The Trinidad and Tobago Computer Society (TTCS ; http://ttcs.tt/ ) is a computer user group formed in 1997. We:
are a forum where computers, related technologies and related social issues are discussed so persons can share knowledge and improve their experiences with technology;
keep current with the events in the local Information Technology and telecommunications industries ;
hold membership in several international organisations and advise on technology issues in Trinidad and Tobago and the region.
We have regular meetings, mailing lists, our website and are on Facebook , Twitter and Google+. We also maintain a collection of Free and Open Source Software for Windows called the TTCS OSSWIN.
Anyone interested in computing or the Internet, regardless of the level of their computer experience or the type of hardware or software they use, are welcome to join our announcement mailing list to keep up to date about (and participate in) our activities.
The Trinidad and Tobago Computer Society will be having its end of year Christmas dinner at Paprika Bistro at The Falls at Westmall on Thursday December 13 2018 from 6:30pm.
Space is limited, so please RSVP at [email protected]! The anticipated cost is $200-$250TT per person.
The Central Bank of Trinidad and Tobago has released a Draft E-Money Policy “To Inform a Ministerial Order for the Category of Persons other than Licensed Financial Institutions who can Issue E-money” for comments before December 12 2018.
The Financial Institutions Act 2008 (‘FIA’), defines electronic money (e-money) as “a monetary value represented by a claim on the issuer which is – a) stored on an electronic device; b) issued on receipt of funds of an amount not less in value than the monetary value issued; and c) accepted as a means of payment by persons other than the issuer, so however that the funds referred to in (b) above shall not be treated as a deposit.”
Currently, only financial institutions as defined in the FIA and licensed to conduct ‘business of banking’ or ‘business of a financial nature’ (‘licensees’) can issue e-money. E-money instruments include prepaid cards or stored value accounts, digital wallets etc.
However, given the emergence of Fintechs3 in the financial landscape, non- licensees have expressed interest in being permitted to issue e-money.
The Central Bank is of the view that e-money issuers other than licensees can help promote financial inclusion and development of the domestic payments system which is still heavily cash based.
Consequently, it has developed this E-money Policy that discusses the proposed regulatory framework for e-money issuers other than licensees for consultation with its regulated entities and other interested stakeholders.
The E-money Policy is divided into four parts: • Part I is the Introduction; • Part II discusses E-Money Developments in Trinidad and Tobago; • Part III together with Appendices 1 and 2 examine international and regional precedent, including risks associated with e-money issuance; and • Part IV presents the policy recommendations for Trinidad and Tobago which are detailed in Appendix 3 – the draft E-Money Issuer Order to be made by the Minister of Finance.
The Central Bank advises that the consultation on the draft E-money Policy will be closed on December 12, 2018. Comments on the E-money Policy should be forward by e-mail to [email protected]
the all new TTCS OSSWIN 2.0 featuring a new web UI
The TTCS OSSWIN v2.40, a collection of the latest version of Free and Open Source Software for Microsoft Windows 10/8/7 is available for download. The latest release features several software updates.
Visit the TTCS OSSWIN page at https://www.ttcs.tt/osswin for more details and to download the 4GB collection as an ISO file for extracting to your harddrive or USB storage device or for burning on to a DVD.
Note that you can also browse TTCS OSSWIN online at http://ttcsosswin.ttcs.tt/ which features the web interface to learn about Free and Open Source programs in various categories, including screenshots or videos of the programs and a link to the program’s website where you can download the program. The web based UI is responsive, meaning it should be usable on non-Windows small screen mobile phones and tablets.
Thethirteenth Annual Meeting of the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) will be hosted by the Government of France at the headquarters of UNESCO in Paris from 12 to 14 November 2018. The IGF is an opportunity for multi-stakeholder dialogue on public policy issues related to key elements of Internet governance, such as the Internet’s sustainability, robustness, security, stability, access and development.
Submit comments and questions during the IGF sessions
Hold discussions on internet governance issues.
Please see the IGF 2018 schedule to identify sessions of interest. Note that the times on the IGF 2018 schedule are local to France which is 5 hours ahead of Trinidad and Tobago.
Attendance to the Trinidad and Tobago’s IGF 2018 Remote Hub is free, however please RSVP using this Google Form in order to confirm seating. Light refreshments will be available for participants.
excerpt from TATT’s discussion paper on net neutrality
The Trinidad and Tobago Computer Society (TTCS) will be having a F2F meeting on Saturday October 13 2018 from 1pm at Engineering Consultants, 112A Edward Street (corner of Oxford and Edward Streets), Port of Spain.
Save the date! The third annual Trinidad and Tobago Internet Governance Forum (TTIGF ; http://igf.tt/) will be held on Friday 25th January 2019 from 9am to 5pm at the Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Industry and Commerce, Columbus Circle, Westmoorings, Trinidad with online participation available for those unable to attend at the venue.
