[LINK] Filter trial report in September: Conroy

[Bernard Robertson-Dunn]

Filter trial report in September: Conroy
By Ry Crozier
July 9, 2009 6:30 AM
iTnews
http://www.itnews.com.au/News/149584,filter-trial-report-in-september-conroy.aspx

Government says its aims are “modest”.

A report on the first round of internet filter trials is still up to 
eight weeks away due to the staggered approval of ISPs, said 
Communications Minister Stephen Conroy.

Speaking to iTnews after a broadband conference in Sydney this week, 
Senator Conroy said it was too early to determine how or if the 
Government's policy direction on filtering might shift as a result of 
the trial.

"All ISPs haven't yet completed the tests," he said.

"We had hoped to have the final report by now but because of the 
staggered way ISPs came into the trial, we expect to get the report in 
the next six to eight weeks."

Unwired is the most recent addition to the trials, receiving an $1870 
grant to participate in late May, according to Department of Broadband, 
Communications and the Digital Economy documents.

iTnews reported at the time that Unwired had also received an extra 
month to spend its grant money, pointing to a time extension on the 
first round of trials.

Optus and Nelson Bay Online joined the trial in late April, more than 
two months after the first six ISPs were announced.

The original six were Primus Telecommunications, Tech 2U, Webshield, 
OMNIconnect, Netforce and Highway 1.

Testing is being done by Enex Testlabs, whose contract with the 
department for services relating to the filters is up for renewal next 
month.

Conroy said the Government's aims for ISP-level filtering had not 
changed - and hinted they are unlikely to be expanded as a result of the 
report.

"Our proposition has always been a modest one - to block child 
pornography," he said.

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Regards
brd

Bernard Robertson-Dunn
Canberra Australia
brd at iimetro.com.au