ACCAN recently submitted to the Australia Disability Strategy 2021-2031 (the Strategy) Guiding Principles consultation. The Strategy provides a 10-year plan for improving the lives of Australians with disability. The guiding principles inform the policies/programs/services introduced by governments and businesses to implement the Strategy. This submission was informed by ACCAN’s consultation with our members and was endorsed by Vision Australia, Blind Citizens Australia and Deaf Australia.

ACCAN submitted the following:

The Mobile Black Spot Program (MBSP) is an Australian Government initiative that aims to deliver improved mobile coverage and competition through investing in regional, rural, and remote telecommunications infrastructure. Across Australia, the MBSP has provided over 1,270 new mobile base stations, with 1,047 base stations activated in October 2022. In addition to generating more than $875 million in investment.1

The Australian Communications Consumer Action Network (ACCAN) recently commented on the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts (the Department) request for feedback on the grant opportunity guidelines for a new Improving Mobile Coverage Round of the MBSP. In our submission, ACCAN suggested that the Department should:

The Australian Communications Consumer Action Network (ACCAN) has bid farewell to Chairperson Deirdre O’Donnell, who stood down as Chair and ACCAN Director at its November Board meeting. Deirdre has held the position since November 2017 and has guided the organisation through a period of substantive change in that time.

“It’s been a real privilege to have been Chair of the ACCAN Board for the last five years, and to have worked alongside a group of talented and committed directors dedicated to governing ACCAN in line with its mission.

ACCAN responded to the Standing Committee on Communications and the Arts’ inquiry. The Committee has been asked to inquire into and report on the experience, opportunities and challenges for co-investment in multicarrier regional mobile infrastructure.

The availability of mobile coverage continues to be a concern in parts of Australia, and it is important that gaps in telecommunications infrastructure are addressed. As such, ACCAN considers that local communities can benefit from multi-carrier infrastructure. Infrastructure sharing or co-investment in mobile infrastructure can reduce prices and increase network coverage and quality, with pro-competitive effects.  

The Australian Communications Consumer Action Network (ACCAN) is proud to support Scams Awareness Week (7–11 November 2022).

Scams Awareness Week is an annual campaign hosted by the ACCC and the Scams Awareness Network, which raises awareness about common scams and offers tips on how people can protect themselves from scammers. This year Scams Awareness Week is about empowering people to learn how to spot a scam and encouraging them to take the time to check whether a communication or offer is real.

ACCAN recently submitted to Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee on the Privacy Legislation Amendment (Enforcement and Other Measures) Bill.

ACCAN supports the proposed amendments that will:

ACCAN recently commented on the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) Amending the Telecommunications Numbering Plan 2015 consultation. The numbering plan sets out the framework for managing numbers.

In our submission we expressed our support for amendments to the numbering plan, including:

  • The introduction of the 7226 Scam Short Code to provide consumers and industry with a means to report scam texts and calls.
  • Granting the ACMA extended powers to withdraw numbers that it believes to have been associated with scam communications.

The Australian Communications Consumer Action Network (ACCAN) recently commented on the C555:2020 Integrated Public Number Database (IPND) Industry Code. The IPND provides an important public asset for emergency calls, emergency warnings and law enforcement. Noting the critical role of the IPND, ACCAN continues to have concerns with respect to:

  • Data accuracy for the purposes of emergency calls, emergency warnings and law enforcement.
  • Consumer awareness of the IPND and making the IPND Code more understandable.

At present, there are ongoing issues with accuracy of Public Number Customer Data (PNCD), with several compliance issues compromising the accuracy of the PNCD in the IPND. ACCAN remains concerned by potential gaps in the IPND and the repeated failure by Carriage Service Providers (CSPs) to upload PNCD to the IPND.

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Cybercriminals and scammers may defraud you and your customers if they can access personal details. Below are common cybersecurity solutions used by small business owners, and information on what to do if your website is breached.

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Domain Registration Lapsed – What’s Next?

To keep your domain name registered and working, you need to renew it.

Your registration may be valid for 1 – 5 years or even longer depending on the licence you purchase. When it’s time to renew your domain, your registrar should give you 90 days’ notice.

 

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Illustration: Managing your website domain hero imageIf you forget to renew your domain name, someone else may take it. Even worse, a cybercriminal could snatch it up.

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The following guide provides 6 helpful steps to start and/or keep your business website and email address secure.

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