ACCAN argues that financial penalties should be mandatory if telcos seriously under perform on their Customer Service Guarantee (CSG) obligations.

There is finally hope for consumers after the regulator, the Australian Communications & Media Authority, today released its findings and recommendations for major reform following a year-long inquiry into the industry’s customer service and complaint handling problems.

ACCAN says the ACMA has proposed a strong set of recommendations that, if implemented, have the potential to substantially transform the telecommunications industry.

The Australian Communications Consumer Action Network (ACCAN) has welcomed today's announcement by the Federal Government that it will set up “Digital Hubs” to provide people with community-based computer and internet training as part of its National Digital Economy Strategy.

Peak telco consumer group ACCAN says that today's announcement by Telstra that it will slow internet speeds on smartphones rather than charge customers excess data charges is a welcome step in the right direction towards curbing "bill shock".

ACCAN speaks up for people who are denied the option of an ADSL internet service because Telstra provides them with an "interim" wireless phone instead of a regular copper connection.

The Australian Communications Consumer Action Network (ACCAN) says the Federal Government’s Household Assistance Scheme (HAS) is essential to ensure people on lower incomes who have a disability, seniors and those living in remote areas will have uninterrupted access to television as the switchover from analog to digital television progresses around the country.

Number Woman wants 13 & 1800 calls from mobiles to be affordable

Australia’s newest superhero, Number Woman, has today written to the chief executives of the big three network providers, Telstra, Optus and Vodafone, appealing to them to become a consumer superhero by ending expensive, per-minute timed calls from mobiles to the 13, 1300 and 1800 numbers used by hundreds of thousands of government services and businesses.

Complaints up by 31% as customer service levels reach a new low

ACCAN says the record-high complaints figures released by the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman (TIO) today are the final piece of evidence the regulator, the Australian Communications & Media Authority (ACMA), needs to justify strong action to bring the self-regulated industry under control.

 Figures released by the TIO report 60,000 new complaints from January to March this year – more than 20,000 per month – and up by 31% on the record-high in the previous quarter.

ACCAN has received a record 71 applications for the 2011 round of the ACCAN Grants Scheme, which closed on 20 April 2011.

This represents more than a threefold increase from last year. We're delighted to have received such a diverse mix of high-quality applications with projects spanning a wide range of communications issues affecting Australian consumers. 

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ACCAN and Deaf Australia want Deaf and Hearing people to have equal access to telecommunications (phone, mobile, internet) and here's your chance to help. 

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ACCAN supports in principle the Commission’s finding that the current disability support system in Australia is fractured and in need of transformation.

The Australian Communication and Media Authority (ACMA) have begun the exciting and challenging mission of  rebuilding their website www.acma.gov.au and they're looking for your help.

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