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ACCAN believes access to communications is fundamental to the economic and social wellbeing of consumers. The ACCC sets access prices for fixed line infrastructure that is used to provide phone and internet services to consumers. This submission to the ACCC provides feedback on consumer concerns about the pricing structure.
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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.
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In mid-2014 ACCAN commissioned disability mystery shopping research to identify the amount of information and the ease of accessing information about telecommunications products and services from the major telcos: Telstra, Optus, Vodafone, iiNet and TPG. Disappointingly, as anecdotal reports had foreshadowed, the results we received were not good.
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ACCAN's submission to the Department of Communications Review of the Triple Zero Operator acknowledged that the standard voice-only national service is widely recognised, reliable and easy to use for the majority of Australians and that the current model should remain as the primary national model for requesting emergency services (fire, ambulance, police).
Read more: 2014 Review of the National Triple Zero (000) Operator
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The ACCAN Annual General Meeting was held in Sydney on Wednesday, 17 September, 2014. At the meeting the following three candidates were elected to the Board:
- Johanna Plante
- Nigel Waters
- Victoria Rubensohn
Read more: Results of ACCAN Board Election
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Mobile Premium Services (MPS) are information and entertainment services that deliver various forms of content to your mobile phone. The MPS Code aims to safeguard consumers from an industry which has a history of poor practice. Since the Code was introduced complaints related to MPS have fallen, as a result industry is proposing that amendments be made to the Code.
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The International Mobile Roaming Standard requires mobile service providers to warn consumers about usage costs and limits when they use their mobile phones overseas. Since the introduction of the Standard consumer complaints have dramatically reduced. However, industry has proposed to remove the Standard.
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This submission to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Infrastructure and Communications considers the effectiveness of section 313(3) of the Telecommunications Act 1997. This section allows government agencies to request communications providers do things like block websites because they might be breaking the law.
Read more: Inquiry into the use of section 313(3) of the Telecommunications Act
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With Optus and Vodafone losing customers to Telstra and the arrival of the iPhone 6 there is a price war brewing in telco land. As the dust settles on the opening barrage we'll sift through the rubble and see if there are any good deals to be had.
Read more: Waive goodbye to early termination fees?
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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.
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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.
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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.