Internet Society of Australia
A Chapter of the Internet Society
ABN 36 076 406 801
Internet Society of Australia (ISOC-AU) 2001/10 The Internet is for Everyone! 12 October 2001 The Internet Society of Australia today called on all candidates in the coming federal election to support a high quality path to development of the Internet for Australia. 'ISOC-AU has developed 13 key steps for high quality development of the Internet in consultation with its individual and organisational members representing more than 40,000 Australian Internet users,' said Mr Tony Hill, Executive Director of ISOC-AU. 'Maximising benefit for individual and business Internet users requires action on a range of fronts including access and speed, innovation, content and policy issues. 'Unless this action is taken, Australia risks falling behind other countries on access to benefits from the worldwide information society and economy.' 'Already more than 50% of Internet connections in Korea are using high speed broadband access that is at least 10 times as fast as the fastest dial up connection in Australia. 'The most important point is that we build an Internet that gives everyone citizenship in the online world.' All 13 key steps are presented on the ISOC-AU Web site at http://www.isoc-au.org.au. 'We have been working with our members to develop these key steps and begin building a base of policy information that will help to place future decision making on a solid footing', said Mr Hill. 'We are encouraging everyone to contribute their views to development of policy for the Internet. The points are supported by online links to more detailed information and we encourage everyone to contribute to this information base by contacting ISOC-AU. 'Also, we expect that political parties and candidates will be able to contribute links to policies that will form part of the information base and provide Internet users with the opportunity to compare approaches. 'This process will continue through to election day and beyond.' Contact: Mr Tony Hill, 0412 128 755, ed@isoc-au.org.au media@isoc-au.org.au | Tony Hill ed@isoc-au.org.au Executive Director | | icq 103707971 Internet Society of Australia (ISOC-AU) | | Tel +61 2 6257 5544 PO Box 152 | | Mobile 041 212 8755 Civic Square ACT 2608 Australia | | Fax +61 2 6262 9938 www.isoc-au.org.au | | The Internet is for Everyone! |