[LINK] RFC: NBN Issues

[Marghanita da Cruz]

Roger Clarke wrote:
> Concerned about several aspects of how the NBN might unfold, I tried 
> to engage with the relevant executive.
> 
> I was told it was inappropriate for NBNCo to spend time on this 
> submission, because she'd have to give equal time to everyone if she 
> did so.
> 
> That seems to rather emphasise the point the paper is making.
> 
> (The relevant exec is Christy Boyce.  Her job-title - perhaps 
> tellingly - is 'Head of Industry Engagement').
> 

Yesterday, I attended the briefing on 
the consultation paper. Christy Boyce 
chaired the meeting. It was well 
attended, in terms of BOS.

The panel comprised:
christie boyce head-industry engagement
jamie chard cto office
matthew lobb – industry consultation and 
engagement

Mike Quigley the CEO also rocked up for 
question time and answered a few 
questions - including mine on whether 
the NBN would be using any custom 
equipment - apparently vendors were keen 
to help develop some (or I suggest keen 
to get paid to be seen to be developing 
a custom solution) but any such 
customisation would be kept to a bare 
minimum.

Christie Boyce, was apparently the 
second employee of NBNco but will 
probably go down in history as the 
conceiver of a "population replacement 
program". She was optimistic that those 
without a need for a 100mbs optical 
fibre connection would soon die out - or 
at least would be gone by the time the 
NBN rolls out in 20 years.

When Jamie chard finished, he apologised 
for going into so much detail. Most of 
the room nearly choked because, all he 
had done was explain the OSI model and 
that the NBN would be doing level 1 & 2 
only. Mike Quigley reemphasised this.

They also laughed off any suggestion of 
wireless (though I predict) that the 
best use of the NBN will be to connect 
3G cells.

There was also an issue of backup in the 
case of power failures for the Optical 
Network and the environmental impact of 
batteries (the current copper network 
carries sufficient power to keep your 
phone working during blackcouts). Though 
the provision of an analog phone port on 
the Premise termination device seemed to 
be the risk management plan if the 
population replacement program failed.

The development of the NBN is to be a 
collaborative process, interestingly for 
me, is it isn't necessarily providing 
infrastructure, but filling in any gaps.

This paper is one of a series of 
consultative papers and it contains 
specific questions they are seeking 
input on.

There was a question about fault 
resolution and customer support. The 
idea seems to be that the RSP will deal 
with this....I guess along the lines of 
the Optus deal with Virgin as a reseller 
of their 3G network.


> As ever, constructively negative criticism gratefully received, and 
> feel free to pass this on to other appropriate channels.
> 
> 
>       The National Broadband Network (NBN): Privacy Considerations
>              http://www.rogerclarke.com/II/NBN-PC-0912.html
> 
> The NBN holds great promise. It also harbours considerable potential 
> threats to privacy. There is to date no sign that NBN Co. is engaging 
> with the issues. It needs to do so.
> 

The NBN's focus is the development of 
product specifications and this is where 
I guess the privacy and other issues can 
be addressed. But they want submissions 
and comments on the specific questions 
in the consultation paper. Though there 
was a complaint that the questions in 
the presentation were slightly different.

The session was videoed and will be made 
available along with the Melbourne Forum 
on the NBNCo website.

I didn't quite understand your stuff 
about IPV6 as the NBN would respond that 
this is an issue for the RSP (layer 3 
and above) not them. Based on their 
market analysis (UK and Singapore got a 
mention) layer 1 & 2 is the gap they 
need to fill.

Marghanita
PS there were lots of references to the 
Government/Minister being the Shareholder.
-- 
Marghanita da Cruz
http://ramin.com.au
Tel: 0414-869202