[ILUG] [OT] new internet access campaign

[Justin Mason]

["OT" is in the subject header for ILUG, it's not really off-topic on the
other 2 lists ;) ]

Hi all --

as some of you have probably seen, some ie.comp people have proposed a new
internet users' organisation, and we had the first (physical) meeting on
Sunday.

I went along, and it was very worthwhile; there's a good degree of
interest and energy, and it's well-focused as a campaigning organisation.

I'd say, if you're interested in an active group which will campaign to
improve the internet access situation in Ireland, this is a good one to go
for.

Here's the minutes/notes from the meeting...

--j.

------- Forwarded Message

Date:    Mon, 14 May 2001 01:18:18 +0100
From:    homer at netbox.com
To:      diarmid at bigfoot.com, howard.beale at oceanfree.net,
	 georgiecasey at e-merge.ie, email at davidcochrane.com, paul at cunnane.net,
	 davdela at eircom.net, pat105 at hotmail.com, cdowling at esatclear.ie,
	 garth at netsoc.ucd.ie, dfrost at maths.tcd.ie, martinharran at esatclear.ie,
	 cariarer at esatclear.ie, thisiswhoweare at hotmail.com, darkginger at anu.ie,
	 brendan at zen.org, elana at zen.org, P.Kootsookos at imptv.com, foto at esatclear
	  .ie,
	 joe at newgrove.ie, cdlong at indigo.ie, wendy at iol.ie, roy at linksheaven.com,
	 joe.maguire at iol.ie, jmarcus at dna.ie, jm at jmason.org, micky.m at indigo.ie,
	 tim.odonovan at sun.com, Niall at okeeffe.com, chiriqui at iol.ie, ndr at esatclea
	  r.ie,
	 edmund.ronayne at wgint.com, seamus_iiu at yahoo.co.uk, yslizak at eircom.net,
	 barry at barrysomers.com, eddie at wall.ie, tony at spinsol.com
Subject: Internet Users 13th May Meeting Notes


Formation meeting of the Internet Users Campaign Goup

13th May 2001

Drury Court Hotel, Dublin


Attendance 17.  9 messages of commitment were received by e-mail.

Agenda:

For the purposes of the founding meeting, Howard Brittain acted as Chairman.

1.      Objectives:
All attendees were invited, in turn, to express their opinions and 
recommendations for the objectives of the organisations. During the 
discussion Howard contributed comments made in e-mails by members unable to 
attend, including some submissions concerning more aggressive action 
against Esat and the possible adoption of the .ie domain complexity as an 
objective.

A clear consensus was evident and agreed upon by proclamation.

a)      Flat Rate internet access for all.
b)      The complete unbundling of the Local Loop of the telecoms network 
in Ireland.
c)      Roll out of broad band access to the greatest number of users at 
the earliest date.
d)      Esat to retract their letter terminating customer accounts and 
offer alternative flat rate services to all customers.

2.      Strategy
Another round robin discussion on the strategy the organisation should 
adopt to attain it’s objectives
It was agreed by proclamation that within 7 days a meeting should be sought 
with Esat to communicate our strong objections to the manner in which the 
Esat2000 are being treated and to demand that they do not terminate any 
user’s account; rather that they modify their flat rate services and offer 
this modified service to all users.
It was agreed by proclamation that we make contact with appropriate 
journalists in national media and communicate to them our objectives and 
reasons - and urge them....

i) To cover these objectives in a more energetic manner.
ii) To highlight the poor comparison of the state of internet access in 
Ireland as compared to other EU countries.
iii) To be more proactive in asking questions as to why progress is so 
slow, why business is not bringing more pressure on the Government and the 
ODTR, why the government appears indifferent.
iv) To highlight the disastrous affect this situation is and will have on 
the growth of the Irish economy in a period where the Internet is becoming 
a crucial conduit for business.
v) To inform them of our existence and availability for comment.

It was also agreed by proclamation that popular Radio shows on the main 
stations be contacted with suggestions to cover these topics during their 
shows, and to alert them of our availability for comment.

It was agreed by proclamation that the organisation must adopt a strategy 
of encouraging other organisations and companies to take up these 
objectives through their own organisations who appear to us to be 
suspiciously placid in their stances.  It was agreed that we make contact 
with appropriate companies and organisation, put the facts to them and 
encourage them to act aggressively to achieve these objectives.

It was agreed that it is crucial to have a web site up and running as soon 
as possible.

3.      Name:
It was agreed proclamation that a catchy name be desirable and that this 
name include the words “Campaign for.....”. None of those attending had a 
definitive suggestion and it was agreed to defer the choice for a maximum 
of two days.  All members and contributors to ie.comp etc. be free to make 
suggestions.

4.      Finance:
Howard suggested that over the coming weeks/month it may be necessary for 
small amounts of money to be spent on name registration, bank fees and 
possible newspaper advertisements.  In order that such, admittedly small, 
monies be required it was agreed that the web site should invite visitors 
and members to make a small donation. It was agreed that a cap be put on 
monies collected in case the invitation be too successful.  A figure of 
£250 was broadly agreed.

It was agreed that should it become necessary to raise additional funds, it 
would be inappropriate to take significant funds from any one company.

5.      Meetings:

It was agreed by proclamation that this is the kind of organisation that 
does not rely solely on physical meetings to draw it’s influence.  It was 
agreed that the web site incorporate a membership application facility as 
well as petition signing facilities.

It was also agreed however that an open public meeting be consider for 
between 2 and 4 weeks time.

6.      Committee:

It was agreed by proclamation that a committee be formed, but that the 
committee as formed at this meeting not necessarily be full and final.  It 
was agreed that it be free to adopt additional members should they have 
been prevented from attending today.
Howard urged people to join the committee, saying that having 5 - 8 members 
would mean that individual members would not be burdened by having too many 
tasks.

         The following were adopted to the committee:

                 John Marcus
                 Howard Brittain
                 Brendan Kehoe
                 Justin Mason
                 Niall O’Keeffe
                 Dermot Frost
                 Martin Harran
                 Marco Heine
                 David Long
                 Antoine Briand


7.      The £70 cost of the room hire was covered by the attendees




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