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Institute for Social Research, Swinburne University
Grant round: 2010
Read more: Home Internet for Indigenous Consumers in Remote Australia
The NSW Law Reform Commission will examine laws regarding access to a deceased or incapacitated person’s social media account and other digital assets. The NSW Law Reform Commission outlines that digital assets can include images, videos, emails, online banking accounts, cryptocurrency, domain names, blogs and online gaming accounts.
The move comes after concerns over what happens to digital assets after death or incapacitation in an increasingly connected world.
‘In today’s hyper-connected world, an unprecedented amount of work and socialising occurs online, yet few of us consider what happens to our digital assets once we’re gone or are no longer able to make decisions’, Attorney General, Mark Speakman, said.
Read more: Review of social media and other digital assets after death or incapacitation
Write comment (0 Comments)The Australian Communications Consumer Action Network (ACCAN) has called for greater reliability safeguards after data from the ACMA shows unreliable telco services are driving hundreds of thousands of complaints.
In a report released this morning, the ACMA revealed that 448,470 complaints were filed by unhappy telco consumers in the quarter to December 2018. Taking into account the number of telco services in operation across the country, this equals 108 complaints per 10,000 services – a 10.2 per cent increase since the previous quarter.
Read more: Telco complaints demonstrate need for right to reliability
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.
Able Australia Services
Grant round: 2010
ACCAN CEO, Teresa Corbin, presented at the CommsDay Summit 2018 in Sydney on 9 April. This year's CommsDay Summit brought together telecoms industry leaders and politicians from across the country to discuss topics including the NBN, 5G, fixed and wireless technologies and the market.
The speakers included Minister for Communications and the Arts, Senator the Hon Mitch Fifield, Telstra CEO, Andy Penn, as well as representatives from NBN, Huawei, Vodafone, ACMA and other telecommunications providers.
Teresa's presentation focused on four of ACCAN's key priorities for consumers in 2018:
• NBN & Consumers
• Consumer Protection
• Rural & Regional Issues
• Latest Affordability Stats
Read more: ACCAN presentation at Commsday 2018
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The revised Telecommunications Consumer Protection (TCP) Code fails to adequately protect telco consumers, according to consumer groups.
Despite consultation with the telco industry and regulator, consumer groups including ACCAN, Consumer Action Law Centre, WEstjustice, Financial Counselling Australia, Financial and Consumer Rights Council, Financial Rights Legal Centre, Money Mob, and HK Training and Consultancy, consider that the new TCP Code does not provide strong enough consumer protections.
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:
Read more: Record Keeping Rule – NBN Service Performance Consultation Paper
Cyberspace Law and Policy Centre, University of New South Wales
Grant round: 2010
Read more: Communications Privacy Complaints: In Search of the Right Path
The Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC) released its first results from its Measuring Broadband Australia speed monitoring program and the results are generally positive, with NBN broadband services from iiNet, Optus, Telstra and TPG delivering between 80 per cent and just over 90 per cent of maximum plan speeds during peak times (7-11pm). On download speeds, out of the four, TPG beat the other three with 90.7 per cent, followed by iiNet with 88.6 per cent, then Telstra with 88.1 per cent, and Optus with 90.7 per cent. The service providers are also achieving positive upload speeds.
Read more: ACCC’s first NBN speed test results
Write comment (1 Comment)Australia’s peak communications consumer advocacy group, the Australian Communications Consumer Action Network (ACCAN), has today announced the seven successful projects that it will fund through the 2019 Round of the ACCAN Grants Program.
The ACCAN Grants Program funds projects to undertake research on telecommunications issues, represent telecommunications consumers, and create educational tools which empower consumers to understand telecommunications products and services and make decisions in their own interests.
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:
Read more: Regional Connectivity Program Round 3 Grant Guidelines
National Ethnic Disability Alliance (NEDA)
Grant round: 2010
Telstra admitted that over 100,000 of its customers were misled over third party charges by its Premium Billing service.
Yesterday, the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC) launched proceedings against the telco giant, alleging that Telstra made false or misleading representations to consumers regarding its third party billing services.
Read more: Telstra misled its customers over third party charges
Write comment (2 Comments)As Australia’s consumer voice on phone and internet issues, the Australian Communications Consumer Action Network (ACCAN) has welcomed NBN Co’s recently announced Wholesale Pricing Review Consultation Paper.
ACCAN has strongly championed the need for affordable home broadband in Australia. High-cost broadband services make accessing important education, employment, health and government services very difficult for our communities.
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:
Grant recipient: WA Deaf Society
Grant round: 2010
In 2018, technology and digital services are all around us. Consumers use the internet and telecommunications services to stay connected, go shopping, link into education and job opportunities and access government services.
While we increasingly live our lives online, it’s vital that we don’t leave anyone behind. What gaps will appear in the connected world? Who will and won’t be able to access services due to limitations on connectivity? What can we do to ensure that people are not only connected but they also have the confidence to use new technologies to their benefit?
We will explore these questions and more at the 2018 ACCANect Conference which has the theme: ‘Confidence in the Connected World.’
Read more: Confidence in the connected world: ACCANect 2018
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The Australian Communications Consumer Action Network (ACCAN) welcomes the Federal Government’s appointment of a service provider for the National Relay Service (NRS).
The NRS allows Australians who are Deaf or have hearing or speech impairment to access telecommunications services through the phone, web or teletypewriter (TTY). It is a vital service that allows its users to communicate for work, socially, and in emergencies.
“All Australians deserve the right to reliable communications whether they access it through traditional telco technology or through the NRS,” said ACCAN CEO, Teresa Corbin.
Read more: ACCAN welcomes appointment of NRS service provider
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:
The Consumer Policy Research Centre (CPRC) is an independent, consumer-focused policy think-tank.
In December 2016, the Victorian Government established CPRC as a generalist policy research centre by expanding the remit of what was then the Consumer Utilities Advocacy Centre (CUAC).
CPRC undertakes evidence-based research to inform policy reform and business practice changes that improve consumer outcomes. The organisation conducts policy research internally, as well as in partnership with other research organisations. It also promotes, translates and supports the consumer research work of others.
Read more: Advancing fair outcomes for all consumers
Write comment (2 Comments)The Australian Communications Consumer Action Network (ACCAN) welcomes the appointment of the Hon Paul Fletcher to the position of Minister for Communications, Cyber Safety and the Arts in the newly announced Coalition Cabinet.
“The next three years will bring a number of important milestones, challenges and opportunities for telecommunications in Australia,” said ACCAN CEO, Teresa Corbin. “From the roll-out of 5G, to the anticipated completion of the NBN network, we look forward to working with Minister Fletcher during this exciting time to achieve better outcomes for consumers.”
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:
The National Relay Service, audio description services and accessible ICT procurement were among the issues on the agenda at ACCAN’s 2018 Disability Advisory Forum on Wednesday 7 March in Sydney.
Held yearly, the Disability Advisory Forum brings together groups representing people with disability to discuss telecommunications issues and accessibility and advises ACCAN on its policy priorities for the upcoming year.
Read more: Accessibility issues in 2018
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