The Australian Communications Consumer Action Network (ACCAN), the peak body representing communications consumers in Australia, has launched its Community Consultation Guide, which is designed to help communities address issues with mobile coverage in their areas.

Mobile coverage is a key issue for consumers, particularly those in regional, rural and remote Australia. Achieving improvements in mobile coverage is a priority focus of ACCAN's work. Earlier this month, we welcomed the release of the guidelines for the Federal Government's Mobile Black Spot Programme, but know that even with the improvements the Programme will deliver, demand for improved network coverage will far outstrip supply.

The Australian Communications Consumer Action Network (ACCAN), the peak body for communications consumers in Australia, has launched an online Hardship Portal – a set of resources to assist people through tough times.

The Portal is designed for financial counsellors as well as consumers experiencing financial hardship. It provides links to the hardship policies of Telstra, Optus and Vodafone and outlines how to get help and the different options available.

The Australian Communications Consumer Action Network (ACCAN), the peak body representing communications consumers in Australia, welcomes Telstra's announcement of real time mobile data usage alerts as a win for consumers. ACCAN has been calling on the telcos to implement real time alerts for mobile data usage for a number of years.

Telstra is the first Australian telco to offer these alerts that notify consumers via text message within seconds when they have used 50, 85 and 100 per cent of their mobile data allowance.

The Australian Communications Consumer Action Network (ACCAN) has welcomed the Federal Government's move to make registration on the Do Not Call Register indefinite as a part of its deregulation agenda. This is a win for consumers who will no longer have to worry about reregistering their phone numbers on the Do Not Call Register every eight years.

"With approximately 9 million registered numbers and on average 1 million added each year, ACCAN supports the move to allow for indefinite registration," said ACCAN CEO, Teresa Corbin. "The preference of the majority of Australians to not be contacted by telemarketers is evident in the high number of registrations."

The Australian Communications Consumer Action Network (ACCAN) welcomes Telstra's initiative to make mobile phone calls to 1800 numbers free of charge for its customers three months before the ACMA proposed deadline of 1 January 2015. The telco announced the change in a blog post on the Telstra Exchange blog.

ACCAN has previously called for this change and is glad to see Telstra implementing it well before the deadline set by the ACMA.

Pro bono legal service MOSAIC and the Australian Communications Consumer Action Network (ACCAN) are teaming up to run a 'Bring Your Bills Day' giving free legal advice and education to newly arrived migrants, refugees or asylum seekers who need help with any of their bills (phone, electricity, gas or water). The event is in the lead up to Anti-Poverty Week (12th–18th October, 2014). It is being held today at the Old University of Sydney Law Building (near St James train station, Macquarie Street exit), 173-175 Phillip Street, Sydney CBD.

Recent analysis by MOSAIC has found that one in seven of their clients is facing difficulties with paying mobile phone bills. According to the Australian Council of Social Services adults born in countries where English is not the main language are almost 50 per cent more likely to be in poverty compared to those born in Australia.

The Australian Communications Consumer Action Network (ACCAN), the peak body for consumers in the communications industry, has today launched leading research into Australians' use of mobile applications. The report, Mobile app consumer attitudes and experiences, explores user sentiment towards paying for features and services and data privacy in the app ecosystem.

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