From: "Enok Kippersund" <enkipper-AT-sn.no> Subject: Fw: save the australian internet Date: Fri, 28 Mar 1997 11:01:10 +0100 ---------- > From: Karen Melzack <melzack-AT-IINET.NET.AU> > To: CYBERMIND-AT-LISTSERV.AOL.COM > Subject: save the australian internet > Date: 28. mars 1997 10:10 > > http://www.ozlink.net/ > > On March 25, 1997, the Australian Parliament passed legislation that > threatens to shut down the Internet in Australia. The Telecommunications > Bill opens the way for Telstra to charge for timed data calls. As the > source of connectivity for hundreds of ISPs in Australia, this will allow > Telstra to strangle Australia's ISP industry by raising their charges. In > turn, these charges will be passed on to the consumer. Using the Internet > through today's ISPs will become so expensive that very few people will > be able to afford it. Companies will lose their clients and go out of > business. Gradually, Telstra will take over Australia's ISP community, > and the age of affordable Internet access will end. > > As Ramin Marzbani, Principal of www.consult, Australia's leading > Internet analysts, remarked, "Telstra are very smart and well-prepared. > The ISPs don't have a chance". > > > How can this happen? > > The Telecommunications Bill allows for the provision of timed local data > calls for businesses. In the weeks leading up to the passage of the bill, > Communications Minister Senator Richard Alston attempted to quell > debate on this issue by stating that residential customers would continue > to have access to untimed data calls. This is an act of deception. While > the originator of a data call could be immune from direct time charges, > the recipient, namely the ISP, will not. The ISP will be billed for the time > a user connects, and will then add these charges to their bill. Consumers > already pay enough for Internet access alone. Adding time charges will > increase the overall cost of accessing the Internet to unacceptable levels. > > > What will happen to the Internet? > > The introduction of timed data calls is a calculated move that is designed > to increase the profits of Telstra at the expense of the rest of the nation. > This will improve Telstra's attractiveness to its investors, who are likely to > be foreign-owned telecommunications companies. > > At a time when Australia is suffering from high unemployment and > stagnation in our industries, the federal government has struck a blow at > one of the fastest growing industries in Australia. > > Australia is one of the heaviest users of the Internet in the world. There > are more than 470 Internet Service Providers. The industry directly > employs 14,000 people and indirectly employs 60,000. Furthermore, it > helps businesses with their commercial communications. > > Thousands of people use the Internet as a means of overcoming > disabilities, medical problems or alienation due to beliefs or lifestyles. > Internet users in rural communities and isolated properties will also suffer. > > The Internet also saves on the use of paper, making it an environmentally > friendly method of communications. This, and other benefits, will all be > lost as the Internet becomes unaffordable. > > As Anne Davies wrote in the Sydney Morning Herald (27th March > 1997): > > "The 470 Internet Service Providers have been outraged by > the Government's decision to allow timed data calls for > business, claiming that Telstra will use the new freedom to > put them out of business. Telstra competes with Internet > Service Providers directly through its Big Pond product. > However, it is unlikely that Senator Alston's guarantee will > placate the ISP industry."
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