MINISTRY OF POSTS, TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND BROADCASTING

"SUPERHIGHWAY DAY"

INTERNET RELAY CHAT ON THE GREEN PAPER ON TELECOMMUNICATIONS

TUESDAY 15 AUGUST 1995

14h30 (South Africa time = GMT + 2)

Details of how to join this live internet discussion hosted by Minister Z Pallo Jordan.

To participate in this discussion you need the following: ---------------------------------------------------------

• A computer with a modem to connect to an internet provider [Alternatively a LAN connection to the internet]
• IRC software. This is a programme that allows your computer to connect to an IRC server. [See list of IRC servers below.]

IRC software can be downloaded from the SANGONeT web site at:

http://wn.apc.org/sangonet.html

Go to the 'Information and Technology' page. There you will find the software and instructions.

• Connection to the internet through a service provider.

This is how you connect to an IRC server: -----------------------------------------

• To connect to an IRC server you need to specify the server to which you wish to connect. Enter the name of a server from the list below and this will connect you to that server. How you do this will depend on the programme you are running but typically it is:

/connect server.name

The connection may take a short while but eventually you will receive notification or a welcome message from the server to inform you that you are connected.

• Join the channel '#telecomms'

Typically this is done as follows:

/join #telecomms

Participating in the discussion: --------------------------------

• You should now be connected to the channel where the on-line debate on the Telecommunications Green Paper is taking place. It is advisable to watch the discussion for a while before joining in.
• Keep comments as short and concise as possible, preferably not longer than two lines. Responses from the Ministry will also not be longer than two lines. This will give more people a chance to participate in the discussion. For this reason do not ask questions requiring detailed or lengthy responses. The Green Paper is a consultative document designed to elicit the views of the public on the best policy framework for telecommunications and its regulation in South Africa. An important aspect of the consultation is to hear the view of stakeholders in the telecommunications sector, and this IRC is merely one of many stages in that process. It should be seen as a forum for discussion only, not a question and answer session.

Where to find the Green Paper: ------------------------------

The Green Paper is available at the following Universal Resource Locators (URLs):

http://www.polity.org.za/govdocs/green_papers.html

gopher://gopher.polity.org.za:70/11/govdocs/green_papers

http://wn.apc.org/technology/telecoms/greenpaper.html

How to participate if you don't have an internet connection: ------------------------------------------------------------

Media and sector people without internet access who wish to watch or participate in the online discussion are invited to do so at one of the following venues. However, space is limited -- and so are the refreshments -- so book early:

CAPE TOWN:

iCafe. The Internet Cafe at 273 Long Street, Cape Town Telephone: Nodi Murphy 021-24 6576 (50 people can be accommodated)

After the IRC session Minister Z Pallo Jordan will visit the iCafe where he will be available for further comments.

JOHANNESBURG:

1.Sangonet. The Longsbank Building, 187 Bree Street, 13th Floor Telephone: Brenda Madumise at CDITP 011-643-3372 (sector people) Steve Song at Sangonet 011-838-6943 (media) (45 people can be accommodated)

2. Milkyway Internet Cafe. 206 Times Square, 38 Raleigh Street, Yeoville Telephone: Paul Boulle at PCB 011-487-3608 (only 20 places)

PRETORIA:

CSIR Telephone: Johan de Wet at CSIR 012-841-3438. Not many places available as the CSIR will be hosting staffers from the Department of Posts, Telecommunications and Broadcasting.

GRAHAMSTOWN:

Rhodes University. Department of Journalism Telephone: Mark Moritz at 0461-318-336/7 (50 places)

List of IRC servers: --------------------

• South African Servers:

irc.ru.ac.za irc.cs.und.ac.za irc.aztec.co.za irc.vironix.co.za

...or any other IRC server in South Africa

Foreign users should link to any of these IRC servers.

For further enquiries about this session: -----------------------------------------

email: info@polity.org.za ntpp@wn.apc.org

Tel: (+27 21) 262753 (+27 11) 339-1912

Released by:

Muff Andersson PRO for Minister Z Pallo Jordan Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Broadcasting Telephone: (+27 21) 462-1632 Fax: (+27 21) 462-1646

Date: 10 August 1995

ends