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From the CEO’s Desk

Well, that was quite a month! Covid has once again thrown a massive spanner into our planning. We had to arrange remote hands for the relocation of RS2 in Melbourne, our SGM had a token presence on site, and events are being madly rescheduled all over the place. The IAA team have been fabulous, with half of us in lockdown and the other half sending us all vital supplies of masks. We soldier on…

Luckily also for us in NSW, the State government has confirmed our staff fit the definition of ‘essential workers’ so should we have the situation where switches need emergency attention that remote hands and remote access cannot give, we are able to attend. Our rearrangement effort on VIC-IX with the imminent removal of 55 King St is progressing well, with new links in train and the route server relocated this week. As promised, we will be keeping the site operating until the power goes off. Other upgrades are still taking place, including a ring upgrade on VIC-IX, however some longer term projects are suffering compound delays. At least the intercapital and other upgrades we completed last year have ensured we have capacity to meet the latest upsurge in demand due to the lockdowns.

Unfortunately, the Sydney lockdown has pushed AusNOG out until December, meaning our associated events, including our AGM, will be rescheduled as well. Let’s just hope that means we have even better end of year celebrations! We’ll certainly need it by then.

Lockdowns haven’t stopped the seeming endless supply of regulatory proposals from government, however! Our regulatory effort is proceeding well – we’ve submitted on NBN regulation to the ACCC and are arguing for an updated regulatory approach that removes CVC charges and brings the multi-technology mix under the same regulation as fibre to the premises. This should mean clear accountabilities for NBN Co for performance and connection times, for example. We’re also participating in the Dept of Home Affairs consultation about improving the standards of cybersecurity across the community. The irony of this effort when compared with their previous legislation that actually mandates weaker security is not lost on us!

I’m also still catching up with members wherever I can via Zoom. If you want to catch up over any burning topics, feel free to drop me a line via ceo@intenernet.asn.au

And finally, on the topic of member meetings, I must extend a genuine thank you to all who participated and voted in this week’s SGM. The board and I genuinely thank all members for their confidence in us as we take the organisation to its next phase of maturity. We will now proceed to registration with ASIC and the inevitable paperwork to transfer over to a company limited by guarantee and regulated under the Australian Corporations Act. All our existing contracts and agreements remain in place, so there will be no disruption to services.

Stay safe everyone

Narelle Clark, CEO

IAASysters

IAA Systers@AusNOG – Announcement

IAASysters@AusNOG Project Overview

For many years now AusNOG has held its place as THE go to event on the internet industry calendar, yet sadly year after year we see low participation rates from certain sectors of our industry.

IAASysters@AusNOG is a one-day workshop being held prior to AusNOG. It is based on the international systers.org and systers@ietf programs. Sponsored attendees will attend both the IAASysters@AusNOG workshop and AusNOG itself including travel and accommodation (where necessary).

The workshop will include a presentation skills session, targeting a lightning talk to be given at the end of AusNOG, a career planning session and a training session on a technical topic voted for by the attendees.

Participating in IAASysters@AusNOG

Whether you are good at talking but struggle with the technical aspects of the role; or are trying to navigate a career change and are looking for a community of likeminded people, IAASysters@AusNOG is a great chance to put yourself out there, receive training from experts in the field, as well as the opportunity to network with your peers at one of Australia’s largest internet conferences.

Whilst participation in the program is open to all, the program aims to encourage and support women in the industry. Technology and the Internet is changing the world and we need to cultivate an inclusive industry where women have a role to play and empower them with the confidence and resources to take on these positions.

Sponsored Attendees

Successful applicants chosen to be a sponsored attendee will receive:

  • Ticket to attend IAASysters@AusNOG workshop (5 April)
  • Ticket to attend AusNOG conference – provided by AusNOG (6-7 April)
  • Economy airfares to Sydney and three nights accommodation for interstate participants
  • One-year complimentary Professional membership to IAA (subject to Board approval)

Criteria:

  • Are you an early career internet engineer / technician / product specialist / programmer or re-entering the industry after a career break?
  • Will this be your first time at AusNOG?
  • Are you hoping to have a career in the sector?
  • What do you think is the most satisfying thing about the internet and the internet industry?

Applications are now closed.

We understand that the Covid situation has turned everything topsy turvy. Should the Covid situation prevent us from conducting the IAA Systers program or participating in AusNOG, then we will postpone the event, and all winners will retain the offer of sponsored places. 

Program Sponsors

The IAASysters@AusNOG Program is proudly brought to you with the help of our sponsors.

