Noel O'Flynn Oireachtas Committee chairman in today's Irish Times.

SkepticOne

Some Points from the article:

1. Computer Scrappage Scheme to encourage internet access.

   "It is clearly both a demand and supply problem. About two-thirds of households have computers but only 38 per cent of these access the internet. It is likely that many of these computers are outdated and cannot connect to the internet, nevermind high speed access."
   
   Under this scheme, the computer industry and the Government would work together to promote the benefits of broadband internet and offer consumers a cheap way to get online, he says.

2. PC's in schools.

   "We should have a PC on every school desk by 2010 for fourth, fifth and sixth years. By this stage everything will be done on the internet and people will have to be completely computer literate."

3. Eircom is not entirely to blame.

   Mr O'Flynn's committee heard from user groups and companies which blamed the incumbent firm, Eircom, for the slow introduction of broadband infrastructure in the Republic. But he is loath to apportion blame on a single party.
   
   "In fairness, Eircom has pulled out all the stops in the past six months to roll out DSL... I think this change in attidude was brought about by increased competition from satelite and wireless broadband technologies," he says.

4. More coordination of the networks to make use of existing broadband
   resources.

   "There is so much fibre optic cable in the ground that is unlit and this could be managed better whether it is in public or private hands... there needs to be more co-ordination of the networks.

5. Eircom sell-off a mistake.

   Mr O'Flynn admits the Government made a big mistake in selling off Eircom's local loop telecoms infrastructure when the company was floated. This lesson has been learned and there is no question of selling off the ESB's infrastructure, he says.

6. MSE to manage more than just fibre-rings.

   He also floats the idea that all the fibre infrastructure in the State could be managed by a proposed new management services entity (MSE).
   
   Certainly the MSE's role should not be confined to just managing the new regional metropolitan area networks, which are being built by the Govermnet for EUR 60 million.

7. ESB telecom should reduce prices.

   "Mr O'Flynn says there is a concern that the ESB's new EUR 50 million State wideb roadband network will be under-used unless it reduces its prices for customers.

I agree that Eircom aren't entirely to blame. They are merely taking advantage of a situation handed to them by the Government. O'Flynn admits this was a mistake.

I don't agree with the computer scrappage scheme. Unless there's been research to the contrary, I would imagine that most computers are capable of dial-up networking. Early pentiums and even 486's should be fine for this. The money would be better spent elsewhere. I would attribute the low internet usage to the legacy of high prices and poor service that people have had to pay.

I don't agree that Eircom's "change of attitude" was due to Satelite and wireless competition. Neither of these are extensive enough. It was due to the introduction of FRIACO.

It's slightly depressing that he hasn't really touched on the core of the problem which is lack of competition - a problem which still exists and leads to the current high prices and delays in availability.

Mr_Man

Quote

Mr O'Flynn's committee heard from user groups and companies which blamed the incumbent firm, Eircom, for the slow introduction of broadband infrastructure in the Republic. But he is loath to apportion blame on a single party.

"In fairness, Eircom has pulled out all the stops in the past six months to roll out DSL... I think this change in attidude was brought about by increased competition from satelite and wireless broadband technologies," he says.

End Quote

Jaysus I wouldn't like to see what things would be like if Eircom were obstructive or incompetent

M.

Ripwave

Originally posted by SkepticOne
I don't agree with the computer scrappage scheme. Unless there's been research to the contrary, I would imagine that most computers are capable of dial-up networking. Early pentiums and even 486's should be fine for this. The money would be better spent elsewhere. I would attribute the low internet usage to the legacy of high prices and poor service that people have had to pay.

A "VAT-back" scheme for replacement computers might make sense - provide a 0%VAT voucher for any scrapped computer. It wouldn't actually cost the government much (though EU rules might make it impractical).

Getting RTE to stop running "child porn on the internet" stories a couple of times a week, though, might be the best way to increase online access;)

sceptre

Originally posted by SkepticOne
Unless there's been research to the contrary, I would imagine that most computers are capable of dial-up networking. Early pentiums and even 486's should be fine for this.

I've seen Commodore 64s connect to the net. OK, there aren't any decent browsers that'll run on a C64 but the computer scrappage scheme is something of a red herring as a solution to Net access suggested by someone who hasn't a clue.

But he is loath to apportion blame on a single party.

Good. So am I. I blame Eircom and the government pretty much equally. There's been too much stalling between these two fools.