🚀 go-pugleaf

EFA has today launched a campaign against the Telstra proposal to charge
local data calls on a timed basis.

In furtherance of the campaign , a mailing list has been set up. To subscribe 
to this list , send email to stoptelstra-request@efa.org.au with the word
subscribe in the body of the email message. 

The welcome message to the list appears below, and I invite all concerned
Net users to join and participate in this campaign. The proposal is not yet 
official Government policy , and EFA believes that the decision-makers can be 
persuaded to drop the proposal on equity grounds.

EFA considers that the Universal Service Obligation for Telstra to provide 
untimed local calls is a fundamental social service , and that data calls 
ought not be an exception. As Telstra may be privatised soon , it is 
important to stop this proposal before management of Telstra passes outside
the present Government controls.

Details of the campaign will be posted to the stoptelstra list, aus.org.efa 
and on the EFA web site at http://www.efa.org.au.



******** STOP TELSTRA TIME-CHARGING LOCAL DATA CALLS *********

Welcome to the Electronic Frontiers Australia mailing list for opposing 
the Telstra proposal to charge local data calls on a timed basis.

You have been added to the "stoptelstra" mailing list in response to your
enquiry and registration of your protest against this proposal. If you do
not wish to have further messages sent to you , please unsubscribe as
follows:

Send an email message to stoptelstra-request@efa.org.au with the word
unsubscribe in the body of the message. 

We understand that not all persons who responded will wish to be
subscribed to this mailing list , however all persons who responded have
been subscribed initially to acknowledge and thank them for their support
and to tell them about the campaign. 

If you wish to be involved in co-ordinating or supporting aspects of the 
campaign, please stay subscribed to the list and post suggestions to the 
list ( email to stoptelstra@efa.org.au ) or to myself on kheitman@it.com.au.

If you are a new subscriber to this list, please read *all* of this
message before posting to the list.

This list is for those who are working on establishing a campaign against 
the Telstra proposal to charge data calls on a timed basis.

Topics of interest to the list include:

+ The purpose of the campaign such as :
  + whether all timed charges are to be opposed
  + the equity issues arising from call charges
  + alternatives to address bandwidth congestion
  + effect on libraries and schools
  + highlighting the anti-competitive aspects of Telstra's proposal

+ who is going to do what, such as:
  + write submissions
  + coordinate volunteers
  + work with the press and other media
  + manage local campaigns and rallies
  + liaise with other organisations
  + activity on Usenet and Fidonet
  + appointments with Telstra management and Alston's office
  + lobby politicians
  + make complaints to regulatory agencies
  + run services and web resources
  + be on the organisations management committee

Postings we *discourage*:
+ flames
+ random or "me too" quotations
+ repetition
+ Telstra-bashing on other topics

Please do include a Subject: line in each message you post.  Since
threads of discussion often change as they develop, please change your
~Subject: line as necessary to match the *current* topic of discussion.

Subscribers to this list are likely to come from many electronic
backgrounds, from isolated BBSes to FidoNet to UUCP to USENET to BITNET
to CompuServe to the Internet.  Experience has shown these different
networks breed different expectations.  Subscribers' geographical,
political, and organizational backgrounds also differ widely. Please be
tolerant, and please compare what (and how much) you are posting to what
others are posting.

For high volume or peripheral discussions, consider a USENET newsgroup
such as aus.org.efa instead.

When you join the list, please tell us where you are, and post a few
paragraphs on your background, why you joined and what you are
interested in doing with respect to helping the campaign.

Regards and welcome,
Kimberley Heitman,
Chairperson, EFA.
(kheitman@it.com.au)


-----------------------------------8<--------------------------------

The following is the first message to the stoptelstra mailing list. To join 
the list, send email to stoptelstra-request@efa.org.au with the word 
subscribe in the body of the message.

EFA urges Net users to act now on this campaign in order to stop the timed 
calls proposal from damaging the Internet in Australia and shutting out those 
on low incomes from full participation in and use of the Net.

