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:

---

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.

---

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.

---

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.

pete

well it's due to be finished at 5 - i'll be popping in and out to the TV between now and then.

ando

I'd love to see Philip nolan right now !! lol

pete

Originally posted by pete
well it's due to be finished at 5 - i'll be popping in and out to the TV between now and then.

i don't have access to the room right now - someone's having a meeting.

most inconsiderate of them, if you ask me

timod

Heard on 2fm news at 4:00 that fines are up to €4million or 10%

Mountjoy Mugger

If that's the way it's heading, I think we're up the creek. €4 million isn't going to hurt.

pete

that depends on what the next few words are - "whichever is greater" or "whichever is lesser"

timod

Could be "whichever is greater"

I think that was part of the original proposal, but 2fm didn't mention that.

Mountjoy Mugger

It just worries me, not waiting for whatever words come next, that they mention 4 million at all. It's a deja vu sort of feeling. Here's hoping though....

SkepticOne

I'm pretty sure that was from an earlier debate, not the current one. I'm also pretty sure that it's "whichever is greater".

pete

All i've been able to catch so far is what seemed to be bit of wrangling over the commission, and amendment #3 being withdrawn.

SkepticOne

That's bad news because the one we're interested in is #8 and the whole thing will be guillotined by (I'm told) 6:15.

sikes

where are the lists of ammandments i know thats not spelt right

pete

just checked and they're still on amendment #7

the word filibuster springs to mind

SkepticOne

Originally posted by sikes
where are the lists of ammandments i know thats not spelt right

SECTION 2

1. In page 9, subsection (1), lines 12 and 13, to delete A(other than section 46 and Part 5)@.

CAn tAire Fiontar Poiblí.

SECTION 4

2. In page 10, line 14, to delete A(other than section 46 and Part 5)@.

CAn tAire Fiontar Poiblí.

SECTION 9

3. In page 11, subsection (3), line 21, to delete Ato an officer of the Minister@.

CJim Higgins.

SECTION 10

4. In page 11, subsection (1)(b), line 33, before Aradio@ to insert Ause of@.

CJim Higgins.

5. In page 12, subsection (1), lines 1 to 4, to delete paragraph (e).

CJim Higgins.

SECTION 12

6. In page 12, subsection (1)(c), line 36, to delete Aa@ and substitute Aan efficient and competitive@.

CJim Higgins.


SECTION 12Ccontinued.

7. In page 12, subsection (1), between lines 38 and 39, to insert the following:

A(d) to promote the use of the internet at affordable prices.@.

CJim Higgins.

8. In page 14, between lines 24 and 25, to insert the following subsection:

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.@.

CJim Higgins.

SECTION 25

9. In page 19, lines 33 to 47, and in page 20, lines 1 to 10, to delete subsection (1) and substitute the following:

A(1) The Commission shall introduce a Code of Practice which shall apply to the Commissioners, staff, consultants, advisors or other person engaged by the Commission to cover the control and disclosure of potential conflicts of interest and the ethical behaviour to apply to these persons. The Code of Practice shall be submitted to the Minister for approval.@.

CJim Higgins.

10. In page 20, lines 37 to 46, to delete subsections (5) to (7).

CJim Higgins.

Section opposed.

CJim Higgins.

SECTION 35

Section proposed to be deleted.

CAn tAire Fiontar Poiblí.

SECTION 38

Section opposed.

CJim Higgins.

SECTION 45

11. In page 30, subsection (1)(b), line 9, to delete ARegulation@ and substitute Aregulation@.

CAn tAire Fiontar Poiblí.


SECTION 45Ccontinued.

12. In page 30, subsection (1)(ii)(II), line 22, to delete Amake to the Commission a payment of i1,000@ and substitute Apay to the Commission such sum as the Commission may prescribe@.

CJim Higgins.

SECTION 47

13. In page 31, line 23, to delete Aon@ and substitute A, on@.

CAn tAire Fiontar Poiblí.

14. In page 31, between lines 34 and 35, to insert the following:

A(3) Appeals against decisions of the Commission shall be conducted only by way of judicial review. Pending the outcome of the judicial review proceedings the decision of the Commission shall remain in force unless the court decides that it should be suspended.@.

CJim Higgins.

SECTION 48

15. In page 31, before section 48, but in Part 3, to insert the following new section:

A48.CThe Commission may request a payment as a condition for not proceeding with the prosecution.@.

CJim Higgins.

SECTION 53

16. In page 34, between lines 28 and 29, to insert the following subsections:

A(2) In this Part a reference to the Commission shall be construed before the establishment day as a reference to the Director.

(3) For the avoidance of doubt this Part comes into operation on the passing of this Act.@.

CAn tAire Fiontar Poiblí.

SECTION 54

17. In page 35, subsection (4)(b), line 21, to delete A1995@ and substitute A2002@.

CAn tAire Fiontar Poiblí.

SECTION 58

18. In page 40, subsection (6), line 28, to delete Ahim or her@ and substitute Ait@.

CAn tAire Fiontar Poiblí.

pete

i withdraw my filibuster remark


jim higgins seems to using his powers for the forces of good, not evil - he's making all the running on this one

Dustaz

I only just got rid of my clients 5 minutes ago, still in work. im really annoyed i didnt get a chance to email my tds about this, oh well. Heres hoping.

Whats the latest pete?

Dustaz

Im on the phone to my contacts in LHTV as we speak. They are debating section 8


ITS IN!!!!!!!

Edit: Err, its been included in the committee stage, dont know if thats whats important or not. It still has to be ratified.

Could someone confirm if this is being debated in the dail or commitee rooms?

SkepticOne

Say again?

pete

Originally posted by Dustaz
Whats the latest pete?

The latest is my boss has shut the f*cking door.

great timing.

dahamsta

Section 35 is about "Cooperation between Commission and Competition Authority" - why would FG be opposed to this? Will the mandates amendment or another amendment cater for this? Will FG withdraw this amendment if the mandates amendment doesn't pass?

<adam gets panicky>

Apart from that, cool. Fingers crossed, they only have a half hour left.

Isn't it wonderful to be so involved (or at least /feel/ so involved) in the democratic process? Anyone noticed how many people are browsing the IO forum?

adam