Category: blog

TTCS draft comments on TATT “Discussion Paper on Android Boxes in Trinidad and Tobago” – please review and comment

The TTCS has begun drafting a possible submission to the Telecommunications Authority of Trinidad and Tobago (TATT) “Discussion Paper on Android Boxes in Trinidad and Tobago” (PDF ; 666K ; 22 pages)

Our core draft comment :

“The reasons for falling subscription models are not only due to piracy but due to changing habits from consumers, especially more internet savvy ones who want

– to have choices on what to watch from online services like YouTube and Netflix.

– to have choice on what device they want to watch be it their

television, computer, mobile phone or tablet

– to decide when they want to watch content and be able to pause and resume watching content when they want.

– having more choices other than just watching TV or online content (browsing/posting to social media, playing online games)

The appeal of paying for subscriber TV to watch a subset of TV channels with ads and to be constrained by the schedule of what TV channels are broadcasting at specific times isn’t likely to appeal to Internet savvy users.

The success of Netflix shows that persons are willing to pay for content, as well as persons buying video content from services like Apple or watch ads when watching online video from services like YouTube.

The proliferation of cinema megacomplexes in Trinidad and Tobago also point to persons that are willing to pay to watch the latest movie releases.

TATT should therefore NOT impose protectionist measures to protect the business models  offered by subscription TV industry.”

Please view and comment on the draft TTCS comments on TATT’s Discussion Paper on Android Boxes in Trinidad and Tobago. You do not need a Google account to comment.

TATT’s deadline for comments on the discussion paper is Friday August 24 2018.

 

 

TATT publishes “Discussion Paper on Net Neutrality and Over the Top (OTT) Services in Trinidad and Tobago” for comments until September 7 2018

(Update: TATT has extended comments to Friday September 21 2018)

(Update2: TATT has further extended comments to Friday October 12 2018)

The Telecommunications Authority of Trinidad and Tobago (TATT) has published a Discussion Paper on Net Neutrality and OTT Services in Trinidad and Tobago (PDF ;  1034K )

The purpose of this 63 page discussion paper is to examine “both sides of the net neutrality debate within the context of Trinidad and Tobago and proposes guiding principles and recommendations for net neutrality. The paper considers to what extent net neutrality regulation is desirable in an era of growing OTT applications and services, and proposes policy positions to this effect.”

Furthermore, the objectives of this paper are to:
i. explore the nature of OTT services as they relate to voice, media and messaging.
ii. present the key principles underlying both sides of the net neutrality debate.
iii. examine the policy issues relating to net neutrality and OTT services.
iv. propose guiding principles for net neutrality in Trinidad and Tobago.
v. make recommendations for the regulation of net neutrality and OTTs in Trinidad and Tobago.

View / Download
Discussion Paper on Net Neutrality and OTT Services in Trinidad and Tobago
(PDF ; 1034K)

Interested persons are asked to submit comments on this document in accordance with the TATT’s Public Consultation Comment Submission Form on or before Friday 7 September 2018.

 

Register and attend the free Internet Governance 101 event on Saturday 21 July 2018 from 9am to 11:30 ;

Internet Governance Building “Under Construction” (Image from DiploFoundation (https://www.diplomacy.edu/)

The Trinidad and Tobago Multistakeholder Advisory Group (TTMAG) will be hosting a Internet Governance 101 event on July 21 2018 from 9am to 11:30am at Naparima College, San Fernando, from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

IG101 will be an interactive session that introduces the key concepts, organisations and perspectives on Internet Governance, with content that will be sure to engage stakeholders from academic, business, legal, technical and other backgrounds. The IG101 event follows from the 2018 Trinidad and Tobago Internet Governance Forum (TTIGF), and in response to TTIGF participant feedback

The event is free, however space is limited. To confirm your attendance, visit the TTMAG IG101 Eventbrite page to register online. Persons that register will be sent preparatory material for the IG101 event.

Trinidad and Tobago Computer Society Lime [Discussion paper on Android boxes] on **Wednesday ** July 4 2018 from 7 to 9:30 pm; please RSVP!

Trinidad and Tobago Computer Society Lime [Discussion paper on Android boxes] on **Wednesday ** July 4 2018 from 7 to 9:30 pm; please RSVP!

The Trinidad and Tobago Computer Socierty will be having a lime on Wednesday July 4th 2018 from 7pm to 9:30 pm at Wendy’s Cafe located upstairs at Wendy’s Restaurant at the corner of Ana Street & Ariapita Avenue, Woodbrook, Port of Spain.

Our key topic for this lime is to discuss TATT’s “Discussion Paper on Android Boxes in Trinidad and Tobago” (PDF ; 666K ; 22 pages) and to help formulate our response (Google doc, no account required) to TATT as a group. Please come prepared with your comments and contributions to the discussion.

Anyone interested in computing and ICT are welcome to attend, however please RSVP to [email protected] . See you there!

 

Telecommunications Authority of Trinidad and Tobago (TATT) releases “Discussion Paper on Android Boxes in Trinidad and Tobago” for comments until August 10 2018

(Update August 16 2018 – TATT has extended the deadline for comments to Friday 24th August, 2018. Do comment on the TTCS draft comments on TATT’s discussion paper on Android Boxes in Trinidad and Tobago.

