We delivered oral presentations (powerpoint , and speech) to the Parliamentary Communications Committee regarding the pending Convergence Bill.

Oral response to ICASA question document released in January regarding the regulation of adsl.

Response to the Convergence Bill (as introduced in the National Assembly as a section 75 Bill; explanatory summary of Bill published in Government Gazette No. 27294 of 16 February 2005).

Response to the Convergence Bill (as introduced in the National Assembly as a section 75 Bill; explanatory summary of Bill published in Government Gazette No. 27294 of 16 February 2005).

The first Internet Fiesta was held by ISOC-ZA at Belhar Community Centre (Adam Tas Ave) on Saturday-Sunday (March 19-20, through the night) from 11am to 3pm.

In order to share our experiences we have created and share the following useful documentations for others to follow:

• The report
• Neil Blakeley-Milner’s Blog
• The initial project plan (.pdf, 700 KB)
• The map (.pdf, 34 KB)
• The task list (.xls, 17 KB)
• The press release (.pdf, 24 KB)

Also, see the pictures below (click a thumbnail for a larger version)

Read more »

Download the PDF Here

ISOC-ZA breaks through 200 members mark!

At the Cape Town International Conference Centre, ISOC-ZA facilitated a joint forum between ICANN and the World Blind Union on Internet Accessibility for the blind. The forum was webcast for those that could not attend. The panel consisted of worlwide experts including:

Hein Wagner: International Sales manager for Thawte Consulting, born blind and whose achievements include: marathon running, a Cape to Rio yacht race, winning member of the World cup cricket team for the blind

Vint Cerf: ICANN chair and ‘father’ of the Internet John Klensin: IETF representative to ICANN

Amadeu Abril: partially sighted Internet pioneer and ex-member of the ICANN board, and

Dave Williams: founder and CEO of www.acbradio.com

Covered by ITWeb on Nov 25, and Dec 8

Response to ICASA question document released in October regarding the ministerial determinations of 3 September 2004. Government Gazette 26763, notice 1924 of 2004

In a recent letter to ICASA and the Ministry of Communications, the Online Publisher’s Association (OPA) called for an urgent meeting with government representatives to discuss the high cost of bandwidth in South Africa. The Internet Society believes reducing the costs of bandwidth is imperative to stimulate the growth of Internet usage.

Government should become actively involved in making this a reality. The true cost of bandwidth is clear from the dramatic slow-down in growth of Internet users in South Africa.

According to the annual Internet Access in South Africa report by World Wide Worx, an independent research company, growth slowed down to 6% in 2003. For 2004, World Wide Worx forecasts an increase to 3.68 million Internet users from 3.28 million at the end of 2003.

At the current rate of growth, we will only have 1 in 10 people with Internet access by 2006.

Read the full report here