Entries from July 2009 ↓

Goodbye Harry Patch. You were the last. Never an unknown soldier.

See Britain’s Last Tommies for more.

You might have seen this story about karoo – the monopoly internet supplier in Hull who cut off their customers without any appeal process. I’ve written to Lord Carter about it (yes I know he’s gone but his office will still be processing letters). Here’s what I’ve said:

Karoo and File Sharing

I would like to bring to your attention my concerns, and those of many in the digital community, about the unfair file sharing policy of Karoo, the sole internet service provider in Hull.

As I understand it, web users suspected of file-sharing are being cut off without warning by Karoo and are being forced to sign a document promising not to repeat the offence in order to get their service restored. Karoo is undertaking such action without any legal intervention or right of appeal, and has even been charging users for reconnection on the second and third ‘offence’.

In my view, the actions of Karoo clearly contravene the Department’s thinking on file sharing, as set out in the Digital Britain report, which said disconnection was not the Government’s “preferred option” given that internet access is now seen to be as critical as traditional utilities such as electricity.

As a monopoly supplier in Hull, Karoo clearly has a bigger responsibility than other internet service providers to operate a file sharing policy that is both fair and proportionate. With no other telecoms company in Hull, there is a real risk that this policy, which is neither fair nor proportionate, risks denying people access to a basic right such as the internet.

The Government’s proposals to tackle illegal file sharing involve sending warning letters and court action before technical measures can be imposed. This approach should be adopted to stop consumers, especially Karoo’s customers, from being treated this way in the future.

I would welcome your comments on this matter and hope you may be able to exert your influence on Karoo to amend this unfair policy.

Workplace cruelty. With tongue in cheek, it had to be said. Sorry government.