ACCAN recently submitted to the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts on the draft Ministerial Policy Statement — Expiring Spectrum Licences (the Draft). 

ACCAN recently submitted to Communications Alliance’s consultation on the review of the G596:2013 Communications Support for Emergency Response Industry Guideline (the Guideline). 

The Guideline provides a procedure that facilitates cooperation between Pre-planned Service Providers, Secondary Service Providers, and Emergency Services Organisations in circumstances where pre-planned services are inadequate, and ad-hoc additional communications supports are requested by an Emergency Services Organisation. 

ACCAN recently submitted to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s (ACCC) Digital Platform Services Inquiry – September 2024 report revisiting general search services issues paper.

The Board of the Australian Communications Consumer Action Network (ACCAN) today announced the appointment of Ms Carol Bennett as Chief Executive Officer for the organisation with effect from 8 July 2024.

Carol is a highly respected leader with a remarkable track record of delivering positive change for consumers and communities in all her previous CEO roles. She has outstanding expertise in strategic decision-making, communications, advocacy, stakeholder management, financial performance, collaboration building, government relations and corporate governance.

Better public information on regulator enforcement is required, according to a new report published by the Centre for Media Transition.

The Centre, an interdisciplinary research unit within the University of Technology Sydney, published The Enforcement of Telecommunications Consumer Protections report, detailing the enforcement actions undertaken by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) from January 2010 to June 2023 to ensure compliance with consumer protections.

ACCAN recently submitted to Communications Alliance’s consultation on the C522:2016 Calling Number Display Guideline. The guideline outlines how Carriage Service Providers offer ‘private’ or ‘blocked’ Caller ID’s to consumers.

A guide for consumers

The telecommunications regulator, the ACMA, has developed a new regulation called the Telecommunications (Financial Hardship) Industry Standard (the FH standard), which builds upon protections in the existing Telecommunications Consumer Protections Code (TCP Code). The FH Standard will commence on March 29, and compliance is mandatory.

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ACCAN recently submitted to the Australian Communications and Media Authority’s (ACMA) consultation on its compliance priorities for 2024–25. ACCAN has identified several areas the ACMA should consider when developing its compliance priorities for 2024-25. These areas include:

The Australian Communications Consumer Action Network (ACCAN) is glad to announce the launch of the Affordable Devices service, an extensive database of retailers and organisations which help consumers access free or low-cost mobile phones, laptops, tablets and desktops.

Affordable Devices is a result of research commissioned by ACCAN. It lists sources of low-cost devices, filtered by the State or Territory in which they are based, and provides detail as to whether the listed website is screen reader-friendly.

The Australian Communications Consumer Action Network (ACCAN) welcomes the establishment of an industry working group by the Minister for Communications, the Hon Michelle Rowland MP, to ensure the planned switchover from 3G to 4G happens in a safe way.

The working group will include representatives from Telstra, Optus, Vodafone/TPG and the Australian Mobile Telecommunications Association, with the Department of Infrastructure. Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts participating with an observer status.

ACCAN recently submitted to the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts on the Fighting SMS Scams – What type of SMS sender ID registry should be introduced in Australia? consultation paper.

ACCAN supports the development of a SMS sender ID registry as a significant step towards improving outcomes for telecommunications consumers impacted by scams. ACCAN considers that the SMS sender ID registry should be mandatory and be developed and implemented before the end of 2024.

Further information for financial counsellors 

The telecommunications regulator, the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA), has developed a new regulation called the Telecommunications (Financial Hardship) Industry Standard (the FH standard), which improves protections in the existing Telecommunications Consumer Protections Code (TCP Code). The FH standard is mandatory, and will commence on March 29.

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