IMPORTANT: Flat-rate ammendment to Bill

SkepticOne

There are many ammendments to the Bill this afternoon.

Of interest to us will be

Section 12 A(8) The Commission may require an operator to provide other operators with bitstream services and flat-rate interconnection services and set prices for these services. The Commission may exercise this power at its own initiative, or at the request of an operator.

Note: this is an opposition ammendment. It would help our cause if you could both email and FAX Government TDs not to oppose this ammendment.

For email addresses and FAX numbers try:
http://www.rte.ie/news/dailguide/

If the email addresses above don't work, try firstname.lastname@oireachtas.irlgov.ie or firstname.lastname@oireachtas.ie.

Get the name of your TDs (alphabetically) here:
http://www.irlgov.ie/oireachtas/a-misc/alpha.html

or by consituency here:
http://www.irlgov.ie/debates-97/26jun97/constit.html

Your communication should ask the TD not to oppose the ammendment. Quote the ammendment in full. Say that you are an ordinary Internet user.

Phone numbers for Government TDs can be got from the F.F. constituency page:
http://www.fiannafail.ie/pick_constit.htm


Do it NOW. Time is of the essence.

Kix

I've emailed Frank Fahey and Eammon O Cuiv. The text might be helpful to others:

Minsters Fahey & Ó Cuív,

As Fianna Fail representives for Galway East, I urge you not to oppose the Opposition Ammendment to the Communications (Regulation) Bill, 2002, being debated later today, which reads:

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Section 12 A(8) The Commission may require an operator to provide other operators with bitstream services and flat-rate interconnection services and set prices for these services. The Commission may exercise this power at its own initiative, or at the request of an operator.

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The Irish consumer and Irish businesses are currently deprived of access to the reasonably priced broadband and flat-rate services that all other European countries take for granted. This amendment will ensure that the Commission receives much needed powers to promote competition in this area.

Please note also that although this issue strongly affects the business I work for, I am addressing you in a purely personal capacity on this matter and that my views do not necessarily reflect those of my employer.

Best Regards,

Kieran Coughlan

Interface Development Manager/Systems Administrator
MCS International
Lismoyle House, Merchant's Road, Galway, IRELAND.
Ph: +353-91-566455
Fx: +353-91-566457

timod

ok, sent an email to a load of 'em:

A Chara,

As a follow up to my previous email,

The opposition is tabling the following amendment to the Communications bill today:

Section 12 A(8) The Commission may require an operator to provide other operators with bitstream services and flat-rate interconnection services and set prices for these services. The Commission may exercise this power at its own initiative, or at the request of an operator.

As an ordinary internet user, I would appreciate it if you would NOT oppose the above amendment.

Also, in response to my first mail, I got favourable replies from Brendan Howlin, Jim Mitchell, Noel O'Flynn (FF).

Emmet Stagg is handling matter for the Labour Party, Jim Higgins for FG.

In the Dail this morning, Gay Mitchell expressed concern that it was being rushed though (The order of business was on TG4)

Tim

gandalf

Emailed all my local TD's guess which ones bounced, yes all the government ones. What a bloody joke they are.

Gandalf.

SkepticOne

Try faxing them, Gandalf.

vinnyfitz

This amendment was only published this morning.
The vote will be rushed through this afternoon.
Given the urgency of the situation we have no reason to apologise for ringing up our constituency TDs in the next couple of hours
Ask to speak to them directly.
Leave messages.
Speak to thier assistants asking them to pass the message on or talking to them directly.
Leave your phone number and ask them to phone you back. That way they know it srous and that you are not just spamming them.
If you are lobbying a Minister phone their Department & ask to be put through to the Minister's office and say your piece.

SkepticOne

Do what vinnyfitz says, please. Also, make sure you have sent something by email, fax or both.

Meh

Originally posted by gandalf
Emailed all my local TD's guess which ones bounced, yes all the government ones. What a bloody joke they are.

I think that RTE page is screwed up. My mail got bounced as well because underscores aren't allowed in hostnames. Try replacing the underscore with a hyphen -- this seemed to work for me.

To: eoin_ryan@tourism-sport.irlgov.ie
Dear Mr Ryan,
The following is an amendment due to be debated this afternoon in the
Dail:

Section 12 A(8) The Commission may require an operator to provide other
operators with bitstream services and flat-rate interconnection
services and set prices for these services. The Commission may exercise
this power at its own initiative, or at the request of an operator.

I am an ordinary Internet user and this amendment is vital if Ireland is
to have modern Internet access. At the moment, Internet access in
Ireland lags far behind Europe and America. Eircom have shown little
interest in changing this situation -- they would prefer to protect
their lucrative monopoly and charge the consumer exorbitant prices for
a substandard service. This amendment will allow the ODTR to
mandate the introduction of advanced, cheaper Internet access
products. As a constituent of yours in Dublin South East, I ask you to
please SUPPORT this amendment.
Thank you for your consideration.

spiral5150

Just to say that I've e-mailed GV Wright about the ammendment. He is the FF TD for Dublin North.