Happy Birthday WA-IX

This month marks the 24th year of operation of WA-IX, our first internet exchange. Still going strong, and now operating out of six different data centres in Perth after its humble beginnings in QV1. Were you one of the early adopters? We’d love to send you a thank you if you were! We have some lovely mouse mats showing our expansion in all its glory. Email admin@internet.asn.au and tell us your origin story at WA-IX.

 

Event Recap – From Encryption to Take Downs: Internet Regulation Update

Another successful online event done and dusted in 2021! Our global panel of experts shared their thoughts and insights on internet regulation and its ability to protect users against cyber-attacks, unlawful access to data, and online content. The discussion also included current legislation pitfalls, the intersection with human rights, helpful insights about what this could all mean for our members, and a simple summation that, “we are trying to regulate nationally, into a global communications network.”

If you weren’t able to make it, we have you covered! All events are livestreamed and can be found on our website, Facebook page and YouTube channels.

We would like to extend our gratitude to our panellists, Patrick Fair, Lucie Krahulcova, Jordan Carter, and Konstantinos Komaitis for taking the time to join us, sharing their valuable expertise and insights – making the event highly valuable and engaging.

We would also like to thank those who attended and provided feedback. Your feedback is valuable to us to ensure we continue to provide events that add value to you and your business.

Congratulations to our lucky door prize winner, Andrew Cox. We hope you enjoy your new IAA mouse mat and masks!

 

 

Notice of Special General Meeting of Members – Wednesday 28 July 2021

The Internet Association of Australia Inc (IAA) would like to thank all members who have participated in our consultation on whether to transition to a company limited by guarantee. The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive.

The IAA Board remains in favour of the transition and it has resolved to convene the Special General Meeting referred to below.

The Board of the Internet Association of Australia Inc hereby gives notice of a Special General Meeting to give members the opportunity to vote on the two (2) special resolutions set out below in connection with the proposal to transition IAA’s registration (association number A1004987S) from an incorporated Association under the Associations Incorporation Act 2015 (WA) to a company limited by guarantee under Part 5B.1 of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth).

Special General Meeting
Date: Wednesday 28 July 2021
Time: 3:00pm AWST / 5:00pm AEST
Location: Arnotts Technology Lawyers of Level 2, 151 Macquarie Street, Sydney NSW 2000. Members may attend in person or via Zoom (Video Conference)
Link for Zoom registration: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/IAASGM

The following resolutions will be proposed as special resolutions at the Special General Meeting:

1. Lodgement of application for registration. Members are asked to consider and, if thought fit, pass the following resolution as a special resolution:

That in view of the dispersed and Australia-wide nature of the operations of the Internet Association of Australia Inc (registration number A1004987S), an application be made in accordance with section 93 of the Associations Incorporation Act 2015 (WA) and regulation 14 of the Associations Incorporation Regulations 2016 (WA) for it to apply for registration as a prescribed body corporate under Part 5B.1 of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) and an application be made under Part 5B.1 of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) for  the Internet Association of Australia Inc to apply for registration as a company limited by guarantee with the proposed name of “Internet Association of Australia Ltd”.

2. Approve a constitution for the company. Members are asked to consider and, if thought fit, pass the following resolution as a special resolution:

That the constitution, tabled at the special general meeting of the Internet Association of Australia Inc held on 28 July 2021 and initialled by the chair of the special general meeting for the purpose of identification (a copy of which was attached to the notice of the special general meeting), be approved for adoption as the constitution of the company “Internet Association of Australia Ltd”, with the adoption of the constitution to take effect subject to and from when the Australian Securities and Investments Commission registers the company under Part 5B.1 of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth), at which point the constitution shall completely replace the existing rules of the Internet Association of Australia Inc and which shall cease to apply from that date.

Hyperlink to proposed Constitution:  https://www.internet.asn.au/IAA-Ltd-proposed-Constitution-2021.pdf

Members may vote on the above special resolutions in one of the following ways:

A copy of Rule 50 is available at the following hyperlink: https://www.internet.asn.au/IAA-Rules.pdf

Please review your voting contact information in the portal to ensure this information is up to date.

If you have any questions or would like more information, please email secretary@internet.asn.au.

June’s Advocacy Corner Update

Non-Discrimination Guidelines

Non-discrimination provisions are important for ensuring a fair and competitive telecommunications sector. We recently sent through a submission on the ACCC’s proposed Non-Discrimination Guidelines, derived from the Telecommunications Act 1997 and Competition and Consumer Act 2010. In our submission, we support the concept of non-discrimination provisions but note that exemptions (such as the creditworthiness test) can be used as a mechanism to unfairly discriminate against smaller access seekers. We also recommended a more reader-centric and accessible structure to the guidelines, so the document is less complex and more easily understood.

