If your government had decided to install a national, open-access fiber-to-the-home network to 93 percent of all residents, if the installation was free, and if the fiber hookup had no effect on your existing phone or cable service and committed you to nothing... wouldn't you take it?

iiNet and the Australian Federation Against Copyright Theft (AFACT) are due to face-off in the Federal Court again next week.

AAPT brand's fate rides on survey: iiNet – ZDNet

The fate of the AAPT brand hangs on a market survey iiNet will conduct, following the announcement of the purchase of its consumer division earlier today.

Q&A with the Australian Christian Lobby's Jim Wallace on filters and classification – ARNnet

ACL managing director on what he wants from the upcoming election and why he thinks people against the filter are either misinformed or suffering from ‘extreme liberalism’.

Retail service providers an endangered species – delimiter.com.au

Shortly after former Alcatel-Lucent executive Mike Quigley stepped on board as the first employee and leader of the National Broadband Network Company in mid-2009, a new term entered the lexicon of Australia’s telecommunications sector: ‘Retail service provider’ or RSP.

Labor releases national NBN maps: pics – ZDNet

At a press conference in Perth today, Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Communications Minister Stephen Conroy released maps detailing the fibre, wireless and satellite footprint of the National Broadband Network (NBN).

ACMA approves in-flight mobile use – iTnews

Australia's communications regulator has given airlines the green light to allow passengers to use their mobiles in the air whilst in Australian airspace.

iiNet pays $60m for AAPT consumer business – iTnews

ISP iiNet has confirmed with the Australian Stock Exchange that it plans to acquire the consumer business of AAPT for $60 million.

Smith commits to debating Conroy, Ludlam – Computerworld

Shadow communications minister, Tony Smith, has agreed to go head to head against his political opponents on ICT issues at the National Press Club on 10 August.

iiNet confirms AAPT buy, exits trading halt – Computerworld

iiNet has confirmed it will purchase the consumer division of AAPT for $60 million from parent company, Telecom New Zealand.

Broadband roll out in WA – ABC Online

The roll-out of the Federal Government's national broadband network will see Perth and more than 100 regional centres around the state connected to fibre-optic cable.

Broadband rollout blackspots – themercury.com.au

Tasmanians will today get their first glimpse of exactly which local towns and regions will be linked to the high-speed National Broadband Network and which ones will miss out on the internet revolution for at least the next decade.

iiNet beats TPG to snare AAPT's struggling consumer division – The Australian

iiNet has won the battle for AAPT, the nation's third-largest telecommunications company.

AAPT tells staff: Welcome to iiNet – iTnews

AAPT chief executive Paul Broad has told staff of the company's consumer telecommunications business that they are soon to join iiNet.

Comment: iiTrial is a little bit of history repeating – iTnews

Copyright owners have always been in conflict with new technologies, and is invariably only settled on the open market, rather than the courts, says Australian Digital Alliance copyright advisor, Matt Dawes.

Expert predicts broadband cost blowout – ABC Online

There are claims the cost of the $43 billion National Broadband Network (NBN) could double.

Federal Treasurer Wayne Swan has suggested changes could be made to the Federal Government's proposed internet filter.

Election 2010: Technology portfolio consolidation? – iTWire

Communications Minister Stephen Conroy has delivered the broadest hint yet that a Gillard Government will if re-elected consolidate Government information technology-related activities within a single portfolio.

iiNet CEO spells death sentence for AAPT unlimited – iTnews

The chief executive of ISP iiNet has indicated he would dump AAPT's unlimited broadband plans - and the "leechers" on them - if iiNet bought the Telecom New Zealand subsidiary.

Hitches and glitches for broadband rollout – ABC Online

There've been promises that superfast broadband on the $43 billion National Broadband Network will push Tasmanians ahead of the pack.

ISPs doubt impact of new Australia-US fibre link – ARNnet

Two ISPs have cast scepticism over claims a new Australia to US fibre cable system will significantly reduce the cost of purchasing international broadband capacity.

