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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.

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.

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 winners of the Australian Communications Consumer Action Network (ACCAN) and Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) Apps For All Challenge 2014 were announced tonight at the 2014 ACCAN National Conference. The winners were awarded the inaugural Telstra Prize for their efforts in developing apps that are accessible to all consumers, including older Australians and those with disabilities.

The awards raise awareness of the need to ensure smartphone applications are accessible to all users and that this must be taken into account in their design. Prizes were handed out during a ceremony at ACCAN's National Conference, Connecting Today's Consumer.

The Australian Communications Consumer Action Network, the peak body representing Australian communications consumers, today announced the results of its third National Survey. The survey examined the local telecommunications landscape with research conducted by Ipsos Australia. A national representative sample of 1079 surveys were completed.

ACCAN's National Survey shows that mobile phones are now definitively the universal communications service preferred by Australians, with 98 per cent of respondents owning a mobile phone. Not surprisingly, the number of respondents with a fixed line service dropped to 73 per cent, down from 77 per cent in last year's survey. Eighty-six per cent of respondents said they have a home internet connection.

The Australian Communications Consumer Action Network is pleased to announce the launch of the Digital Ready Digital Business Kit and the DigitalReady.org.au website. Targeted at small businesses and not-for-profit organisations in the Arts, Recreation and Education services sector the kit will enable them to take advantage of the many opportunities offered by fast broadband and information technology. The kit was launched today at the by Peter Strong, Executive Director, Council of Small Business of Australia (COSBOA) at the 2014 ACCAN National Conference.

Digital Ready gives step by step assistance to build the necessary skills to engage effectively with the digital economy. Over six modules, it covers a range of topics including: getting connected to fast broadband, determining an online strategy, using social media, the cloud, online registration, eCommerce and telework.

The shortlist for the inaugural Australian Communications Consumer Action Network (ACCAN) and Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) Apps For All Challenge 2014 Telstra Prize has today been announced. The awards will be handed out at a ceremony during the ACCAN National Conference on Tuesday 16 September, from 5:00pm.

Launched earlier this year, this is Australia's first and only competition for accessible mobile apps which aims to raise awareness of issues faced by people with disability and older Australians with inaccessible apps.

People experiencing homelessness in Sydney and Melbourne have a higher rate of mobile phone ownership than Australians generally, new University of Sydney research shows.

While 92 per cent of Australians own a mobile phone, an even higher proportion – 95 per cent – of the adults, youth and families surveyed own a mobile. More than three quarters (77 per cent) of these have a smartphone, compared to around two thirds (64 per cent) of the general population. The survey found wide variation in the models and ages of the phones owned by the respondents. Almost half (41 per cent) reported that their phone was a gift, second-hand, stolen or borrowed.

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