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Deal with broadband providers to help students learn at home doesn't cover Zoom website

Many third-level institutions and schools are using video calling to home school during the crisis.

THE GOVERNMENT’S DEAL with broadband providers to help students study and work from home does not cover Zoom or Microsoft websites.

A number of third-level institutions and schools have highlighted the issue to politicians stating that none of the sites that students are actually using for their online studies, such as Zoom and Microsoft, are covered under the plan announced by Communications Minister Richard Bruton last month.

Replying to a parliamentary question by Sinn Féin’s David Cullinane, the minister said in relation to the zero-rating of various resource platforms, telecommunications operators are currently finalising their work in zero-rating of educational resource platforms.

Zero-rating is the practice of providing Internet access without financial cost under certain conditions.

Bruton added that YouTube, Microsoft or Zoom are not included:

“I understand that industry does not propose zero rating specific platforms such as YouTube, Microsoft or Zoom as it is not technically possible to establish when they are being used specifically for educational purposes.”

He said work is underway with the Department of Health to achieve zero-rating of relevant health platforms and it is expected that this exercise will also be finalised shortly.

The minister added that due to the surge in data and voice traffic, regulations were signed to provide mobile network operators flexibility to create extra capacity for mobile phone and broadband services.

Cullinane said despite promises that platforms commonly used for home-schooling would not eat into peoples’ data plans, they are not included in the zero-rating plan, adding that companies are refusing to zero rate anything of real benefit to students.

“I have been contacted by staff in a number of third-level institutions who have told me that the providers will not zero rate any commercial websites including Microsoft, YouTube or Zoom, but these are sites that thousands of university students are using for their online studies.

“This means that students have to pay for online classes done via Zoom, for example.

“I understand that HEAnet offered to help broadband providers identify individual students on their networks so that they could zero rate users rather than websites but this offer was rejected

“At this stage, by the time there is any agreement on this exams will be over and the only person to benefit will be Richard Bruton.”

The issue of digital disparity was raised during Leaders’ Questions today, when Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin said: 

“There is no way of addressing the concerns and preferences of every student but there are basic principles of equity which must be addressed.  In recent days, I have heard from teachers and principals in many parts of the country about how certain students simply are not able to match others in terms of home-based learning.”  

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    Mute jerry slattery
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    Mar 18th 2020, 9:03 AM

    Yes my usual park walk out the Lee fields here in cork has turned into grafton st on Christmas eve which is making me much more inventive and discovering new places near by

    232
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    Mute Dave O'Keeffe
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    Mar 18th 2020, 9:43 AM

    @jerry slattery: always good to head off the beaten path. Enjoy the quiet

    67
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    Mute Guill Ire
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    Mar 18th 2020, 12:41 PM

    @jerry slattery: Going by reports yesterday you should probably try Grafton Street.

    47
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    Mute Sam Harms
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    Mar 18th 2020, 9:18 AM

    One good thing to come from this is that people are getting outdoors a lot more. They just need to learn to keep their distance and not go in large groups. Glendalough was full of groups of people with young kids the other day!

    130
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    Mute Ciarán Seosamh
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    Mar 18th 2020, 9:22 AM

    People are not supposed to be outdoors.

    32
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    Mute frank griffin
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    Mar 18th 2020, 9:27 AM

    @Ciarán Seosamh: thousands in bray yesterday??

    24
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    Mute Dara O'Brien
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    Mar 18th 2020, 9:27 AM

    @Ciarán Seosamh: not wholly true. Getting out and exercising is important and encouraged as long as distancing is in place

    171
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    Mute Sam Harms
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    Mar 18th 2020, 9:34 AM

    @Ciarán Seosamh: nobody said they can’t do outdoors. In fact people are encouraged to go out and get fresh air.

    129
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    Mute james dimaggio
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    Mar 18th 2020, 9:46 AM

    @Ciarán Seosamh: That rule hasn’t come into play yet. Just watch the Burglars union kick up murder when it eventually does!!

    37
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    Mute Jason Ebbs
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    Mar 18th 2020, 9:50 AM

    @Ciarán Seosamh: who said that ?? We are not in a lockdown. We are actually been encouraged to get out for a walk, cycle etc. Just do it sensibly.

    75
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    Mute Ciarán Seosamh
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    Mar 18th 2020, 9:58 AM

    @Sam Harms: the only way to stop it spreading is to take the hardline approach, like the Chinese, sacrifice now for the future.

    9
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    Mute Adam Conroy
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    Mar 18th 2020, 10:04 AM

    @Ciarán Seosamh: nobody said that. Dr Holohan specifically said the other day that getting out was good. We’re supposed to be limiting social interactions.

    47
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    Mute Adam Conroy
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    Mar 18th 2020, 10:05 AM

    @Ciarán Seosamh: also it doesn’t spread as effectively outdoors.

    28
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    Mute Auntie
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    Mar 18th 2020, 10:37 AM

    @Ciarán Seosamh: can’t think of a better place to isolate than up on a mountain. Being outdoors and observing the 2m gap is fine.

    31
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    Mute Ciaran
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    Mar 18th 2020, 10:40 AM

    @Ciarán Seosamh: You stay in so and turn off the wifi while you’re at it.

    30
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    Mute Paul Furey
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    Mar 18th 2020, 10:47 AM

    @Ciarán Seosamh: massive fail there mister!!