Federal Government set to release exact NBN footprint tomorrow – ARNnet

The Federal Government is set to release the exact locations for the National Broadband Network tomorrow, according to Communications Minister, Senator Stephen Conroy.

Bannon won't front AFACT's iiNet appeal – iTnews

The film industry's star barrister Tony Bannon will not lead the Australian Federation Against Copyright Theft's (AFACT) appeal against ISP iiNet in the Federal Court next week.

iiNet in trading halt ahead of planned acquisition of AAPT unit – The Australian

Shares in iiNet entered a trading halt today as it prepared to announce a potential acquisition, expected to be AAPT's consumer division.

$18.5m fine 'won't stop Telstra's anti-competitive tactics' – ABC Online

Telstra's rivals say the company's $18.5 million fine for anti-competitive conduct will not fix competition problems in the sector.

Coalition pledges cheaper internet alternative – ABC Online

The Federal Opposition says people in regional areas do not need the high speeds of internet that would be offered by Labor's National Broadband Network (NBN).

Telstra up to its old tricks again – The Australian

The record $18.5 million fine against Telstra yesterday was timed superbly to underline the importance of the government's NBN project.

Working from home on NBN – The Australian

Australians could save up to $1.9 billion a year in travel costs, petrol and time if they spent half their work hours at home on NBN.

TPG and iiNet lock horns in battle for AAPT – The Australian

iiNet is locked in a battle with TPG Telecom to acquire Telecom New Zealand's struggling AAPT unit.

Lost in the morass: an insight into the culture that is crippling Telstra – SMH

The great hidden dividend in the rollout of a new national broadband network is the structural separation of Telstra from ownership of the nation's main communication network. The judicial reasons for fining Telstra $18.5 million yesterday help explain why.

Communications Minister Stephen Conroy appears to have backed a so-called ‘opt-out’ model for the National Broadband Network where Australians would be required to choose not to have fibre internet connected to their premises — as opposed to the current model where they must opt-in.

Telstra fined $18.5m for anti-competitive behaviour – ABC Online

Telstra has been ordered to pay more than $18.5 million in fines for locking broadband competitors out of its telephone exchanges.

Bi-partisan plea on NBN rollout – heraldsun.com.au

An industry group has called for the de-politicisation of national broadband policy, saying bi-partisan support for fast internet services is critical for a healthy economy.

Telstra fined $18.5m for exchange access – iTnews

Telstra has been fined $18.55 million by the Federal Court for breaching its carrier license and the law by refusing to allow ISPs access to its exchanges.

Election 2010: Call for debate on Spooks' data plan – iTWire

Government must commit to a "full and frank" debate on the law enforcement merits of its universal data retention plans or risk an Australia Card-like backlash from a mistrustful public, the Internet Industry Association has warned.

Australia bombs at 50th for internet speeds – iTWire

Average Australian internet connection speeds are ranked 50th in the world – below New Zealand at 42nd – and just one-fifth the speed of top-ranked nation South Korea, according to the latest 'State of the Internet' report from Akamai Technologies.

Aus network bandwidth doubled with $400m deal – Computerworld

Raw network bandwidth out of Australia is set to get a two-fold increase with a new $US400 million undersea cable project announced in Sydney today.

$400m cable to double internet capacity out of Australia – The Age

Two companies will invest an estimated $US400 million ($450 million) in a new 13,600-kilometre submarine cable that they say will double telecommunications capacity out of Australia and further reduce broadband costs to consumers.

Google hosts election debate – iTnews

Politicians from the Labor, Liberal and Greens parties fielded questions on their technology policies - or lack thereof - at Google's Pyrmont, Sydney headquarters today.

Farmers anger over broadband cable laying – ABC Online

The company behind the Government's roll out of the national broadband network says it will investigate concerns by some farmers they have not been adequately consulted about land access.

