As you may have heard, the first part of the independent cost-benefit analysis of broadband and review of regulation – also known as the Vertigan Review – has been released by the Government.

Satisfaction with NBN Reforms
The Review Panel has taken a moderate approach to the issues, finding a high level of satisfaction generally among the communications industry and stakeholders with the NBN reforms. The Panel itself backs this positive assessment. The Panel concludes that on the whole, "the broad framework should be retained largely unchanged for the time being" with some specific exceptions.

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Research released by ACMA yesterday found that one-third (32 per cent) of Australian mobile users have in the past year wanted to make a 13/1300 call from their mobile but not done so because of concern about call costs.

ACCAN remains concerned about the affordability of calling a 13/1300 number from a mobile.

We are yet to be convinced that the industry proposal to charge 13 numbers for the ‘included value’ of a mobile plan will turn around this alarming figure on 13 call affordability," said ACCAN Deputy CEO, Narelle Clark.

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Earlier this year Google and ACCAN partnered to offer a paid internship opportunity with ACCAN. Applicants were invited to submit a brief proposal outlining a research project on an emerging communications consumer issue.

The winner was recent law graduate David Seidler, who tackled the hot topic of data retention. Seidler’s report Hacking the Grapevine: Data Retention and protecting Australian consumer privacy is a first-class piece of research by a talented up-and-coming lawyer.

According to industry newsletter Communications Day, the government is now expecting to receive the much anticipated Vertigan Review (formally known as the NBN cost-benefit analysis and review of regulatory arrangements) early in July and plans to make a public release of the report before the end of the month.

Tuesday 1 July 10.00am

The Australian Communications Consumer Action Network welcomes today's announcement that telcos will make mobile calls to 1800 numbers free of charge, but says it will hold the industry to its commitments regarding 1300 numbers.

ACCAN CEO SPEECH TO INFORMA CONFERENCE: MELBOURNE 24 JUNE 2014

'Collections & Hardship Programs in Utilities, Banks & Telecommunications: Exploring best practice in hardship programs and collections across four sectors'

Thank you for the invitation to speak today.

As some of you may know ACCAN stands for the Australian Communications Consumer Action Network. We are the peak body for consumer representation and advocacy in communications.

Women's Legal Services NSW

Project title: Technology-facilitated stalking and abuse

Grant round: 2014

Grant: $54,123.40

Vision Australia

Project title: Document Accessibility Toolbar (DAT)

Grant round: 2014

Grant: $34,158

Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology University

Project title: Personal Cloud Use in Australia: Consumer expectations, experience and impact on communications consumption

Grant round: 2014

Grant: $38,699.60

Queensland Remote Aboriginal Media

Project title: Yarning and Learning: Communication use and issues in remote Indigenous communities

Grant round: 2014

Grant: $42,100

Justice Connect

Project title: Don't just sign on the dotted line

Grant round: 2014

Grant: $40,113

Australian National University: School of Accounting and Business Information Systems

Project title: Competition and comparability in the consumer mobile telecommunications sector

Grant round: 2014

Grant: $30,806