ISPA Responds to Initial Obligations Code Consultation -
ISPA calls for soft launch of the code
ISPA has responded to Ofcom's consultation on the initial obligations Code and is asking for a soft launch of the Code due to lack of consultation time. The Code is due to come in to full effect in January 2011 but ISPA believes that this is too soon for it to be effective.
Nicholas Lansman, ISPA Secretary General said, "A soft launch of the Code will mean that a more effective, proportionate and fair Code can be developed on the basis of early experience of a notifications system. This will provide Parliament with opportunities for scrutiny before a fully-fledged Code is introduced.
He continued, "Ofcom has been put in a difficult position by the Act in terms of the timetable it has been handed, but ISPA is concerned that a code that is rushed out will have a disproportionate impact on the Internet industry and its consumers."
ISPA is worried that too much is being put on the shoulders of ISPs. To ensure that the code is fair and robust Ofcom needs to address the concerns raised in the consultation process by ISPA.
ISPA publishes its Roadmap for the Internet
ISPA calls for Government to review coordination of internet policy across Whitehall
ISPA has launched its Internet Roadmap, which outlines how ISPA sees the Internet developing over the course of the current parliament and includes eight recommendations to Government on how they can help us achieve this.
The eight recommendations are:
1. Government should review how it coordinates Internet policy across all government departments to promote a cohesive and informed approach to Internet regulation
2. A commitment to defend the status of intermediary service providers in relation to caching, hosting and as mere conduits under the e-Commerce Directive
3. The removal of barriers to help promote innovative new online content distribution models
4. A proportionate approach to communications and interception data that balances the requirements of law enforcement, demands on communication providers and users’ right to privacy
5. A clear regulatory environment that rewards investment in digital infrastructure to ensure access to faster broadband for all
6. A review of the current treatment of dark fibre assets with the aim of reducing the obstacles to small scale deployments of dark fibre networks
7. Change procurement strategies to encourage future proofed solutions and the adoption of new technologies, such as IPv6
8. An effective partnership approach to online safety between industry, Government, users and law enforcement with public bodies receiving adequate resources.
The full roadmap can be found here - http://ow.ly/2enT5.
Industry Crowns Top Service Providers at ISPA Awards
Industry crowned the top service providers at a lavish evening in London this month. The 14 awards reflected the broad nature of the Internet sector and included prizes for access, mobile, hosting, voice, digital inclusion and internet safety.
On the night, service providers expressed their views on the passing of the Digital Economy Act with Lord Mandelson winning the gong for Internet Villain and Tom Watson MP awarded the Internet Hero Award for leading the opposition in parliament against the Act.
Be Broadband collected the highly prized Best Consumer Broadband award and Claranet achieved the double by winning both the Best Business Broadband and Best Business Customer Service awards.
Nicholas Lansman, ISPA Secretary General said, "Thanks to all attendees, sponsors and judges for making this such a successful night and well done to all the winners and finalists. Industry is constantly working to improve and innovate and the ISPAs is an important occasion to recognise these achievements."
For details of the winners, photos and video go to www.ispaawards.org.uk
ISPA Awards Sponsor Plusnet takes the next step to super-fast broadband
Plusnet recently reached the next milestone on the road to super-fast broadband, as the first customer in the UK to take part in BT’s Fibre to the Premises (FTTP) trial has now been connected - and we’re proud to announce that he’s a Plusnet customer.
FTTP offers speeds of up to 100Mbps down and currently up to 15Mbps up (the upstream will be increased later in the trial). Unlike existing DSL broadband services there’s no copper involved in the connection - an engineer will run fibre optic cable direct to your home. As such certain limitations on copper such as the speed decreasing the further you are from the exchange are no longer an issue.
Speeds this fast, once widely available, could allow services such as on-demand TV and movies to fully enter the mainstream, as well as pave the way for brand new, bandwidth heavy services such as streaming gaming.
Whilst this trial may still be a fair way off to completion, it’s an important step which we’re very excited about. We’ve have been working very closely with BT for some time to get the first customer with an up to 100Mb/s service online, and we’ve got 12 more customers lined up to take part in the Milton Keynes area.
Get more information on the trial and follow the latest developments.
ISPA In the News
ISPA was quoted in the news this month on issues ranging from broadband, copyright, the Digital Economy Act and complaints resolution.