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With the impending shut down of 3G networks and reallocation of spectrum for a range of uses, there is a great deal of discussion about what is spectrum and its essentiality in our daily lives. It is also an issue that many consumers, understandably, know little about. This article aims to provide some high-level information on spectrum, its uses and its importance to all of us, with as little technical jargon as possible.

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Period: 1 March – 31 May 2023

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ACCAN recently submitted to the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts (the Department) on the Peri-Urban Mobile Program (PUMP) Round 2 draft guidelines. ACCAN's submission recommended that the Department should:

  • Amend clause 3.4.3 to make it mandatory to recognise the in-kind funding co-contributions of third parties.
  • Promote a data-driven approach to site selection through service reliability.

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ACCAN recently responded to the Digital Transformation Agency’s (DTA) Initial Data and Digital Government Strategy (the strategy). Our submission to this consultation included a range of recommendations which supported increasing the digital inclusion of Australians. These included:

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ACCAN recently submitted to a consultation on the NBN Special Access Undertaking Variation: Response to ACCC Draft Decision – Modified Pricing Options.

In our submission ACCAN expressed our qualified support for the proposed pricing framework. We noted that:

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ACCAN recently responded to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s (ACCC) public inquiry into the declaration of the domestic transmission capacity service, fixed line services and domestic mobile terminating access service discussion paper (the discussion paper).

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ACCAN’s purpose, as outlined in our Strategic Plan, is to work for “communications services that are trusted, inclusive, accessible and available for all.”

Our approach to priorities

ACCAN has revised the way in which we approach our policy priorities, in consultation with our members. Feedback from members supported a movement to setting out our enduring priorities, which reflect our long-term areas of policy focus, and more immediate proactive areas of policy focus or policy themes.

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The Australian Consumer Action Network (ACCAN) welcomes the Minister of Communications, Michelle Rowland’s, decision to direct the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) to implement a standard for financial hardship.

“ACCAN strongly supports the Minister for Communications directing the ACMA to make a directly enforceable instrument for safeguarding telco consumers experiencing financial hardship,” said ACCAN CEO, Andrew Williams.

“Establishing substantive protections for telco consumers will support as many as 2.4 million Australians who have had difficulty or struggled to pay a telco bill in the last 12 months,” said Mr. Williams.

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The Australian Consumer Action Network (ACCAN) welcomes the Australian Communications and Media Authority’s (ACMA) position paper for the telecommunications sector, What consumers want – Consumer expectations for telecommunications safeguards, released today.

The ACMA’s position paper reflects ACCAN’s view that telecommunications safeguards arising from the TCP Code are not delivering for consumers in many essential areas.

‘The ACMA’s position paper is reflective of a growing consensus that existing consumer protection arrangements are not fit-for-purpose.’ said ACCAN CEO Andrew Williams.

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ACCAN recently made a submission to the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts’ 2022 Review of the Disability Standards for Accessible Public Transport 2002 (the Transport Standards). This submission was developed in consultation with our members, including Deafness Forum of Australia and Blind Citizens Australia (BCA).

Additionally, ACCAN supported the recommendations made in BCA’s submission to the review of the Transport Standards. 

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ACCAN recently submitted to Communications Alliance’s scheduled review on C564:2020 Mobile Phone Base Station Deployment Industry Code.

ACCAN endorses the Code as drafted and supports reconfirming the Code, which sets out the technical procedures for involving communities in the planning, installing, and operation of mobile phone base stations.

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Australia’s peak communications consumer advocacy group, the Australian Communications Consumer Action Network (ACCAN), has today announced 7 projects that it will fund through the 2023 Round of its Independent Grants Program.

The ACCAN Independent Grants Program funds consumer-focused projects to undertake research, represent consumers, and create educational tools which empower consumers to make decisions in their own interests.

The operation of ACCAN’s Independent Grant Program is made possible by funding provided by the Commonwealth of Australia under section 593 of the Telecommunications Act 1997.

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