[LINK] Internet filter could scupper NBN speeds
Kim Holburn
kim at holburn.net
Sun May 9 19:02:39 AEST 2010
Duh!
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/05/07/2893687.htm
> Internet filter could scupper NBN speeds
> By Jason Om
>
> Updated Fri May 7, 2010 6:31pm AEST
>
> Internode says a filtering slowdown will make a big difference to
> businesses. (ABC Adelaide: Brett Williamson)
>
> An internet service provider (ISP) says the Federal Government's
> proposed filter has the potential to cause bottlenecks and webpage
> blackouts, making its high-speed National Broadband Network less
> viable.
> The Government announced the filter two years ago as part of its
> cyber safety program to protect children from pornography and
> offensive material. Last year it ran tests on the system.
>
> John Lindsay from internet company Internode says such a filtering
> slowdown will make a big difference to businesses, especially when
> downloading files.
>
> "It is mostly about lag. When you click on something it will add
> milliseconds... fractions of a second, probably in the order of a
> fifth-of-a-second lag to everything, but of more concern is what
> happens when something breaks in that mechanism," he said.
>
> "Because it is a single, narrow path through which internet traffic
> has to flow you'll need lots and lots of filtering units and you'll
> need some mechanism for actually splitting the traffic up into these
> small chunks.
>
> "It will add a lot of cost for ISPs and from everything that we have
> seen to date that is a cost that ISPs are expected to bear. So
> ultimately it will make broadband more expensive in Australia."
>
> Google Australia support the Government's rollout of high-speed
> broadband, but the company's head of government affairs, Iarla
> Flynn, has serious questions about how the filter will affect
> internet connections.
>
> "It is a question mark. We just don't know until... it is very
> difficult to say what the impact might be," she said.
>
> "It would be a shame to tarnish the very, very positive story with
> the NBN with a filter which could have impacts but which also sends
> a negative signal about how development of the internet and use of
> the internet is seen here."
>
> Geordie Guy from internet rights group Electronic Frontiers
> Australia says the Government may well have to retest the filter on
> the super-fast broadband speeds.
>
> "The filter hasn't been tested with speeds like the NBN proposes to
> deliver. It has only been tested up to the types of speed that we
> expect to see today," he said.
>
> "There is an awful lot of unlesses. I think it is probably getting
> to the point where the unlesses and the exceptions are getting to
> critical mass.
>
> "We are probably starting to get around to the point where the
> Government needs to go right back to the drawing board, beyond the
> drawing board of a national technology response and see if this
> really is the best way to protect children online."
>
--
Kim Holburn
IT Network & Security Consultant
T: +61 2 61402408 M: +61 404072753
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