Flat-rate/Open letter to the Oireachtas Committee

eircomtribunal

My open letter to the members of the Oireachtas Committee on Communications regarding ComReg's failure to introduce "retail flat-rate dial-up Internet access" as the Feb 2003 DCMNR direction had asked comes to stark conclusions and ends with the question:
How much longer can we afford to stay at the bottom of the leagues of developed nations before the misinformation the Commissioners turn out to save their own asses in the face of failure is seriouisly questioned?

On ComWreck.com a "short version" of the letter is published. The long version, sent to the Oireachtas Committee, can be downloaded from the article.

P.

cgarvey

Well done! This issue needs all the attention it can get. Flat-rate can only mean one thing surely?

eircomtribunal

From todays Sunday Business Post article, by Eamon Quinn

The progress of the Swisscom approach for Eircom will leave most Eircom users cold. Despite years of argument and political pressure, Ireland still has an unacceptably low penetration of broadband. Under various owners, Eircom has been able to parry competition, and made itself more attractive as an acquisition target.

The Citigroup broker that issued last week's sell advice stated in research published last summer that Eircom was dictating the ability of rivals to gain access to its telephone exchanges. In the regulatory war, the broker concluded, Eircom was winning hands down.

“ComReg's inability to enforce structural change - as a result of the appeals process and right to judicial review - has enabled Eircom to reinforce its market position,” said the broker.

“The list of ongoing regulatory reviews, consultation and appeals is long and far-ranging. However, Eircom is well equipped to repel its boarders.”

Eircom's record and that of the regulator, ComReg, continue to be scrutinised.

Last week Eamon Ryan TD tabled a parliamentary question on whether the industry had properly obeyed a 2003 directive of then Minister for Communications Dermot Ahern to implement retail flat-rate dial-up internet access.

Most people in Ireland still access the internet through dial-up telephony rather than broadband.

Peter Weigl, a telecoms campaigner, has argued that the minister's desire to see the clock taken out of using the internet has been stymied by the way that the directive has been implemented, by ComReg and by the industry.

P.

damien

Nicely done Peter.

Tom Young

Peter great job.

I am not sure the figures for the 1893 offering stack up for all other wholesale operators ....guess why? (eircom's NTC - Number Translation Code, regime doesn't make efficient news to route. Never mind the excessive costs to deploy the 1893 billing and use exchange based, dial-up port solutions.)

The question in my head is not why the policy directions weren't executed, but more where are the alternatives? The Citigroup report is a damming indictment of eircom's bahaviour. The markets have spoken and in my mind the rise in price is short.

Keep the pressure on. Eamonn Ryan is probably the last hope in the Sub Committee, he's smart, effective and knows what he's doing.

Further policy directions are the way forward. I'd love to see ComReg and the Compeition Authority messenge now and co-operate under their agreement with the added benefits of the various articles of the Competition Act.

Nolan was quick to mention US policy shifts removing Verizon's obligations on ULL in the US, if fibre was delivered to the home at the TIF Conference two weeks back. Yet, eircom & co are quick to grouse when policy directions do not favour them.

eircom = Risk of Breakdown.