Stuff (can't think of anything better, ok?)

dahamsta

From ENN, and of course originally from the Irish Times:

The Irish Times reports that the Communications Bill could be published within the next few weeks. According to Department of Public Enterprise general secretary Brendan Tuohy, the Bill is nearly ready to be published and urgently needs a reading early in the New Year. However, this is now entirely dependent on the Dail making the Bill a priority. The Bill would change the structure and powers of the ODTR and will also have the power to force companies to comply with EU legislation regarding unbundling the local loop.

Also, have a read off this Analysys press release about a report on FRIACO (Flat-Rate Internet Access Call Origination), the model used in the UK to provide flat-rate services to OLO's (Other Licenced Operators). In a nutshell, it says it works and that it strengthens the market. Are you listening Eircom? Esat? Your repeated claims that there isn't a viable business model for flat-rate Internet access in Ireland just got flushed down the toilet. We'll be in touch shortly for a response.

adam

Fergus

According to Department of Public Enterprise general secretary Brendan Tuohy, the Bill is nearly ready to be published and urgently needs a reading early in the New Year.

Hmm.. the letters to TDs must be working

neverhappen

Hmm.. the letters to TDs must be working

My read is that the civil servants are telling their political masters that all their work is done and its just up to the politicians to push this important bill through. Still no move by the politicians to do so though. :mad:

yellum

Very interesting. Is another letter writing campaign needed to lobby for steroids for the regulator in the bill ?

aidan_dunne

That report on FRIACO confirms everything we've been saying, and screaming at Eircom, for ages. FRIACO IS viable if Eircom would pull their heads out from their ar$e$ and just implement it.

Okay, okay, I know. Initally Eircom would loose some money on it because charging £20 per month, for example, is a hell of a lot less than £200 worth of internet calls on your phone bill. However, as this report and reports on the uptake of net access in the UK since unmetered access was released shows, more and more people would get connected if an unmetered product was available and this would shortly make up the difference in monetary terms.

We have been telling this to Eircom and everybody else for ages with no response except the usual comment of it not being "economically viable". Well, if it's viable in even Third World countries, why the hell isn't it viable here? Pure out and out greed, that's why.

I bet you we could all e-mail or post copies of this report to Eircom till the cows came home and they would still bleat on about it not being economically viable. At this stage I feel as if we're all banging our heads against the wall and wonder if we will ever get it into the thick, empty heads of the people in Eircom. Come on Eircom, Esat and eerybody else. The proof is there for you to read, FRIACO IS viable, DOES increase the numbers using the net and IS vital to the economy. Give us unmetered access and give it to us NOW! Give us something to REALLY look forward to this Christmas.

PiE

They already know that!

It is, as you said, out and out greed that's stopping them implementing it.

dahamsta

It is, as you said, out and out greed that's stopping them implementing it.

Saddest of all, in the face of the facts, it's misguided and entirely illogical greed.

adam

aidan_dunne

Originally posted by dahamsta
It is, as you said, out and out greed that's stopping them implementing it.

Saddest of all, in the face of the facts, it's misguided and entirely illogical greed.

adam

Hey, who said Eircom were ever logical! lol

Lemming

Originally posted by aidan_dunne

Hey, who said Eircom were ever logical! lol

Hmmmmm ... the words "Eircom" and "Logical" don't sit well in the same sentence. It's just not gramatically correct!!

Oooo how my old English teachers would have a hissy fit!! teeheehee