 

The Telecommunications Authority of Trinidad and Tobago (TATT) has released  the discussion paper “Discussion Paper on Android Boxes in Trinidad and Tobago” (PDF ; 666K ; 22 pages) on June 25 2018.

The objectives of this Dicussion Paper are to:
1. Introduce the concept of Android boxes, and their nature and prevalence within the Trinidad and Tobago market.
2. Assess the impact of Android boxes in Trinidad and Tobago from the service provider’s perspective.
3. Assess the impact of Android boxes in Trinidad and Tobago from the consumer’s perspective.
4. Present other countries’ approaches to the issue, especially with respect to its legality.
5. Identify the legislative remit of the Authority in addressing any issues related to Android boxes.
6. Present possible solutions and recommendations that may be undertaken by the Authority.

The TATT website notes that “Interested persons are asked to submit comments on this document in accordance with the Authority’s Public Consultation Comment Submission Form on or before Friday 10th August, 2018.”

View / Download Discussion Paper on Android Boxes in Trinidad and Tobago” (PDF ; 666K ; 22 pages).

(Update : 26 June 2018 – a TTCS Google doc to collect comments to comment on this discussion has been started. You do not need a Google account to comment on the document)

 

TTCS OSSWIN 2.2 a collection of Free and Open Source Software (#FOSS) for Windows available for download

screenshot of the TTCS OSSWIN UI

Following the updates to TTCS OSSWIN online, the TTCS OSSWIN v2.20, a collection of the latest version of Free and Open Source Software for Microsoft Windows 10/8/7 is available for download.

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.

 

June 17 2018 updates to TTCS OSSWIN online, an online resource of Free and Open Source Software (#FOSS) for Windows

TTCS OSSWIN online screenshot

TTCS OSSWIN online (http://ttcsosswin.ttcs.tt/) is a online resource of Free and Open Source Software for Windows 7/8/10 put together by the Trinidad and Tobago Computer Society for any Windows user to discover software organised in various categories that can be downloaded and installed. Each program has a description along with screenshots and / or videos of the program in action.

What was updated on June 17 2018 :

Added : draw.io, mDesktop.

Removed : Dia, Finestra Virtual Desktops

Updated : replaced over a dozen screenshots of programs running in Windows XP with screenshots of those programs running in Windows 10 ; added videos for mDesktop and Really Slick Screensavers.

 

TTCS followup comments on the Cybercrime Bill 2017 submitted to Trinidad and Tobago Parliament Joint Select Committee on June 14 2018

 

After the Trinidad and Tobago Computer Society submitted its comments to the Trinidad and Tobago Parliment Joint Select Committee appointed to consider and report on the Cybercrime Bill on May 17 2018, the Joint Select Committee (JSC) requested followup information specifically on clause 8 and 18.

A Google doc was again created to gather our followup comments and the TTCS has submitted its followup comments to the JSC on June 14 2018.

View the TTCS followup comments to JSC re: Cybercrime Bill 2017 (PDF ; 180K)

 

Draft TTCS followup comments on the Trinidad and Tobago Cybercrime Bill 2017 – please review!

The Trinidad and Tobago Computer Society (TTCS ; http://ttcs.tt) presented its comments on the Cybercrime BIll 2017 before the Trinidad and Tobago Parliament’s Joint Select Committee of the Cybercrime Bill (JSC) at their Sixth Meeting of the JSC on Thursday May 17, 2018.

You can read the TTCS comments on the Cybercrime Bill 2017 and watch the recording of the Sixth Meeting of the JSC on YouTube.

The TTCS is drafting a followup response to the JSC as it relates to clause 18 of the Bill (“Causing harm by communication using a computer system”).

Please view and comment on the draft TTCS followup response to the JSC dated June 11 2018. You do not need a Google account to comment and we are seeking to submit this by Wednesday or earlier.

Trinidad and Tobago Computer Society Lime [Cybercrime Bill follow-up to JSC] on **Monday** June 4 2018 from 7 to 9:30 pm; please RSVP!

Following the submission of the Trinidad and Tobago Computer Society’s comments on the Cybercrime Bill 2017 and presentation to the Joint Select Committee of the Trinidad and Tobago Parliament (JSC) in May, the Committee has asked the TTCS for specific follow-up on some of our comments, specifically on Clause 18 re: Cyberbullying and the use of satire and parody as a form of cyberbullying.

We will be having a lime on Monday June 4th 2018 from 7pm to 9:30 pm at Wendy’s Cafe located upstairs at Wendy’s Restaurant at the corner of Ana Street & Ariapita Avenue, Woodbrook, Port of Spain to discuss this issue and help formulate our response as a group. Please come prepared with your comments and contributions to the discussion. If you are unable to attend, please make every effort to provide your input via the mailing list.

Additionally, given enough time, we may tackle discussion on Uber’s decision to pull out of Trinidad and Tobago.

Anyone interested in computing and ICT are welcome to attend, however please RSVP to [email protected] as space is limited.