Communications Alliance appoints new NBN Lead Consultant 

Communications Alliance today named Dr Paul Brooks as its new NBN Lead Consultant.  Dr Brooks succeeds Gary McLaren who has been appointed Chief Technology Officer of NBN Co.

Dr Brooks is the founder of telecommunications design and strategy consultancy, Layer 10, and is recognised as a leading telecommunications analyst.  

Communications Alliance CEO Anne Hurley welcomed Dr Brooks to the role and paid tribute to Mr McLaren’s significant contribution to the industry’s NBN preparations.

“I am very pleased to announce the appointment of Paul Brooks to lead the Communications Alliance NBN Works Program.  Paul is extremely well regarded in the industry and we believe our NBN project teams will benefit greatly from his experience in creating networks from the ground up.

“The industry has come a long way since it first came together at our NBN Industry Connection Forums in May and much credit is due to Gary McLaren.  Under Gary’s leadership, a broad cross-section of the industry has worked together to develop detailed positions on key NBN issues and the first discussion papers will be released next month.

“We congratulate Gary on his appointment and look forward to ongoing collaboration with NBN Co as our NBN Works Program enters a new phase under the expert guidance of Paul Brooks,” Ms Hurley said.

In keeping with NBN Co’s earlier commitment to participate in the Communications Alliance NBN Project, Gary McLaren will continue to be involved and will be joined by other NBN Co personnel who will participate across a range of project teams.  

NBN Project Update

Last week the Early Stage Deployment team progressed its draft checklist to assist stakeholders such as developers, planning authorities and the various levels of government.

As well, the End User Premises team held its initial meeting with good progress on structuring the numerous choices available in deploying equipment and services into an end user site.  Anyone with access to the wiki can review the team's progress and provide comment on it.

The Reference Model, Wholesale Services and Technical teams will meet this week.

Interested members are invited to register for the project team which will also provide full access to the NBN Wiki. Non-member organisations who have an interest in the NBN and meet the eligibility requirements for Communications Alliance membership can register as observers directly on the NBN Wiki.

http://www.commsalliance.com.au/Activities/national-broadband-network

ACCC issues Information Paper about mobile, wireless internet speed advertising

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has issued an Information Paper to assist companies in complying with the consumer protection provisions in the Trade Practices Act 1974 when advertising mobile and wireless internet.

"The ACCC is concerned by companies over-promising and under-delivering the speeds available on mobile and wireless internet, particularly in the context of network upgrades and increasing wireless internet subscriptions," ACCC chairman, Graeme Samuel, said last Wednesday.

"This Information Paper is intended to assist the whole industry – mobile and wireless internet retailers, resellers, and network owners – to comply with the law."

In the Information Paper guidance, companies must not advertise 'maximum', 'up to' or 'peak network' speeds if those speeds are not generally achievable or likely to be achieved by consumers using the network.

The Information Paper – Mobile and Other Wireless Internet Speed Claims and the Trade Practices Act 1974 – is available on the ACCC website here.

New Members

Communications Alliance is pleased to welcome the following new members

• Corning Cables Systems Pty Ltd
• Broadcast Australia Pty Ltd

Events

Australian Consumer Law Seminar - tba

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