The Coalition defends its lack of NBN alternative, claims policy delay is standard – ARNnet

The Coalition has defended its delay in releasing an alternative to the Government’s National Broadband Network and claimed it’s entirely normal for an election campaign.

Australia scores a C on Akamai broadband report card – iTnews

Akamai's latest State of the Internet was a shot in the arm for supporters of the National Broadband Network, reporting that Australia was in the bottom half of nations in the Asia-Pacific for broadband speeds and slower than neighbour New Zealand.

Opposing NBN like opposing railroad: PM – SMH

Prime Minister Julia Gillard says opposing Labor's $42 billion National Broadband Network (NBN) is like opposing the building of the railroad years ago.

Telstra cops $18m fine for exchange block – The Age

Telstra has been ordered to pay $18.55 million to the Commonwealth for breaching the Trade Practices Act and its carrier licence conditions by locking broadband competitors out of its telephone exchanges.

Telstra starts dragging itself into an NBN world – SMH

The telco is attempting some changes, but it is yet to prove it can survive without its historic advantages.

The retail broadband price cuts announced by Telstra have triggered a furious backlash from Primus echoed by a host of other wholesale customers, with the drastic reductions compounding existing fears of ‘margin squeeze’ if there are no corresponding changes to wholesale pricing.

Whirlpool member horrified by Telstra’s wireless rip-off – iTWire

A member of the popular Australian site Whirlpool has written to iTWire with a letter detailing why Telstra’s recent price drops for broadband have done him and his family no favours, because those price drops went AWOL when it came to mobile broadband.

ABC: The NBN will degrade commercial media around Australia – ARNnet

The ABC’s managing director, Mark Scott, has told a Sydney event the rise of the National Broadband Network will accelerate the decline in commercial media.

Less than a year until internet addresses run dry – SMH

In less than a year, the world will run out of internet addresses and inaction by internet providers could lead to broken applications and more expensive net connections, experts warn.

ISPs rally against Telstra ADSL price cuts – iTnews

ISP TPG has shrugged off an aggressive price revamp of Telstra's ADSL plans as Internode rallied users to stand by the ISP and not move their services to Telstra.

Telstra will deal with scrapped NBN – SMH

Telstra boss David Thodey says the telco will roll with the punches if the coalition wins the election and scraps the National Broadband Network (NBN).

SMBs to ditch business plans in favour of consumer NBN offers? – Computerworld

Small and medium enterprises could increasingly drop their business broadband connections in favour of consumer plans on the National Broadband Network (NBN), according to what is believed to be Australia’s first business NBN customer.

Where are the ICT Citizens' Assemblies? – ZDNet

Why is it that tech policy misses out on public consultation?

Primus connects first 100Mbps business client on NBN – iTWire

The National Broadband Network rollout garnered further brownie points for the Government with an announcement that Primus Telecom has connected its first business client in a remote Tasmanian town. The remoteness of the 100Mbps connection lends support to the Government’s vision of the NBN providing ubiquitous cheap fast broadband to consumers and small businesses throughout Australia.

Build network or scrap it – SMH

Not long after the Labor government came into office in 2007 the Opel high-speed internet plan started by its predecessor bit the dust.

Top 10 policy ideas from IIA's Digital Economy Paper – iTnews

The Internet Industry Association has released its latest manifesto, 'Principles for a Digital Economy', which sets about making policy recommendations that would boost Australia's economy - and in particular the local ICT industry.

BitTorrent researchers stand by sponsored study – iTnews

One of the authors of a contentious study of BitTorrent trackers effectively dismissed a critique of the work by a major torrent blog overnight, challenging the critics to produce some "comparable research".

Coalition must get online on broadband – SMH

One of the most important proposals for developing Australia's global competitiveness, the National Broadband Network, rated two mentions in Sunday's leaders' debate — both from Prime Minister Julia Gillard. Tony Abbott ignored it, although the Coalition has said that it would cancel the network.

