ACCAN recently submitted to the Senate Standing Committees on Economics’ consultation on the Influence of International Digital Platforms.

Our submission identified the harms consumers face when interacting with digital platforms, including social networking scams and a lack of complaint redress. ACCAN recommends:

ACCAN has made a submission to the Governments Future of Broadcasting consultation on a Connected Television Prominence Framework. The consultation suggested a range of proposals which would support the policy intent of making Australian local television services prominent and easy to access on connected devices capable of displaying television programming.

ACCAN has responded to an ACCC consultation on NBN Co’s proposed variation to its Special Access Undertaking (SAU). The SAU sets out the rules by which NBN Co provides wholesale access to retailers. The SAU can determine price and quality of voice and broadband services delivered over the NBN until 2040.

The SAU variation lodged by NBN Co in November 2022 represents a significant step forward compared to its previous Variation. There are many aspects of the latest proposal that ACCAN supports such as the shift to a flat rate pricing construct, the reduction of the Initial Cost Recovery Account, the Replacement Module Application process, and the introduction of the Weighted Average Price Cap.

ACCAN has responded to The Treasury’s Digital Platforms: Government consultation on ACCC’s regulatory reform recommendations Consultation Paper. In our submission we supported the introduction of:

ACCAN has provided feedback on the ACCC’s record keeping rule (RKR) for NBN’s service performance.

ACCAN supports the proposal which will require NBN Co to submit service quality and network performance metrics to the ACCC, where the ACCC will publicly report on the information collected.

ACCAN considers that the RKR should be amended to:

ACCAN recently submitted to the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts’ consultation on the Regional Connectivity Program Round 3 (including Mobile Black Spot opportunities) Grant Opportunity Draft Guidelines. In our submission we recommended:

ACCAN recently submitted to the Department of Social Services’ consultation on a new Act to replace the Disability Services Act 1986 (The Act). ACCAN welcomes the commitment of the new Act to affirm the rights and freedoms contained in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD).  ACCAN’s submission calls for the new Act to:

ACCAN recently submitted to the Australian Treasury’s pre-budget consultation, to provide our views on priorities for the 2023-2024 Australian Budget. Promoting digital inclusion is key to achieving the Australian Government’s Digital Economy Strategy and to boosting productivity and living standards for Australians. ACCAN’s submission calls on the Australian Government to commit to the following in the 2023-2024 Budget:

ACCAN recently submitted to Communications Alliance’s consultation on DR C647:2022 NBN Access Transfer Code. 

ACCAN supports the amendments proposed in the draft code, which will facilitate the efficient transfer of NBN services. The proposed amendments will support the verification and transfer process and provide benefits by: 

ACCAN recently responded to The Treasury’s Regulating Buy Now, Pay Later in Australia consultation on the future regulatory framework for buy now, pay later (BNPL) arrangements under the National Consumer Credit Protection Act 2009 (the Credit Act). In our submission we endorsed the joint consumer submission to this consultation led by Financial Rights Legal Centre.

ACCAN recently submitted to the Senate Standing Committee on Environment and Communications on the Telecommunications Legislation Amendment (Information Disclosure, National Interest and Other Measures) Bill 2022 (the Bill).  

ACCAN’s submission set out our support for the Bill and in particular:

ACCAN recently submitted to the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts’ consultation on the draft Telecommunications (Infringement Notice Penalties) Determination 2022. The Draft Determination provides an alternative to instituting court proceedings by establishing a cost-effective and efficient enforcement process for the recovery of a pecuniary penalty. Noting the critical role of Infringement Notices in facilitating compliance, we support:

ACCAN has responded to the ACCC’s consultation on its Draft Decision regarding the Superfast Broadband Access Service (SBAS) access determination inquiry. The SBAS is a declared wholesale access service that retail service providers (RSPs) can use to supply fixed line superfast broadband services to end users.

ACCAN supports the ACCC’s draft decision to regulate the price and non-price terms of access for the SBAS until July 2026, including:

ACCAN has responded to the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts’ consultation on the draft Telecommunications Universal Obligation (Standard Telephone Service – Requirements and Circumstances) Determination 2022. The Draft Determination limits the circumstances in which it is not considered reasonable for Telstra to provide a Standard Telephone Service (STS) upon request.

ACCAN recently submitted to the Australia Disability Strategy 2021-2031 (the Strategy) Guiding Principles consultation. The Strategy provides a 10-year plan for improving the lives of Australians with disability. The guiding principles inform the policies/programs/services introduced by governments and businesses to implement the Strategy. This submission was informed by ACCAN’s consultation with our members and was endorsed by Vision Australia, Blind Citizens Australia and Deaf Australia.

ACCAN submitted the following:

The Mobile Black Spot Program (MBSP) is an Australian Government initiative that aims to deliver improved mobile coverage and competition through investing in regional, rural, and remote telecommunications infrastructure. Across Australia, the MBSP has provided over 1,270 new mobile base stations, with 1,047 base stations activated in October 2022. In addition to generating more than $875 million in investment.1

The Australian Communications Consumer Action Network (ACCAN) recently commented on the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts (the Department) request for feedback on the grant opportunity guidelines for a new Improving Mobile Coverage Round of the MBSP. In our submission, ACCAN suggested that the Department should:

ACCAN responded to the Standing Committee on Communications and the Arts’ inquiry. The Committee has been asked to inquire into and report on the experience, opportunities and challenges for co-investment in multicarrier regional mobile infrastructure.

The availability of mobile coverage continues to be a concern in parts of Australia, and it is important that gaps in telecommunications infrastructure are addressed. As such, ACCAN considers that local communities can benefit from multi-carrier infrastructure. Infrastructure sharing or co-investment in mobile infrastructure can reduce prices and increase network coverage and quality, with pro-competitive effects.  

ACCAN recently submitted to Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee on the Privacy Legislation Amendment (Enforcement and Other Measures) Bill.

ACCAN supports the proposed amendments that will:

ACCAN recently commented on the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) Amending the Telecommunications Numbering Plan 2015 consultation. The numbering plan sets out the framework for managing numbers.

In our submission we expressed our support for amendments to the numbering plan, including:

  • The introduction of the 7226 Scam Short Code to provide consumers and industry with a means to report scam texts and calls.
  • Granting the ACMA extended powers to withdraw numbers that it believes to have been associated with scam communications.

The Australian Communications Consumer Action Network (ACCAN) recently commented on the C555:2020 Integrated Public Number Database (IPND) Industry Code. The IPND provides an important public asset for emergency calls, emergency warnings and law enforcement. Noting the critical role of the IPND, ACCAN continues to have concerns with respect to:

  • Data accuracy for the purposes of emergency calls, emergency warnings and law enforcement.
  • Consumer awareness of the IPND and making the IPND Code more understandable.

At present, there are ongoing issues with accuracy of Public Number Customer Data (PNCD), with several compliance issues compromising the accuracy of the PNCD in the IPND. ACCAN remains concerned by potential gaps in the IPND and the repeated failure by Carriage Service Providers (CSPs) to upload PNCD to the IPND.

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