ISPA UK Seeks Nominations for the 2013 Internet Hero and Villain Awards

The UK Internet Service Providers Association (ISPA) have asked the public to help nominate this year’s Internet Hero and Internet Villain gongs for their 15th annual 2013 ISPA Awards event.

Last year saw the B4RN project crowned as Internet Hero for their efforts to bring community supported ultra-fast fibre optic broadband (FTTH) to several isolated rural areas in northern Lancashire (England, UK).

Elsewhere the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) was named 2012’s Internet Villain for its “internet governance land-grab“, which could have potentially resulted in a less open and free internet that would be “controlled by governments in a top-down manner“. Now it’s your turn to pick who should be in the shortlist for the 2013 gong.

Nick Lansman, ISPA Secretary General, said:

“The Hero & Villain Awards are the longest running awards in the ISPAs. Now in its 15th year, the ISPA Awards celebrate the best of the British internet industry. By crowdsourcing the public for their views on who should get these awards, we hope to get the biggest spread of heroes and villains to date.”

As usual anyone is eligible for these awards, from individuals to politicians and organisations of all shapes and sizes. They don’t have to be British either. People who want to take part can do so by sending their nominations to the ISPA via Twitter (@ISPAUK using the #ISPAs Hashtag) or email your suggestions to awards@ispa.org.uk . The deadline for nominations is Friday 31st May.

We’re not sure about the Hero award but there are, as usual, plenty of choices for Villains. For example, you could pick Theresa May MP for her often ridiculously disjointed pursuit of new internet snooping laws (Communications Data Bill), or how about MP Claire Perry’s endless pursuit of mandatory internet censorship that often comes without an ability to comprehend the disadvantages.

The awards ceremony will be held on 11th July 2013 at the Park Lane Sheraton Hotel in London.