From the Federal Court, Inforrm’s Blog and Defamation Watch: The Federal Court has issued its decision in Rana v Google Australia Pty Ltd [2013] FCA 60. The decision has been described as a win of sorts for Google, though not entirely in the terms that they would have preferred. Facts/Background Mr Rana sought damages from […] Read more »
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New NBN Co Chair Announced
From the DBCDE: The Federal Government has announced the appointment of Siobhan McKenna as the new Chair of NBN Co. Ms McKenna has served on the board of NBN Co for three years. She is also a director on the board of Ten Network Holdings, DMG Radio Australia, Illyria Pty Ltd and the Australian Ballet. […] Read more »
Groupon warned by ACMA about its email unsubscribe process
The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has formally warned online retailer Groupon Australia Pty Ltd after determining that they had sent daily email newsletters to people without their consent. Consumers complained that the unsubcription service offered by Groupon only ubsubscribed them from one of several Groupon daily newsletters, and that they continued to receive […] Read more »
ACCC – Draft Report on Telstra FAD
From the ACCC: The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has released a draft report today on making a Final Access Determination (FAD) for the declared wholesale ADSL service. This service is used to provide users with broadband internet and other services over Telstra’s copper network. The draft FAD sets out proposed price and non-price […] Read more »
NBN Satellite Launch Contract Signed
From the Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy: NBN Co has signed a contract for the launch of two next-generation satellites to deliver high-speed broadband to Australians living in rural and remote areas. “The contract is the final step needed to ensure that the NBN’s long-term satellite service is available to people living […] Read more »
What Australian businesses need to know about cloud compliance
From ZDNet: Australia often draws up regulation based on tried and tested laws from around the world. But there are times when the country pushes for bold new legislation that may be out-of-step with our technology-centric modern society. Prime examples of these include changes to its Privacy Act, which have taken four years to reach […] Read more »
TCP Code Requirements Effective 1 March
From the Communications Alliance Ltd: The new Telecommunications Consumer Protections (TCP) Code requires all Australian service providers to give customers a standardised format “Critical Information Summary” (CIS) outlining everything needed to make an informed purchase, and/or to readily compare offers from different providers. In addition, new billing requirements also taking effect on 1 March mean […] Read more »
ACCC Telecommunications Reports: Prices fall, interest in broadband grows
From the ACCC: The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s Telecommunications Reports 2011–12, tabled today in Parliament, show consumers continue to benefit through falling prices for telecommunication services. Prices paid by consumers for telecommunications services fell by 2.2 per cent in real terms in 2011 12. Prices are now almost 20 per cent lower than they […] Read more »
U.S. Ups Ante for Spying on Firms
From the Wall Street Journal: The White House threatened China and other countries with trade and diplomatic action over corporate espionage as it cataloged more than a dozen cases of cyberattacks and commercial thefts at some of the U.S.’s biggest companies. Top administration officials painted a pervasive portrait of the far-reaching costs of espionage—competitive disadvantages, […] Read more »
ACCC invites comment on the policies and procedures for the list of NBN POIs
From the ACCC: The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission today released a consultation paper inviting comment on the policies and procedures that relate to the identification of listed Points of Interconnection (POIs) to the National Broadband Network (NBN). In November 2012, the ACCC published the list of POIs to the NBN as required by section […] Read more »
NBN services launched across Tasmania
From the DBCDE: The Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy, together with Julie Collins, the Member for Franklin, and Senator Catryna Bilyk, Senator for Tasmania, have launched twenty new NBN services across Tasmania. Eight new Tasmanian NBN Digital Hubs, seven Digital Enterprises, and five Digital Local Government Programs came online. […] Read more »
The fog of law and cloud computing
From the Sydney Morning Herald: Data sovereignty and privacy concerns resulting from the extension of US-government mass-surveillance powers raised in an EU report publicised last week should not dissuade Australian businesses from actively considering and adopting cloud computing services, legal experts say. The reach of the US Patriot Act – which essentially compels US companies […] Read more »
Revised Australian Standard for Customer Cabling Installation
From the Communications Alliance: New rules for the safe installation of optical fibre communications in customer premises are part of a revised Australian Standard for telecommunications wiring published by Communications Alliance. The AS/CA S009 Installation Requirements for Customer Cabling (Wiring Rules) Standard (in its various guises) has been the backbone of the cabling industry in […] Read more »
Federal Court provides clarity on internet simulcasting
From the Australian Copyright Council: The Federal Court has unanimously ruled in favor of artists and recording labels, by overturning a previous decision regarding internet simulcasts. The PPCA (representing the artists and recording labels) in its press release reports that it “has won a declaration that internet simulcasts of radio programs fall outside the definition […] Read more »
Australian Cyber Security Centre will be 95% Defence staffed
From ZDNet: In Senate Estimates on Monday, Linda Geddes said that when the Australian Cyber Security Centre is first established, “95 percent of staff will be defence”. The acting first assistant secretary for Australia’s Cyber Policy and Homeland Security Division additionally said that the people working in the centre will report back to their own […] Read more »