enter the budding internet television market through an exclusive deal with Telstra.
Source: Australian IT
Gillard to stick with web filter despite disquiet
The Prime Minister will push ahead with controversial plans for a mandatory internet filter despite acknowledging public concerns that it will interfere with "legitimate use".
Source: SMH