[LINK] Fwd: The Update

[stephen at melbpc.org.au]

> From: Adam Creed <adamcr33d at netspace.net.au>
> Sent: Thursday, August 03, 2006 12:00 AM
> Subject: The Update - 2 August 2006

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T H E  2006  U P D A T E
AuNz Net and Information Industry Briefs
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---- 2 August 2006 ----

THE INTERNET SOCIETY OF AUSTRALIA
The Internet is for Everyone!
Join at http://www.isoc-au.org.au/

****** Contents ******

---HEADLINES
** EU Sets New Broadband Targets
** In Brief
** Asia Pacific In Brief

---ONLINE IN AUSTRALIA/NEW ZEALAND
** Funding for Filters for Everyone
** New Sites

---NETWORK & SERVICES
** Broadband Blueprint Under Way
** Online Security Fears Surveyed

---CULTURE & COMMUNITIES
** Parents Fall Behind In IT Knowledge
** Culture & Community Picks
** The Shortest Arts Calendar

---EDUCATION & HEALTH ONLINE
** Networking Indigenous Communities
** EdNA's Picks

---BUSINESS & E-COMMERCE
** Future Electronic Payments Markets
** Internet Influences Real Estate Services

** This Week In Time
** Diary

---CONTACT/SUBSCRIPTIONS

============================================
* A glossary of computer and Internet related abbreviations and
acronyms can be found at <http://whatis.techtarget.com/>
* Currency is in Australian dollars unless otherwise specified.
* Web page links that overrun lines should be copied and pasted into
your Web browser.

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HEADLINES
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://EU Sets New Broadband Targets

European Union Ministers have endorsed plans which aim to ensure
the broadband Internet is available to all their citizens.

Enabling all Europeans to participate on equal terms in the
information society was not only a social necessity, but a huge
economic opportunity for industry, Ministers said.

Targets include: halving the gap in Internet usage by groups, such
as older people, people with disabilities, and unemployed persons,
at risk of exclusion; increasing broadband coverage in Europe to at
least 90%, and ensuring all public web sites accessible by 2010.

The EU said that, in 2005, broadband was available to about 60%
of businesses and households in the remote and rural areas of the
EU15 and to more than 90% in the urban areas. Broadband
take-up is at 13% of the EU population (or about 25% of
households), with significant differences in access between rural
and urban areas.

Web: http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/06/769

://In Brief

* The Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman (TIO), who
operates a dispute resolution scheme for telecommunications and
Internet service provider customers, announced a review of the
scheme. The review will determine whether the scheme is providing
an accessible, independent, fair, accountable and efficient
complaint handling service.

* Industry groups the Australian Communications Industry Forum
(ACIF) and the Service Providers Association Inc (SPAN) have
negotiated a merger under the banner of "The Communications
Alliance".

://Asia-Pacific In Brief

* New Zealand's new Internet domain name dispute resolution
service has gone online. The Office of the Domain Name
Commissioner will provide the service to businesses who claim
cybersquatting. If mediation is not successful the body has the
power to transfer, suspend, amend or cancel a domain name.

* Singaporean telecommunications giant, and Optus parent,
SingTel has announced a trial of fibre-to-the-home. The six-month
trial is in Singapore and will see optical fibre cabled into
apartments. The technology will provide broadband Internet access
at speeds up to 80Mbps and combine voice, video and data
services. Among the services being tested on the fast broadband
lines are video-on-demand and video phone calls from computers.
Web: http://home.singtel.com/80m/

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ONLINE IN Au/Nz
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://Funding for Filters for Everyone

The Commonwealth Government has allocated taxpayer funding to
a project that will include the issue of free Internet filtering software
to every Australian family.

A "National Filter Scheme" is one part of the "Protecting Families
Online" package, which will also see Internet safety agency NetAlert
receive additional funding for educational activities.

A further trial of ISP-based Internet content filtering will take place in
Tasmania, back where the Internet content debate began.

