Media Releases
ACCAN's work informs public debate about consumer issues in the communications landscape. Welcome to our collection of the latest news and current affairs that impact communications consumers.
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Alec Bennetts
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Phone: 02 9288 4000
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Peak telecommunications consumer body ACCAN is calling on the federal government to ban Telstra's $36 a year Silent Line fee, which landline customers currently have to pay if they want to keep their phone number private.
Read more: ACCAN calls for ban on Telstra charging for privacy
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Peak telecommunications consumer body ACCAN is calling on the ACCC to take action on apps that advertise as free but aggressively encourage or require in-app purchases to keep playing.
Read more: App traps: ACCAN calls on ACCC to take action on “free” games
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The peak telecommunications consumer advocacy group, ACCAN, is today launching a free smartphone app that will allow mobile phone customers to test their reception and log where and when they are experiencing call dropouts, delayed text messages and slow internet so they can make a complaint to their provider.
Read more: Not ‘appy with mobile coverage? Phone Rights will help
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New research out today documents the experience of people living in one of the first areas to receive the National Broadband Network (NBN), including their attitudes toward the NBN, downloading habits, internet speeds, devices per household and how much they pay for a phone and internet service.
Read more: First research out on how the NBN affects hooked-up households
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Peak telecommunications consumer group ACCAN says customers who want swift action for the Vodafone network’s service outages in 2010 and 2011 should contact the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman (TIO).
Read more: Vodafone customers should go to TIO if they want swift action on complaints
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Peak consumer group ACCAN says it is pleased with the announcement by Telstra today that it intends to waive a $2.93 monthly silent line fee for people who are under a protection order or at risk of violence.
Read more: ACCAN welcomes moves by Telstra on silent-line fee exemption
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The 2013 Round of the ACCAN Grants Scheme opens today with $265,000 available for organisations, or individuals who apply for funding before 2nd April.
The ACCAN Grants Scheme funds projects that help to work towards the organisation's vision of available, accessible and affordable communications services for all Australians.
Read more: $265,000 in funding available for telecommunications research & education
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Peak telecommunications consumer group ACCAN says the announcement made by Communications Minister Stephen Conroy today regarding the National Relay Service (NRS) will save lives through a new service that will enable Deaf, hearing impaired and speech impaired Australians to contact emergency services via SMS.
Read more: Emergency SMS for Deaf Australians will save lives
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New research by leading telecommunications analyst firm Market Clarity has found nearly 29% of small businesses owners are suffering the same customer service and complaint-handling problems experienced by general consumers, even though the vast majority are paying for business-grade services.
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Telecommunications consumer group ACCAN is today revealing the best and worst pre-paid calling cards to use to phone friends and family overseas this Christmas after a mystery shopping test it conducted found significant problems with 40% of cards.
Read more: Pre-paid calling card confusion: the best and worst ways to phone home this Xmas
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More than 60 disability and consumer advocacy organisations and thousands of individuals nationwide have supported the campaign for a permanent audio description service on television.
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation has just concluded the first-ever Australian trial of a television audio description service, which ran for 13 weeks on ABC1.
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Peak consumer group ACCAN says annual report data released by the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman (TIO) today shows the number of customers who have gone to the TIO about an unexpectedly high bill has doubled over the past year.
Read more: Complaints about unexpectedly high bills have doubled