ISPA Awards – testing deadlines passed
The 15th ISPAs are less than 3 months away and all deadlines have passed, the technical testing is complete, entry forms have been written and judges confirmed.
We will reveal shortlists in all 15 categories soon, so keep an eye on the @ISPAUK twitter feed as well as the press section on our site. Tickets will be going on sale as well next month.
There are other ways to get involved in the awards. Sponsorship of individual awards is still available, and our updated sponsorship pack is here.
Fulfilment specialists NetLynk Direct are sponsoring the Internet Hero and Internet Villain Awards, whilst Magrathea are sponsoring the Internet Telephony category.
To learn more about the awards, please go to www.ispaawards.org.uk.
Confusion over Draft Communications Data Bill
There has been some confusion about the Draft Communications Data Bill, or 'snooper’s bill' as it has been labelled in the press.
ISPA, and several ISPA members have made their concerns about the bill public, contributing significantly to the Joint Committee that criticised the bill.
After the Deputy Prime Minister announced his opposition to many aspects of the bill, ISPA wants the government to clarify its position, and whether the bill will feature in the Queen's Speech on May 8.
Internet Bills get Royal Assent
Several bills that ISPA's policy team have been working on achieved Royal Assent as this session of parliament draws to a close.
The Growth & Infrastructure Bill will make it easier for broadband to be rolled out in rural areas, and doing away with much of the bureaucracy and cost of getting more of the UK hooked up to broadband.
The Crime & Courts Bill was given Royal Assent, and included a clause to regulate blogs in line with the Leveson Report recommendations. The bill exempted blogs that made less than £2 million from press regulation.
Enterprise & Regulatory Reform Bill sees some of the Hargreaves Report recommendations bought in to streamline and improve the copyright process.
ISPA Members get to contribute to our policy work, and receive a weekly Political Monitor to update them on the latest activities in parliament, government, the EU and Ofcom.
A few spaces left for the Spring Dinner
Members are invited to ISPA's spring dinner on May 9.
The dinner, at Kasturi in Central London will let members meet ISPA council and Secretariat and discuss 'Broadband rollout in 2013', the Draft Communications Data Bill and 'What keeps IT execs up at night?
The dinner costs £35 and is exclusive to ISPA members. To register for this dinner please email admin@ispa.org.uk.
Upcoming policy Forum on online safety
ISPA is running a free policy forum in Central London on online safety. The event will have two panel discussions followed by a reception.
Panel 1 has of experts from industry and parent groups and will discuss:
• How effective are the different solutions?
• What are the implications of turning on ISP filters by default?
• Who decides what is blocked and why?
Panel 2 will look at the wider issues, with government and child protection specialists discussing:
• How do we measure success?
• What should the next steps be?
• What role does digital literacy play in the child protection debate?
Event details
Time: 23 May 3:00-5:30pm,
Place: Addleshaw Goddard, 60 Chiswell Street, London, EC1Y 4AG
You can RSVP by emailing admin@ispa.org.uk
Event offers
ISPA members get free and discounted places at external events and conferences. You can go to our calendar here for details of upcoming events.
New members
ISPA welcomes two new members, Origin Broadband and Bridge Partners.
ISPA in the news
ISPA has featured heavily in the press since the last newsletter, with the Draft Communications Data Bill being the dominant issue.
On Communications Data, we had coverage in The Guardian,
Thinkbroadband, ISP Review, Broadband Choices, The Inquirer (and here again), Telecom Paper and Tech Week Europe.
Telecom Tiger also spoke to ISPA on cyber-security.
Full coverage can be seen here.