NSW Young Lawyers Communications, Entertainment and Technology Committee

Because we are awesome geeks.

ACMA Finds Breach of Code of Practice

ACMA has found that a community radio station in Nambucca breached the Community Broadcasting Radio Codes of Practice 2008. A complaint was made that material aired during a youth program on the radio station was inappropriate. The material involved a series of comedy sketches involving prostitution, sex toys and Viagra.

ACMA found the radio station 2NVR did not breach the Code in respect of the content of the program but did breach the Code in respect of having in place programming practices that protect children from harmful material. The full investigation report is available.

ACCC Launches Review of Telco Pricing

The ACCC has launched a review Access Pricing Principles. The review will look at the pricing of:

  • the unconditional loop line service;
  • the line sharing service;
  • the public switched telephone network originating access service;
  • the public switched telephone network terminating access service;
  • the local carriage service; and
  • the wholesale line rental service.

Submissions are due by Friday 26 February 2010.

A discussion paper is available.

Kate Lundy releases Public Sphere briefing paper

Senator for the ACT Kate Lundy has presented the finalised briefing paper from her third Public Sphere on Australian ICT and Creative Industries Development to the Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, Senator the Hon Kim Carr to put to the Information Technology Industry Innovation Council.

The Public Sphere series is an innovative forum with tweets, video content and wikis being included in the process of producing this briefing paper.

Some interesting insights include:

  • that we should publicise technology related achievements and individuals in the same vein as we do sportsmen; 
  • certain concerns being raised about the relevance of software patents and their ability to protect in Australia; and
  • funding - suggesting using crowd-funding to raise monies for ICT development.

 

EFF sues feds: tell us how you use Facebook for cyberstalking

arstechnica reports that the Electronic Frontier Foundation and UC Berkeley's Samuelson Center has filed suit in California's Northern District, asking the court to force a number of government agencies to hand over any documents they have which relate to social networking sites being used to as part of investigations.

Australia-note: This would be particularly relevant here as courts have been serving notices through Facebook. Additionally, criminals have been caught through their Facebook updates e.g. the NZ couple who fled with $NZD10million.  

Breaches of ACMA's Code of Practice

In the past few days, ACMA has found a number of breaches of the Commercial Industry Code of Practice.

Nine Underbelly Promotion Breaches Code
Media Release: http://www.acma.gov.au/WEB/STANDARD/pc=PC_311963

TEN Bad News Bears Breaches Code
Media Release: http://www.acma.gov.au/WEB/STANDARD/pc=PC_311964

TEN, Nine and Seven News Breaches Code
Media Release: http://www.acma.gov.au/WEB/STANDARD/pc=PC_311966

In addition, ACMA has been provided with an enforceable undertaking by AUSTAR.

Enforceable Undertaking Provided by AUSTAR
Media Release: http://www.acma.gov.au/WEB/STANDARD..PC/pc=PC_311960