-----------------------------8<------------------------------------------

Welcome to the stoptelstra list. To kick off discussions , I've set out
below some frequently asked questions and the present position as EFA 
understands it.

At the end of this message is information concerning membership of EFA,
but I emphasise that the campaign is a broad coalition supported by
several Internet groups and membership of EFA is not a prerequisite for
participating in this campaign.


Is time-charging of local data calls actually proposed ?
========================================================

Yes , Telstra management has made it clear that they regard Internet users
as abusers of the telephone network , and wish to introduce timed calls to
discourage long calls and to make Internet users pay more for their
connections to the Net.

See Stewart Fist's excellent article on the subject , presently available
on "The Australian" newspaper's web site at
http://www.australian.aust.com/computer/columns/fistcom.htm .

In reply , Hugh Bradlow , the Research Director of Telstra Research
Laboratories had a letter published in The Australian computer pages on
the 20th August in which he claimed the telephone network was not designed
for Internet usage and charging was presently based on a 3-minute average
voice call. It seems Telstra intends to hold the Net community responsible
for the costs of upgrading exchanges to head off projected future congestion 
on the phone network.

Make no mistake ... the proposal is possible using existing technology,
and at a significant cost of upgrading the telephone exchanges. Telstra
can do this , and make the data users pay for the upgrades.


So why is this a bad idea ?
===========================

EFA believes this proposal has significant adverse impact on the ability
of low-income users and low-budget providers to participate on the Net.

It is also unfair competition , since Telstra Internet is time-charged -
it seems Telstra is stopping the existing Internet access providers from
continuing to offer a 25c service as an alternative to Telstra and other
cable Internet services.

It will have the effect that the (proposed) private owner(s) of Telstra
following the privatisation will be able to skim off the Internet a time
charge , making the Telstra package a windfall for a private operator.

EFA considers that the "twisted pair" network is a public resource, paid
for by the Australian people since the days of the PMG. We think that the
data users of the network should not be discriminated against for choosing
to use the new technology rather than voice calls.

So far , Telstra has been using a "straw man" argument by implying that
Net users "hog" the telephone lines for 24 hours a day - of course the 
average Internet call is much less than an hour. EFA feels that if Telstra
have a genuine argument based on cost of provision of services then it is
time to see it. As far as an outsider can tell , Telstra is making a good
profit from data services by charging full rates for additional telephone
lines and is reaping the bounty of people making data calls in addition to
their regular voice calls.

Finally , EFA is concerned that the Internet needs promoting as a valuable
tool for research , communication and entertainment - not restrictions
that discourage net-surfing , casual enquiries and browsing.


Is this proposal Government policy ?
====================================

Frank Blount , Telstra's boss , claims that Senator Alston "understands"
the perceived need to charge data users on a time charge basis. So far,
Senator Alston (Federal Minister of Communications) has not committed
himself one way or another. 

It should be noted that the Liberal Party policy at the last election was
that data communications should be cheaper , not more expensive.

Part of the campaign must be to get solid information on the rates for time
charges that Telstra wants , and the Government's position on that.


Isn't there a Universal Service Obligation for untimed local calls?
===================================================================

Yes , up until now this has been a total bar to this proposal. However,
Telstra wants to rewrite the USO to distinguish between voice and data
calls. 

At present , the Department of Communications and the Arts has released
papers on the DCA web site of relevance :

Draft Legislation for Telecommunications Reform & Policies - 
    http://www.dca.gov.au/govtpol.html

Universal Service Obligations discussion materials -
    http://www.dca.gov.au/   (many references)


What can individuals do to stop this proposal ?
===============================================

Well , to start - stay on this list !

We will need people prepared to write , lobby and inform others. Those
persons with web skills and contacts in industry and government can help
with publicity and campaign initiatives.