 

ACCC Roundtable on the SAU

IAA was invited to participate in the ACCC and NBN Co roundtable which kickstarted the process to develop a revised long-term regulatory framework for the NBN. The existing Special Access Undertaking (SAU) was established in 2013 and only covers fibre-to-the-premises services. A key focus of the roundtable discussion was on price and revenue controls, specifically the current CVC pricing model.

NBN Co proposed three new pricing constructs:

  • Construct 1 is similar to the existing bundled products model, but with CVC charged at $6/Mbps instead of the $8/Mbps.
  • Construct 2 proposes regular bundles for 50Mbps and below with $5/month increases and flat-pricing AVC only model for products 100Mbps and above, with an immediate $5-$20/month hike and yearly indexed increases in prices.
  • Construct 3 proposes a flat-pricing AVC only model, with an immediate $5-$20/month hike and yearly indexed increases in prices.

Other proposed changes include incorporating the Multi-Technology Mix (MTM) within the SAU.

The ACCC raised potential measures guided by access arrangements supporting competitive retail service offerings, cost certainty to access seekers and reasonable opportunity for access providers to recoup costs and earn a return on investment. Potential measures the ACCC raised are similar to NBN Co’s new pricing constructs. Options include access provided at a fixed monthly price, access provided in product bundles in which CVC inclusions increase and/or CVC overage charges decrease regularly, or a combination of both. They also noted that measures ensuring cost certainty should not be undermined by overdependence on discounting practices. A minimum technical quality of service, such as a specified maximum tolerance for speed reductions and/or higher latency during busy hours should also potentially be considered.

We are eager to hear insights on which pricing construct members prefer and the impact they envision of each option on their speed tier mix, volume, product differentiation and operational processes. If you would like to learn more about the proposed pricing constructs or express your thoughts to guide our response, please reach out to policy@internet.asn.au.

 

Online Safety Bill – Industry Codes

The Online Safety Bill recently passed the Australian senate, which means it will become law within the next six months or so. The Bill establishes processes to force social media companies, internet service providers and hosting providers to act on removal notices regarding harmful content within 24 hours (instead of 48). The eSafety Commissioner is also provided with increased powers to require blocking URLs linking to abhorrent and/or violent material. Concerns have been raised about the range of powers provided to the eSafety Commissioner and the expansive coverage of the online service providers covered by the Act. Development of industry code(s) which foster a safe and transparent online environment as a part of the Bill is currently underway. IAA is actively engaging with the eSafety Office, online service providers and other industry associations to review this process.

 

 

New North Sydney Office

We are happy to announce our newest place of residence, the new space for our Greater Sydney (apparently that’s a place now) team to call home during the week. Located at Suite 1.05, 150 Pacific Highway North Sydney we will be happy to welcome members once movement across Sydney is re-established. Any members who need a space to work with friendly geeks or just want to swing by are welcome, though currently it’s best to pre-arrange a drop in on ceo@internet.asn.au

DigitalGov and Cloud Conference

The 5th Annual DigitalGov and Cloud Conference taking place on 20-22 July 2021 in Sydney co-locates two of Akolade’s best-attended conferences that map the narrative around digital service delivery and further integration with cloud platforms. This three-day physical conference showcases practical case studies featuring frontline government agencies that are leading the charge on citizen engagement and innovation. Hear from 30+ public sector digital, cloud, big data, security, and service delivery leaders share their insights to help you unlock the power of digital and cloud platforms for government service delivery.

Our very own Narelle Clark will be presenting at the event and covering the topic of making your digital journey a success. You can be guaranteed that peering will be mentioned.

All IAA members are eligible for a 20% discount off standard conference entry rates. If you would like to take advantage of this offer, please contact our admin team on admin@internet.asn.au to obtain your discount code.

 

IAASysters

Announcing IAA Systers@AusNOG

We are excited to announce a sponsored training program for women to attend AusNOG this year. Sponsorship includes a targeted training session that will cover presentation skills, career planning and a technical topic of the attendees choice taking place on the day immediately preceding AusNOG. Complimentary conference admission provided by AusNOG, interstate flights, three nights accommodation and a year’s membership of IAA (subject to board approval) will be included. Applications opening soon and should address the selection criteria. Applications close 30 July 2021.

Program Sponsors

The IAASysters@AusNOG Program is proudly brought to you with the help of our sponsors.