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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.

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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.

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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:

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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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ACCAN recently submitted to the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts (the Department) on the Better Delivery of Universal Services discussion paper (the Consultation). In addition to ACCAN’s responses to the Consultation questions, we further recommended that the Department:

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ACCAN provided a submission in January 2024 in response to a request from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) to comment on NBN Co’s proposed Cost Allocation Manual (CAM).

The CAM sets out NBN Co’s proposed framework for the allocation of costs between ‘core’ monopoly services and competitive non-monopoly services. The attribution and allocation of costs has a profound effect on the wholesale prices ultimately faced by residential and small business consumers of monopoly core services.

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ACCAN recently submitted to the Australian Communications and Media Authority consultation on draft captioning quality guidelines. 

ACCAN welcomed the development of captioning quality guidelines which clarify the ACMA’s interpretation of quality requirements in the Broadcasting Services (Television Captioning) Standard. The guidelines addressed some of the concerns raised with ACCAN by consumers including latency, timing, readability, and the essential nature of captions that are meaningful.

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ACCAN recently submitted our comments to Communications Alliance on the C657:2024 Inbound Number Portability Industry Code.

ACCAN considers the current Code to largely be meeting its intended objectives: providing guidance for industry and providing appropriate consumer protections.

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