IrelandOffline's meeting with the Department of Public Enterprise.

LegacyUser

Report on meeting with the Department of Public Enterprise.
15th June


David Long and Martin Harran met with Éamonn Molloy, Assistant Secretary in the Department of Public Enterprise responsible for Communications. The
meeting was arranged by Mary O'Rourke following our meeting with her last
week, with the purpose of informing the Department of the objectives and
policies of IrelandOffline.

Éamonn was very interested in how the group had come together and felt that
it was extremely useful to have a body speaking for the group of users that
we represent. He also emphasised that the Department have an open door
policy for a group such as IrelandOffline.

We spoke first about unmetered access and made him aware in particular of
the difference between the Irish and UK situations. We emphasised the point
that unmetered access does not require any further investment, it is simply
a matter of Eircom agreeing flat rate interconnection charges with ISP's and
other telecommunications companies. We pointed out that although the ODTR
has issued the 1892 and 1893 numbers for flat rate internet call access
origination (FRIACO) nothing has happened regarding actual implementation.
He felt that this is an area where we should meet with the ODTR as quickly
as possible, and undertook to contact the ODTR on our behalf to arrange this
meeting.

We then went on to discuss broadband and its availability throughout
Ireland. Éamonn pointed out that there are some very real practical problems
with broadband which have yet to be resolved and which his Department is
currently working on with the telecommunication companies. Again he stated
that he felt a user group such as IrelandOffline could play a role in
encouraging the roll out of broadband. He would like to meet with us again
in about two weeks time along with some people from the Dept who specialise
in this area.

Once again we felt that this was a very worthwhile meeting which has moved
our campaign forward.

LegacyUser

Great stuff. Was there any discussion of the LLU issue? Did he go into any detail about these technical problems? I realise time would have been a limitation here.

LegacyUser

Well done lads. not gonna much but I did reply to the post at ie.comp Just keep up the good work.

LegacyUser

Well done lads. not gonna much but I did reply to the post at ie.comp Just keep up the good work.

LegacyUser

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Skeptic1:
Great stuff. Was there any discussion of the LLU issue? Did he go into any detail about these technical problems? I realise time would have been a limitation here.</font>

There was a *bit* of discussion on LLU but you are right, there were time limitations.
This was very much a "getting to know you meeting" and we wanted to touch on as many issues as possible.

I think the fact that he wants us to meet him again along with people in the Department who specifically deal with technical issues means we must have made a good impression

Martin

LegacyUser

Great. I know there are some very technically minded people on the committee. It looks as if great progress is being made.

dahamsta

Good job lads (and lasses), keep up the good work. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm in the middle of an email to Commissioner Erkki Liikanen...

adam

LegacyUser

Well done.!! In the meantime, any more reports of Esat 'cutoffs' ?? Approaching the 24th. !! Would like to make 'other' plans if they are going to cut me off. !!

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LegacyUser

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by angryuser:
Well done.!! In the meantime, any more reports of Esat 'cutoffs' ??
</font>

Feedback from East is that they can't really do anything on cutoffs unless there is some breakthrough on FRIACO.

We're working hard on this as you can see, but it's unlikley to happen that quickly so I guess you have to look for something else short term.



Martin

sceptre

Civil service involvement. Great! I've always held the theory that the civil service are really running the country (indoctrinated by watching too much Yes Minister).

Well done guys.

LegacyUser

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by angryuser:
Well done.!! In the meantime, any more reports of Esat 'cutoffs' ?? Approaching the 24th. !! Would like to make 'other' plans if they are going to cut me off. !!
</font>

Yeah, I've been bumped

My billing date was the 16th, and when I tried to connect this morning, it came back engaged even before I had the whole number dialled. At the moment, I'm using one of the free connections, but I'm hoping to opt for Chorus Powernet if I can get it.

Mike

LegacyUser

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Delphi91:
Yeah, I've been bumped

My billing date was the 16th, and when I tried to connect this morning, it came back engaged even before I had the whole number dialled. At the moment, I'm using one of the free connections, but I'm hoping to opt for Chorus Powernet if I can get it.

Mike

</font>

yeah i've been bumped too. My billing cycle is the 16th, although i could connect earlier this morning around 10:30 ... but after 12:00 or so all i got was a busy signal

oh well ....