Telstra: damned if it drops prices, damned if it doesn’t! – iTWire

The Competitive Carriers’ Coalition has damned Telstra for dropping its retail prices, saying that it hasn’t also dropped its wholesale pricing, a complaint some CCC members have had before the ACCC for the last month. Can Telstra really drop retail prices without the same on the wholesale front, or is Telstra having a wholesale rip of its competition?

What the ICT industry wants: The Internet Industry Association (IIA) – Computerworld

The Internet Industry Association (IIA) has released one of the most ambitious lists yet on its wishlist for ICT policies under the Federal election.

Residents in two of the first five mainland test sites for the national broadband network will this week receive letters from NBN Co offering free connections from their homes to the network.

ISPs take note: if you filter you lose customers! – iTWire

Internet service providers who implement the Federal Government’s voluntary filter stand to lose Australian broadband customers in droves according to a new survey. In fact, according to the newly released figures, signing up to the filter could be a business shattering choice.

Coalition faces massive voter backlash over NBN scrap plan – iTWire

It is one thing to say that climate change is crap but quite another to threaten to scrap a popular $43 billion nation building project. That appears to be the corner that the leader of the opposition Tony Abbott has painted himself into with his announced intention for the National Broadband Network.

BigPond price cuts anger Internode, iiNet – PC World

National broadband providers Internode and iiNet have cried foul with regards to a massive price cut unveiled yesterday by Telstra's BigPond internet service provider division on its broadband plans.

Local businesses demand NBN fine print – iTWire

Natalie Muik is crying out for a better internet service for her family’s business and was interested to learn that Mike Quigley, ceo of NBN Co had today announced he would be sending her and other local businesses a letter and consent form to sign up for the 100 Mbits a second National Broadband network. But first she wants to see the fine print.

Ballarat's BitTorrent study “horribly wrong” says TorrentFreak – ARNnet

Global BitTorrent news source, TorrentFreak, has ridiculed the veracity of a study on the legality of BitTorrent usage published by the University of Ballarat last week.

How do Telstra's new BigPond prices stack up? – pcauthority.com.au

Telstra's announcement of a price cut on their broadband over the coming months is welcome news for broadband users. So is it time to reconsider Telstra's ADSL2+ and Cable broadband?

NBN fibre reach extendedto 93 per cent – ARNnet

The Federal Government will extend its planned fibre roll-out under the National Broadband Network from an initial 90 per cent of Australian premises to 93 per cent – covering an additional 1.6 million extra premises.

Telstra launches 200GB ADSL assault – iTnews

Telstra has again put the squeeze on its competitors by undercutting resellers of its wholesale ADSL ports by up to $100 a month on high-quota plans.

iiNet disgruntled over BigPond price cuts – ARNnet

Perth-based ISP, iiNet, has filed a formal complaint with the Australian Competition and Consumers Commission (ACCC) after Telstra’s drastic price cuts on its BigPond ADSL2+ services.

National network lumbers forward, its fate hanging on who wins government – The Australian

Three years on from Kevin Rudd's announcement of a national broadband network, Labor is still selling the promise, rather than the reality, of high-speed broadband for all Australians.

What the ICT industry wants: The Internet Society of Australia (ISOC-AU) – Computerworld

Vice president of the Internet Society of Australia (ISOC-AU), Narelle Clark, outlines the election priorities the society believes should be at the top of the list for technologically-inclined candidates.

Google fibre method "could save NBN $10 billion" – iTnews

A fibre-laying technique being used by Google in an experimental US fibre network project could reduce the cost of the NBN by up to $10 billion, according to a local company that has licensed the technology.

Torrent community goes to town on ICSL study – iTnews

Widely read BitTorrent and filesharing blog Torrent Freak has slammed an industry-commissioned study into file sharing by the Internet Commerce Security Laboratory as riddled with mistakes, with conclusions based on "painfully inaccurate data".

Hanging up on broadband not way to go – SMH

A coalition policy to cancel the national broadband network would 'take Australia back to 2004' and prolong Telstra's monopoly, according to Telstra's competitors.