    17
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    Mute Joe
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    Mar 18th 2020, 10:51 AM

    @Ciarán Seosamh: yes they are. Absolutely nothing wrong with being outdoors! If you go for a walk in the mountains with your family there is nothing wrong with that so long as you don’t spend periods of time close to other people. Educate yourself!

    26
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    Mute Tommy Roche
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    Mar 18th 2020, 12:21 PM

    @Ciarán Seosamh: Another one who thinks the experts are wrong and he is right. Advice to stay indoors may well come if the numbers of cases starts to climb to quickly but that time isn’t here yet. Remember, the plan isn’t to have zero spread, its to keep the spread to numbers manageable for the health services over time and protect the most vunerable. We are taking pretty much the same approach as the UK, with the glaring difference being that the UK is trying to get to the ‘manageable’ number much more quickly. We are taking the long, cautious route while the UK are hoping to get it done more quickly. If it works for the UK they will be getting back to normality possibly months before us. If they get it wrong its going to be an absolute disaster for them. Imagine what’s happening in the Lombardy region of Italy and transfer that to the entire UK. Carnage !!

    8
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    Mute Gary Kearney
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    Mar 18th 2020, 11:05 PM

    @Sam Harms: Read the article please before making such comments

    1
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    Mute Larry Whack
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    Mar 18th 2020, 9:37 AM

    Have pretty much stayed home since last Thursday and have kept a very low profile. Decided to get the wee man out for a stroll yesterday at the local park and was very disheartened with what i saw. Place was packed with people standing around in groups, hugging hello and goodbye. Teenagers playing football. Got home and checked in with my parents in the west. My mother told the neighbour’s grown son was down from Dublin for the few days. Maddening.

    112
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    Mute Ciaran
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    Mar 18th 2020, 10:42 AM

    @Larry Whack: Fair enough if you want to go for a stroll but don’t be taking out the wee man or you’ll get done for exposing yourself.

    81
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    Mute Logan Shepherd
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    Mar 18th 2020, 10:54 AM

    @Ciaran: He might not get done due to lack of evidence :-)

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    Mute Larry Whack
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    Mar 18th 2020, 11:00 AM

    @Ciaran: there’s a bad enough dose going around without that buck making an appearance.

    14
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    Mute Dara O'Brien
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    Mar 18th 2020, 9:18 AM

    I went for a run yesterday along the river bank. Fairly empty until I got to a cafe by the riverbank in a scenic location – it was open and the tables outside were packed with people.

    Needless to say I didn’t go in to see what it was like inside!

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    Mute Teddy
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    Mar 18th 2020, 9:20 AM

    @Dara O’Brien: name and shame!!!

    73
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    Mute Dave O'Keeffe
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    Mar 18th 2020, 9:44 AM

    @Teddy: businesses are allowed to be open.

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    Mute Dara O'Brien
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    Mar 18th 2020, 9:56 AM

    @Teddy: Small business is struggling so I don’t think naming and shaming would do any good. Besides, I was to do that, should I not name and shame all the customers as well – after all, they are the ones sitting on top of each other.

    Personal responsibility is just as important as business responsibility

    55
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    Mute Barry
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    Mar 18th 2020, 10:08 AM

    @Dave O’Keeffe: indeed they are, but they also have a responsibility to public safety.

    The line businesses are allowed to be open would have been idiotic to the pubs packed with people. So why should other business get a free card when they do the same?

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    Mute Dave O'Keeffe
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    Mar 18th 2020, 11:30 AM

    @Barry: because the pubs are in the unique position where their product must be consumed on site.

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    Mute Barry
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    Mar 18th 2020, 12:44 PM

    @Dave O’Keeffe: a beer garden isn’t much different to a bench outside, yet pubs were closed.

    Resturants, shops and cafe’s who allow crowding should be shut. end of.

    3
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    Mute Barry
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    Mar 18th 2020, 10:07 AM

    It’s times like this I’m glad I run a lot on my own, I ran over 20miles on Sunday and only encountered people just near my house at the very end.

    22
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    Mute Craic_a_tower
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    Mar 18th 2020, 11:30 AM

    Just walking my dogs and keeping away from people. Mother with 3 kids running around. One child comes running towards me to pet the dogs. Tell him to stop approaching me but he keeps coming so I have to raise my voice to tell him stop. Then a stranger walks by and rubs the kid and says don’t mind him while tussling his hair. The kids then are cycling around and meet up with another group of kids out on their own. People are idiots

    48
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    Mute Adam Conroy
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    Mar 18th 2020, 10:03 AM

    Arrest and intern anyone within two metres of anyone else. We could get the Saudi Islamic police on the job. They have years of experience. :D

    17
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    Mute Logan Shepherd
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    Mar 18th 2020, 10:52 AM

    @Adam Conroy: You do realise that means arresting everyone. I still prefer the sniper approach as they can tell who broke the distancing advice :-)

    3
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    Mute Em Gee
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    Mar 18th 2020, 1:03 PM

    There is a wooded area near me where I have walked the dog for years. It was always relatively quiet with the busiest time at weekends with families. Even so you could do a loop without meeting anyone up until a few days ago. It’s good that people are getting out and taking more exercise but a brisk walk around the loop was impossible yesterday because there were so many people out. Social distancing was out of the question.

    7
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    Mute Quiggers
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    Mar 18th 2020, 10:50 AM

    enjoy it while it lasts.

    7
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