Turned to writing at 60, reckon that'll do for the next 30 years, then I'll become a musician - after that, who knows, maybe a wizard...
Protection Racket: Digital Media Code a farce as Google and Facebook not “designated”
Google and Facebook are yet to be “designated” under the Digital Media Bargaining Code, leaving the Code a farce rather than the touted “world-first reform”. Pressure on the platforms meant a small transfer of money from them to the old media...
Divide and conquer – Google and Facebook show who’s the boss!
After a year of reports, submissions and public inquiries – and much posturing on all sides – the Government has finally delivered the draft legislation designed to bring Google and Facebook to heel. But who is holding the leash? The legislation introduced...
Independent media winning the battle of the online audience
Independent media, online and print, continues to grow. Meanwhile, traditional media is under threat on many fronts, driven by stalling readership and declining revenue. News Corp, in particular, is losing out in the online audience stakes. The onset of the pandemic...
Minister hands special Statement of Expectations to the ACCC – what is going on behind the scenes?
The Minister for Communications, Cyber Safety and the Arts, Paul Fletcher, has issued a special Statement of Expectations (SoE) to the ACCC regarding its telecommunications-related functions on 9 October 2020. This new SOE apparently sits alongside the generic SoE...
Deep Dive into UK Broadband success with FTTP
I recently was invited to present to the Australian Telecommunications Associations (TelSoc) and chose to present on what has been happening on the broadband scene in the United Kingdom over recent years. Of particular interest to me is how the UK market is...
Budget unanimity – a spending feast of least resistance, devoid of ideas and vision – and little ingenuity
A few days after the “budget to beat all budgets” was announced, what is most noticeable is not the expected magnitude of spending, deficit and debt, but the consensus among commentators, analysts and economists. “Underwhelming”, “opportunity missed” and “hope and a...
Coalition doubles down on the NBN monopoly – but can it defend itself in the upcoming battle with 5G?
NBN Co’s latest 2020 Corporate Plan was announced last week with the headline being a substantial $4.5 billion investment in deeper fibre for both enterprise and residential customers. This has been welcomed by many and seen as a vindication of the original NBN plan...
Backflips and somersaults – the NBN black comedy takes a new twist
There are those who do back-flips, and triple backward somersaults with a twist. Then there is Communications Minister Paul Fletcher. The saga of the National Broadband Network continues as the Government this week announced a large-scale upgrade to fibre, heralding...
Old Media v New: can government do Murdoch’s bidding and force Google to pay for news?
Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp reckons it’s $1 billion. Google reckons it’s a piddling $10 million. News and Nine Entertainment have enlisted the Government and the ACCC in their battle to force Google to pay for their news content. Just how much money...
Federal ICAC calls: lack of transparency leads to unethical behaviour
We are all much more likely to do the right thing when we know we are being watched. Our elected representatives are no different. And when they continue to not just get away with deceitful behaviour, but are rewarded for it, our democracy suffers. Transparency is the...
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