Web:
http://www.minister.dcita.gov.au/media/media_releases/
$116.6_million_to_protect_australian_families_online

** New Sites

The financial services regulator, ASIC, has produced a six-part
series of radio programmes for community broadcasters that are
also available generally to the public from its website. The "Your
Money" series feature everyday people talking about how they
manage their finances alongside a range of experts, including
financial counsellors and consumer advocates, who offer useful
information on how to make the most of your money.
Web:
http://www.asic.gov.au/fido/fido.nsf/byheadline/Your+Money+radio+programs?
openDocument

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NETWORK & SERVICES
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://Broadband Blueprint Under Way

The Commonwealth Government has brought together a range of
industry experts to assist in the development of a "Broadband
Blueprint for Australia".

Announced earlier this year, the Blueprint will provide a national
framework for the rollout of next generation broadband infrastructure
and services for Australia by governments and by the private sector.

The Industry Reference Group includes representatives of Suncorp,
Cisco, and Dick Estens.

Web:
http://www.dcita.gov.au/newsroom/media_releases/broadband_blueprint_indust
ry_reference_group

://Online Security Fears Surveyed

Online security fears still hamper online transactions, and a new
study will aim to identify exactly what these fears are.

The Consumers Telecommunications Network (CTN), a coalition of
community groups with an interest in telecommunications and
Internet consumer issues, is conducting an Online Security Survey.

The aim of the survey is to gauge the awareness, opinions and
experiences of Australian consumers with online security issues.

Responses will help CTN raise areas of concern with industry and
government.

Web:
http://www.ctn.org.au/content.cfm?ContentType=Survey&ContentID=218

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CULTURE & COMMUNITIES
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://Parents Fall Behind In IT Knowledge

The apparent gap in IT knowledge between parents and children is
of concern to a UK children's charity.

NCH and Tesco Telecoms commissioned a survey which found: a
third of children use blogs and social networking sites at least two
or three times a week yet two-thirds of parents don't even know
what a blog is; and 79% of children said they use instant
messaging regularly yet only one third of parents understand what
instant messaging is.

The report is available online.

Web: http://www.nch.org.uk/stories/index.php?i=387

** Culture & Community Picks

Find more great culture news & items at Australia's Culture and
Recreation Portal, http://www.acn.net.au

** The Shortest Arts Calendar

Darwin Fringe Festival
Darwin, NT
21 July - 13 August
http://www.darwinfringe.com.au/

Melbourne International Film Festival
Melbourne, VIC
26 July - 13 August
http://www.melbournefilmfestival.com.au/

Garma Festival
Gulkula via Nhulunbuy, NT
4-8 August
http://www.garma.telstra.com/%20

Digital Media @ SALA Festival
Adelaide, SA
4-20 August
http://www.salafestival.com/

Flying Fox Festival
Katherine, NT
10 -26 August
http://www.katherinecouncil.nt.gov.au/council/home/events/flying_fox_art_c
ultural_festival

Darwin Festival
Darwin, NT
10-27 August
http://www.darwinfestival.org.au/

Pro Day Conference
Melbourne, VIC
11 August
http://www.xmedialab.com.au/prodayconference.shtml

Dubbo Jazz Festival
Dubbo, NSW
11-13 August
http://www.users.bigpond.com/dubbojazz/festivals.html

7th International Digital Arts and Culture (DAC) Conference
Perth, WA
15-18 September
http://www.beap.org/dac

Melbourne International Arts Festival
Melbourne, VIC
12-28 October
http://www.melbournefestival.com.au/

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EDUCATION & HEALTH ONLINE
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://Networking Indigenous Communities

Research will take place into how the use of technologies such as
laptops, video conferencing and satellite Internet connections, could
improve vocational and technical education opportunities for
Indigenous communities across Australia.

The project includes a trial of distance learning in western
Queensland.

An education centre will be established to deliver the skills needed
for Indigenous people wanting to enter the mining, construction
or engineering fields.

