E-Commerce Update March 2008 - Australian developments

29 April 2008

Panel of Experts appointed for National Broadband Network

On 11 March 2008, Senator Stephen Conroy, the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, announced the Panel of Experts (panel) who will assess proposals to build the National Broadband Network. Construction is expected to commence by the end of 2008. The government intends that the National Broadband Network will provide open access to wholesale high-speed broadband services to 98 per cent of Australian homes and businesses and will include the following features:

• fibre-to-the-node or fibre-to-the-premises architecture
• a minimum speed of 12 megabits per second, and
• uniform wholesale pricing.

The government has committed to investing up to $4.7 billion in the National Broadband Network and has promised to consider any necessary regulatory changes. 

Ms Patricia Scott, the Secretary of the Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy will chair the panel. The following members comprise the panel:

Expert	Organisation
John Wylie	CEO of Lazard Carnegie Wylie
Tony Mitchell	Chairman of Allphones
Laureate Prof Rod Tucker	University of Melbourne
Prof Emeritus of Communications, Reg Coutts	University of Adelaide
Tony Shaw	Former Chairman of the Australian Communications Authority
Dr Ken Henry AC	Treasury Secretary

The panel is currently assisting the government to develop the Request for Proposals (RFP) to build the National Broadband Network. On 17 March 2008, Senator Conroy invited submissions from industry and the public on the RFP process. According to the Terms of Reference, the panel will:

• assess proposals in accordance with the process and evaluation criteria outlined in the RFP
• conduct negotiations with prospective contractors, and
• provide a report to Senator Conroy on its preferred contractor within eight weeks of receiving proposals.

The government will retain overall responsibility for the assessment process. On 11 March 2008, the Government also announced that it will provide an extra $95 million in funding for the Australian Broadband Guarantee Program in 2008–09 and ensure the supply of the best new fixed line, wireless or satellite technology to those who do not have access to the new fibre network.

For further information please visit Senator Conroy's website.

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ACCC launches new ‘SCAMwatch’ tool

On 2 March 2008, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) announced a new initiative to combat fraudulent commercial product or service offers. The ACCC’s actions were taken during the Australasian Consumer Fraud Taskforce’s Fraud Fortnight campaign that focuses on deception scams which involve fraudsters posing as legitimate companies and requesting information that will enable them to generate profits.

The ACCC published new features on its ‘SCAMwatch’ website ’to educate consumers about the elements of common scams and the warning signs to look out for‘, as Graeme Samuel, Chairman of the ACCC explained. Samuel pointed out that scams which take place over the Internet are particularly difficult to track down and prosecute. The new features on the ACCC’s ‘SCAMwatch’ website include the following:  

• ‘mock’ scams
• examples of real scams
• a list of the different types of consumer scams, and
• practical advice on the recognition, avoidance and reporting of scams.

The ‘SCAMwatch’ website can be accessed online. For further information please visit the ACCC website.

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ACMA releases internet filtering report

On 21 February 2008, the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) released a report entitled ‘Developments in Internet filtering technologies and other measures for promoting online safety’ (report). The report was prepared in response to a ministerial direction received in June 2007 to investigate international developments in internet filtering technologies and other safety initiatives to protect consumers, including minors, who access content on the internet. This is the first of three annual reports to be prepared by ACMA.

While the report notes that the United Kingdom, Sweden, Norway and Finland have already successfully implemented Internet filtering at the Internet Service Provider level, Senator Stephen Conroy, the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, pointed out that the report ’also identifies that there is no silver bullet solution to the problem of online risks‘. The government’s ’cyber-safety plan‘ currently employs several measures which are consistent with the report’s recommendations:   

• education
• international co-operation
• research, and
• law enforcement.

The government has also established a new consultative working group and youth advisory group to promote ongoing research and industry consultation.

For further information please visit Senator Conroy's website. The report is available via the ACMA website. 

For more information please contact