Initially , we'll need persons prepared to volunteer for responsibilities
including :

Campaign committee
State and territory team leaders
Campaign secretary
Netsurfer/Usenet browsers
Lobbyists
Web and document server managers
Spokespersons 
Media interviews and articles
Technical advice
IRC coordinator

Membership of EFA is not required in order to participate in this
campaign, although we'd be pleased to have you aboard. For details on
membership and EFA generally see "How to join" below.



What can organisations do to help stop this proposal ?
======================================================
EFA invites groups to support the campaign and all groups that do so are
invited to provide contact details and web page addresses. So far,
expressions of support have been received from the following
organisations:

Western Australian Internet Association Inc (http://www.waia.asn.au)
South Australian Internet Association Inc (http://www.saia.asn.au)
PC Users Group (ACT) (http://www.pcug.org.au)

Internet access providers are invited to publicise the issue to their
users, and several sites have been very helpful in mailing all their users
to ensure that those affected by this proposal are aware that the time to
oppose it is right now!

Anyway , welcome to the campaign and I thank you for your interest so far.
I regret that owing to the number of responses received it has not been
practical for me to respond to every email personally and I've therefore
tried to use this message to set out the position to date.

By all means raise issues or queries in the list , and myself and the
members of EFA appreciate your input.

Regards,
Kimberley Heitman,
Chairperson , EFA 
(kheitman@it.com.au)


-----------------------------------8<----------------------------------

How to join
-----------
Membership of EFA costs just $20 per year and for that you get to belong
to the premier electronic communications organisation in Australia;  you 
get issues of the Newsletter on line or in the mail if you have no 
electronic address, you have the opportunity to contribute to the growth
of Electronic Frontiers Australia and volunteer your time and talents 
in this endeavour.  Please consider joining us -- it only costs $20 and 
the form to complete is available online at:
       <http://www.efa.org.au/>
The membership form is also mailed automatically to anyone who sends email
to <efa-info@efa.org.au> or netmail to efa-info at 3:800/846.

How to follow EFA activities
----------------------------
  - On Usenet, read <aus.org.efa> and <comp.org.eff.talk> (if you want the 
    global picture).

  - Join us on IRC each Tuesday night , starting 9.00pm EST on server
    irc.mpx.com.au , on channel #efa.

  - If you use Fidonet Echos, follow discussion in the "EFA" echo.

  - Follow the links on our Web home page at: 
        <http://www.efa.org.au/>

  - Volunteer to help us. There's no better way to stay in touch than
    getting involved yourself!  Email <volunteer@efa.org.au>
    volunteer@efa.org.au if you are interested in helping.

What is EFA
-----------
ELECTRONIC FRONTIERS AUSTRALIA INC. is a non-profit national organisation
formed in 1994 to define, promote and defend the civil liberties of users
and operators of networked systems. EFA's members are Net and BBS users 
and other people with a common interest in the digital community, 
computer mediated communication and online information services. The 
formation of EFA was inspired by the American <http://www.eff.org>
Electronic Frontiers Foundation (EFF), and EFA is associated with the 
EFF and similar organisations around the world. 

EFA's objectives are:

  - To ensure that people have the same basic freedoms 'within'
     computer mediated communication as without,
  - To educate the community at large about computer mediated
     communication and their use,
  - To support, encourage and advise on the development and use of
     computer mediated communication, and related innovations, and
  - To research and advise on the law as applied to computer mediated
     communication and related technologies.

Policymakers and media representatives are encouraged to contact EFA for
input and comment where relevant.

On the Internet, you can find more information about EFA at our World Wide
Web site, <http://www.efa.org.au> or by sending email to: <efa-info@efa.org.au>

Ways to get EFA information via Fidonet:

File request efa-info.efa, efa-info.lzh, EFA, ERR from node 3:800/846.

Send netmail to efa-info at 3:800/846 and a copy of the EFA 
information file will be bounced back.

Log in to sawasdi BBS as "EFA" password "EFA" and download the files
from file area "EFA". The phone number for sawasdi is (08) 261 7802.