We invite your contributions to craft the TTIGF 2019 agenda topics. Share your thoughts by filling out the form at https://goo.gl/forms/Se2S2SemnKXpGuEU2
What is Net Neutrality? From Wikipedia: Net neutrality is the principle that Internet service providers treat all data on the Internet equally, and not discriminate or charge differently by user, content, website, platform, application, type of attached equipment, or method of communication.
About Over the Top Services (OTT)
OTT refers to “services that a customer may use which rides on top of a network to which the customer is connected” (CANTO, 2014) – which covers anything that is sent and received over the Internet from webpages to email to Voice over IP (VoIP) and video chat services (like Skype, Whatsapp, Google Duo), Messaging services (like Whatsapp, Apple iMessage, Google Allo) to video and audio streaming (like YouTube, Netflix, Facebook Video).
About TATT’s discussion paper on net neutrality and OTT Services in Trinidad and Tobago
In TATT’s discussion paper, TATT proposes several guiding principles and policy recommendations for Net Neutrality and OTT Services in Trinidad and Tobago. These proposed principles and recomendations WILL impact current and future Internet users and businesses in Trinidad and Tobago in how we use the Internet. Please therefore read the discussion paper and contribute to the TTCS response to the discussion paper (Google doc, no login needed) before October 12 2018 by following the links below, and read about TATT’s proposed principles and recommendations for Net Neutrality and OTT Services.
TATT proposed Guiding Principles for Net Neturality
Principle 1: Reasonable Traffic Management
The Authority recognises that well-functioning broadband networks require operators to manage their networks reasonably.
Traffic management techniques that are reasonable and serve to address specific needs should be allowed.
Principle 2: No Unreasonable Discrimination
The Authority proposes net neutrality rules that specifically prohibit network operators from intentionally downgrading and/or blocking lawful content, applications and/or services.
Discriminatory practices may be allowed for societal issues such as: bridging the digital divide, public safety, emergency situations, law enforcement and national security issues, and child pornography.
Principle 3: Encouraging Investment
Net neutrality policy decisions should ensure that market opportunities and investment prospects are not unduly disrupted.
Net neutrality policy decisions should encourage a climate of regulatory certainty that incentivises investment, e.g., through sector stability and the expectation of reasonable rates of return on investment opportunities.
Principle 4: Transparency
Network operators should disclose their network practices inclusive of traffic management practices and application-specific behaviour.
The disclosure of traffic management information that is commercially sensitive in nature, or which may compromise the security of a network, should be exempted from the principle of transparency.
Principle 5: Promoting Local Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Any policy framework on net neutrality should be guided by the stimulation of local innovation and entrepreneurship.
TATT’s proposed policy recommendations for net neutrality
On Blocking and Throttling
An ISP should not prevent (through blocking) end users from freely accessing and/or providing lawful information, content, services and applications.
Subject to the principle of reasonable traffic management, an ISP should not intentionally restrict, alter, degrade or impair specific content, services or applications.
On Paid Prioritisation and Zero-Rated Pricing
The Authority proposes penalising harmful and proven offences as opposed to the absolute banning of paid prioritisation and zero-rating practices.
Each case should be evaluated on its individual merit and regulatory action would only be warranted where there is violation of one or more of the guiding principles.
Classification 1: Functionally Equivalent OTT Services
OTTs which are functionally equivalent to traditional services and use numbering resources to connect to the PSTN [Public Switch Telephone Network] should be regulated in the same manner as traditional telecommunications services.
Amendments to the Authority’s Authorisation Framework will be required to reflect classification 1 OTT services.
Classification 2: Other OTT Services
The Authority may consider taking a light-handed regulatory approach to OTT services not requiring numbering or spectrum resources.
Amendments to the Authority’s Authorisation Framework will be required to reflect classification 2 OTT services.
General regulatory controls should be applied to these services. These include, inter alia, cybersecurity, data protection, child pornography, intellectual property rights, national security and privacy controls.
Internet Week Trinidad and Tobago will bring together Trinidad and Tobago Internet stakeholders, regional Internet organisations, and the global technical community to address the strengthening, security and resilience of local Internet infrastructure, and the enhancement of the quality and delivery of Internet services. Internet Week Trinidad and Tobago consists of five premier events, namely:
CaribNOG 16th Regional Meeting on Securing Caribbean Networks
LACNIC/Google Workshop on Entrepreneurship and Digital Marketing
Internet Society Meeting on Community Networks and Natural Disaster Management
LACNIC/Google Workshop on Interconnection and IP Traffic in Trinidad and Tobago (by special invitation only)
LACNIC’s AMPARO Workshop on How to set up a Computer Security Incident Response Team (CSIRT) and Incident Management (by special invitation only)
All Internet Week Trinidad and Tobago activities are free-of-charge and open to the public, but registration is mandatory. Please indicate clearly the activities that you are interested in attending during the registration process. No walk-ins will be allowed on the day of the event. The activities will be held at Level 4, Government Campus Plaza Auditorium on Richmond Street, Port of Spain, except for the Interconnection and AMPARO workshops, which are by invitation only.