Colin.

Dangger

I cannot stress the importance of this amendment.

Esat have said that the reason they can't provide flat rate, is because of the pointlessness of continuous and never ending drawn out negotiations with Eircom.

The ODTR have said that they want flat rate as a product but they do not currently have the powers to mandate it. This amendment must be carried. It is vital.

David Long
Chairman IrelandOffline

Felix Randel

Thats great news

SkepticOne

Originally posted by Felix Randel
Thats great news

Especially if the ammendment is carried

Felix Randel

sorry im finding it hard to get around that site, anybody have phone numbers for dublin north east

Meh

Originally posted by Felix Randel
sorry im finding it hard to get around that site, anybody have phone numbers for dublin north east

http://www.fiannafail.ie/constituency_106.htm

Woods, Michael
13 Kilbarrack Grove, Raheny, Dublin 5
Phone: (01) 8323357(Home) or (01) 8734700(Work)

Brady, Martin
37 Grangemore Drive, Dublin 13.
Phone: (01) 8484509(Home), (01) 6183368(Work)

pencil

I've email all of the TD's in Dublin Central.

http://www.rte.ie/news/dailguide/constituencies/dublincentral.html

Bertie Ahern (FF)
Tony Gregory (Ind)
Marian McGennis (FF)
Jim Mitchell (FG)

Fingers crossed.

bkehoe

Emailed all of the tds for Wexford there now; no bounces yet anyway.

Brendan

Ronan|Raven

Just emailed the Sitting TD'S in Roscommon/Longford

seamus

Sent to Austin Currie(FG) and Mary Harney(PD) (Dub mid-west):

A Chara,
The following is a proposed admendment to the Communication Bill, which is due for debate this afternoon.

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Section 12 A(8) The Commission may require an operator to provide other operators with bitstream services and flat-rate interconnection services and set prices for these services. The Commission may exercise this power at its own initiative, or at the request of an operator.

---

As an Irish internet user it is *vital* that this is added to the communications bill in order to preserve Ireland's place as a technological leader and to prevent further disasters, such as Microsoft's decision to not build another plant here because of poor internet services. The internet situation in Ireland is at a critical turning point, and without this admendment, all future hopes of turning Ireland into an 'E-Hub' will be lost. In these days' current trend, a workforce without internet experience, is no workforce at all.
As a registered voter in your constiuency, I am sure you will make the prudent decision,

Yours,
yada...
yada...
yada...

Done in a bit of a rush.

BTW. How the fook did Mary Harney get a .ie domain??! ie. www.maryharney.ie wtf!!!!! Shady dealings and brown envelopes methinks......

Meh

Originally posted by seamus
BTW. How the fook did Mary Harney get a .ie domain??! ie. www.maryharney.ie wtf!!!!! Shady dealings and brown envelopes methinks......

http://www.domainregistry.ie/policies/namingpolicy.html#section3

3.8 Category 8 - Politician's Name
3.8.1 Availability
This category of name is available where the applicant is a natural person (see Paragraph 2.1) who, at the time of application, is one of the following:

(a) The President of Ireland
(b) A sitting (already elected) or standing (certificate showing that he/she is an official candidate) politician at National (32 counties) or European level, which can be verified by an election officer or as is the case in Northern Ireland a returning officer. (Any politician representing the 32 counties) eg: MEP, TD, or Members of the Northern Ireland Assembly.
(c) A person officially contesting in elections for the above offices immiedately before an election

Seems to be above board...

Gavin

Emailed TD's for kildare North,

Bernard Durkan (FG)
Charlie McCreevy (FF) ( emailed webmaster which was there as his contact address. Didn't have his personal address)
Emmet Stagg (Lab)


Gav

Ronan|Raven

When abouts would we know the results of the bill etc?

pete

Is there any chance devore could put this up as a boards.ie-wide announcement?

It does potentially affect every home internet user in the country after all - not just the one's who read this board / subscribed to the mailing list....

oh yeah and i sent a shout out to my dublin west homies - higgins, lenihan, deasie and that other one...

SkepticOne

David Long (Dangger) is in the public gallery as we, eh, speak. News will travel back to this thread pretty quickly on the status of the amendment and the Bill itself.

pete

if anyone thinks a video of the proceedings would be of use, tell me quick

ando

god I wish I had seen this tread earlier Anyway, Ive posted off a number of emails myself just now... hope it aint that late

SkepticOne

An audio recording would be great, pete.

pete

i'll bung a video in, so

should be able to make and mp3 or real video or whatever quickly enough....

SkepticOne

Thanks pete

aidan_dunne

I've got everything I can cross crossed hoping that this amendment will be added to the Bill and that the Bill will be passed. I'm not a religious person but I'm on my knees praying that this will work out. Here's hoping.

pete

They just started....

here's hoping.

SkepticOne

Can you keep us posted on progress, pete. Particularly when this particular amendment is being debated. Thanks.