Letters to newspapers

Hannibal_12

I remember people a while ago mentioning letters to editors and such but nothing seems to have happened (perhaps we have developed €ircom syndrome). I thought it was a good idea then and I still do. There is so much information on these boards that could be used to back up our points i.e. reports of how broadband has increased internet usage in the US (Article:Broadband lifestyle) or how we are continually slipping as regards to our status as the "E-Hub". The fact that flat rate is available in so many other countries in Europe but again not in the supposed "E-HUB". I may throw one together myself but I'm bitter and cynical thanks to €ircom or anyone never offering a decent internet experience and the lack of progress on broadband. Maybe someone with a nicer disposition could write it.(I'd put too many hidden digs at €ircom in it.)
On a related note, I notice in the Evening herald on the business section they have a "technophile or technophobe" section, some of you may have seen it. They interview fairly diverse people,bankers,DJ's. When they are asked about the internet there is always a similar theme. Do you use the internet, "yes, its good for accounts, listening to songs etc", complaints about it?, "Yes, too slow, "slow connections". Interesting, this tells me that if more people knew about IOFFL you would get much more support.

skrobe

nice one hannibal_12, it is the best FREE advertising you can get .
i have thought of sending one many times but as you, i think it would sound to sarcastic or jibberish. But today i rang esat about the romours about them offering flatrate by the end of the summer,and guess what , not a f*****g sausage. Its the last straw. I am writing to the irshtimes hopefully 2morrow with a small but angry letter, and if others replyed it would hopefully keep the debate going. im just wondering will ' the umentionable' try and defend themselves or do they just not give a crap at all? :mad:

Dangger

Guys could you give me a ring on this matter my phone no is on the IOFFL site.

Tellox

I can get one in the waterford today...not a really huge paper, but hell, a good few read it..

qwertyup

I have only refrained because in the topic I made about this, Dangger mentioned that he was to have an article in the Irish Times on the topic this Firday (I think), and that that would be a good and logical starting point for discussion.

SkepticOne

I think this is a good idea. We need to get the debate off these boards and into the face of the public at large.

Hannibal_12

This is something i threw together with limited time. Feel free to criticise,suggest,insult,scoff,laugh,cry....at it.
I was attempting to keep it concise, mention both flat rate and broadband without using too much technobabble which isolates people.
I think as someone suggested this should be made sticky and the articles used in whatever way people deem fit(with contributions from whoever wants to write on the subjec. Writing new articles for different publications and keeping a consistent stream of them should increase the publics awareness of IOFFL and as a consequence the terrible state of the internet in Ireland. I have it word format originally.


Sir, - As an avid internet user in Ireland I feel it is necessary to write and inform your readers of the state of access here in Ireland. Firstly the lack of a flat rate product, in which users pay a flat fee per month, is a major stumbling block to those who are conscience of the price of net usage and so utilise it less or not at all. The introduction of such a product as soon as possible is a fundamental to increase internet usage and technological awareness of the population. Failure to do so will make it exceedingly difficult to raise internet usage figures as cost will be the ultimate determining factor. Most of our European counterparts have had flat rate access for many years now and the lack of said service here continues to retard our advancement in this area.
Secondly and perhaps more importantly for the future is the complete lack of broadband internet services. Broadband allows the internet user access at ten times the speed currently available with an always on connection again for a monthly fee. Advantages of such a connection are numerous including but not limited to faster internet browsing, downloading, faster e-mail delivery and the ability to use the internet while receiving or making a voice call. Again in comparison with other countries around the world Ireland is ranked in the bottom 4 out of 30 for broadband penetration according to a report by the OECD (www.oecd.org) entitled “The development of broadband in OECD countries” dated 29th Oct 2001. Broadband internet can come in many variants such as cable or DSL. Neither of these or any other is currently widely available with reasonable pricing at a home consumer level. In fact there are less than 1,000 DSL users in Ireland. The only alternative is a service which has been dubbed Hi-Speed, unfortunately this service only offers a marginal improvement in speed and is using old technology and as such is inferior to real broadband.
I would hope that in the very near future people at the various companies and institutions such as Eircom and the ODTR including the Government will begin making decisions and implementing real internet services for the citizens of the so called “E-Hub”.


I thought it may be too long but alot of letter seem to be quite in depth.

Dangger

I reckon its too long, however we could get it trimmed down. Check out the thread here.

qwertyup

Much as its a pain in the ass if you want to get a letter in the Times it really needs to be blunt and to the point. They just don't print lengthy letters, unless they are on a topic like abortion, and are undersigned by a collective of professors.

As such, it's probably best in any letter attempt to try to address as narrow a topic as possible, and to try to excel in your diatribe or otherwise upon that.

Hannibal_12

Didnt realise you already had an article coming Dangger. Thats great to hear. I dont usually buy the times but I will tomorrow. Hopefully the more attention thats placed on the whole internet issue will force people (or whatever they are) in Eircom to to do something.