Tag Archives: auspol

Nice Start Google – But Not Enough

Many people will remember the “storm in a teacup” that was the inadvertent possible collection by Google of data from wireless networks, when performing photographic and geo-spatial data collection for their Street View product early last year. Even our good friend Senator Stephen Conroy got in on the act, labelling it the “single biggest privacy […]

NBN: Myths Debunked

This video from Macquarie University has been around since August – but with recent announcements from the Federal Opposition regarding policy towards the National Broadband Network (NBN), and their ill-conceived, badly under engineered and ultimately more expensive Fibre to the Node (FTTN) plan, I thought it pertinent to spread this one out more widely. As […]

Opposition “NBN” Plan To Cost More?

Opposition communications spokesperson Malcolm Turnbull has long argued that the government’s National Broadband Network (NBN) plan is far too expensive, with $26b to come from the public purse to build it. Information today that his alternative plan has been priced at approximately $17b fronts up some interesting questions. Although this number is $9b “less” than […]

NBN: Some Massaging Ahead

Over the last week, NBN Co have been running the latest round of industry forums across the country, as the build of the National Broadband Network (NBN) prepares to ramp up to full scale over the next two years. Yesterday, the road show hit Melbourne, and continuing on from the last major forum in February, […]

NBN: What Will IPTV Look Like?

Over recent months, much of the debate surrounding the National Broadband Network (NBN) has revolved around what it will be used for. What will it provide to Australians, that current broadband infrastructure cannot? That depends very much on how you look at it – on a macro and/or micro level. Can the current systems deliver […]

Internet Filter Demonstrably Useless

Earlier this year I speculated that the National Classification Review, set up by the federal government via the Attorney-General’s (AG) department and the Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy (DBCDE) might become a vehicle for a tactical retreat on the mandatory internet filtering policy. Certainly, the government has been noticeably quiet on the […]

84,000 Filter Hits: I Call Bullshit

Some interesting numbers have emerged in the last couple of days in regards to the the “voluntary” filter applied to internet connections by four of Australia’s biggest service providers – in this instance from Telstra, the nation’s largest. Telstra Logs 84,000 Filter Redirects “Telstra has redirected internet users that try to access child abuse materials […]

NBN: No Evidence of Trial Site Favours

Ever since the National Broadband Network (NBN) became the catalyst for the formation of current government, with parliamentary support from independent members Tony Windsor and Rob Oakeshott getting the ALP over the line, there have been accusations that trial sites for the network were chosen on political grounds. Certainly, it is curious that one of […]

This Photo Is In Need of a Caption!

This photo of Stephen Conroy and Julia Gillard at yesterday’s launch of the Australian Broadband Applications Laboratory (APAL) is absolutely crying out for a caption. Jump to it in the comments!

A Simple NBN Maths Lesson

Amid all the bickering, postering, bleating and prognosticating over Australia’s National Broadband Network (NBN), there has been one thing missing from a lot of the arguing. A simple and clearly defined explanation of where it will make its money back. Many claim it could never justify its cost, including the federal opposition who said the […]