Web:
http://www.flexiblelearning.net.au/flx/go/home/news/cache/bypass?
sector=latest&id=1812

** EdNA's Picks **

Australian Social Trends 2006 is the 13th edition of an annual series
that presents information on contemporary social issues and areas
of public policy concern. By drawing on a wide range of ABS
statistics, and statistics from other official sources, Australian Social
Trends describes aspects of Australian society, and how these are
changing over time.
Web:
http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/mf/4102.0?OpenDocument

Visit EdNA, the comprehensive Australian educational resource
network, and What's New for more great sites at
Web: http://www.edna.edu.au

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BUSINESS & E-COMMERCE
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://Future Electronic Payments Markets

The Department of Communications, Information Technology
and the Arts has completed and reported on its research into
electronic payments.

The study, "Exploration of Future Electronic Payments Markets",
consists of a large report that examines how electronic payments
may be used in the future.

One of the main findings is the assertion that a move to electronic
payments will benefit the economy as a whole.

Web:
http://www.dcita.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/40522/Exploration_of_Future
_Electronic_Payments_Markets.pdf

://Internet Influences Real Estate Services

The US General Accounting Office has reported on the use of the
Internet in real estate sales and its effect on the brokerage industry.

The report found the Internet has: facilitated new approaches to real
estate transactions; enabled buyers to perform much of the search
and evaluation process independently; given sellers more potential
exposure; made different brokerage service and pricing options
available to consumers.

Web: http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-06-1005T

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THIS WEEK IN TIME
---------------------------------------------------------------------

2 years ago this week:

* A panel of experts criticised VeriSign, the company that operates
the .com and .net top-level Internet domains, for making changes to
DNS entries that redirected Web browser requests for non-existent
Web pages in .com and .net to its own advertising.

5 years ago this week:

* A Commonwealth Government study found only 73% of Australian
Net users had modem links above 28.8kbps, and about 25% of
Australian homes or businesses could not download a basic Web
page in under six minutes.

7 years ago this week:

* The New Zealand Government came under severe pressure from
the telecom and Internet industries to block a move by incumbent
carrier Telecom New Zealand to charge Internet users for timed
local calls.

* The ACCC decided to allow competitors to access Telstra's local
telephone network, paving the way for the delivery of bundled voice,
data, TV and Internet services by a range of providers.

9 years ago this week:

* The US Attorney-General's office expressed concerns over the
McDonalds website. The fast food giant's advertising and business
practices came under scrutiny when children visiting the site were
asked to submit personal details via e-mail.

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DIARY
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Conferences and Seminars:

4 August; So What's Changed? Technology, Expectations,
Connections and Collaboration - 2006 National Seminars
Transforming Learning Through ICT; Sydney, NSW; EdNA,
http://www.edna.edu.au/edna/noticeboards?nbpath=688,705582

14-16 August; The Eighth International Conference on Electronic
Commerce (ICEC'06); Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada;
http://www.icec06.net/

4 September (Melbourne), 5 September (Brisbane), 6 September
(Sydney), 20 September (Perth); Writing for the Web Workshops;
Vision Australia,
http://www.visionaustralia.org.au/info.aspx?page=685

26-29 September; Web Directions; Ultimo, Sydney, NSW;
http://www.edna.edu.au/edna/noticeboards?nbpath=688,705559

2-4 October; ACEC 2006 Computers in Education Conference;
Ciarns, QLD; http://www.acec2006.info

14 & 15 November; Making Links 2006: Technology for Social
Action and Community Building; Sydney, NSW;
http://www.makinglinks.org.au/

4-6 December; Australian IPv6 Summit; Canberra, ACT;
ISOC-AU, http://www.isoc-au.org.au/ipv6summit/

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--CONTACT---

Contact The Editor, adamcr33d at netspace.net.au
Produced by KildaNet Productions (03) 9699 3170 (eves)

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