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IN THE NEWS: Senate committee urges delay to 3G shutdown; telco complaints fall, but consumers may have given up; and more Australians now reaping the benefits of free broadband
MESSAGE FROM OUR CEO:  We are less than a month away from the shutdown of 3G networks and a Senate committee has recommended delaying the closure date once again due to fresh concerns from regional groups. Communications Minister Michelle Rowland is yet to formally respond. The closure dates of 31 August (Telstra) and September (Optus) remain, and this serves as a reminder to all Australians to thoroughly check their devices and connected tech to ensure they are compatible with newer networks.
Telco complaints are in the spotlight yet again, and despite attempts by industry to paint a rosy picture of reduced consumer complaints, new research by Consumer Policy Research Centre and the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman shows that consumers may have given up on complaining altogether, frustrated by slow response and resolution timeframes. The debate played out in an article in the Fairfax newspapers this week.
And in some good news for equity and access to free broadband, ACCAN welcomed an announcement from the Prime Minister and Communications Minister that the School Student Broadband Initiative has now been rolled out to 15 000 families.
I would like to remind readers that nominations for the ACCAN board will open soon. Make sure your membership is up to date so that you can nominate for a position and vote at our upcoming AGM.
Carol Bennett
Chief Executive Officer
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The Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee has handed down an interim report into the impending closure of 3G networks, recommending that the shutdown be delayed yet again. The recommendation came after the committee heard concerns from regional groups about coverage loss, consumer unreadiness and unforeseen impacts to IOT devices, including medical devices, sensors, security systems and farming equipment. The Committee recommended that telcos voluntarily delay the network shutdown and, failing that, for the Communications Minister to intervene to force an extension of 3G through her powers over telco license conditions. [ABC]
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More Australians now reaping the benefits of free broadband
Last week, ACCAN issued a media release welcoming the announcement by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Communications Minister Michelle Rowland that 15,000 families are now receiving free internet connections via the School Student Broadband Initiative. ACCAN CEO Carol Bennett encouraged the Prime Minister and Communications Minister to consider how to lower barriers to entry to boost take-up of the important program. [ACCAN]
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 New data has shown a continued fall in consumer complaints in the last quarter (April – June), with the Comms Alliance Complaints in Context report noting 2.7 complaints per 10,000 active services. Research conducted by the Consumer Policy Research Centre and the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman has looked below the surface at telco complaints, finding that, although 55% of consumers experienced at least one issue with their service in the last year, many have simply given up complaining as they believe it will not make a difference to their situation. [SMH – please note – paywalled]
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The NSW government will fund the installation of Starlink satellite internet kits in 5000 firefighting vehicles over the next three years. The kits will allow the use of radios, mobile phones and other handheld devices, even in remote areas or if other communications infrastructure has been damaged during a disaster. Livestreamed video may also be conveyed back to central command centres, providing real-time intelligence about the state of an incident. [ITNews]
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auDA has announced their new R&D Grant Program - an initiative to fund multi-year partnerships for projects that deliver impact through research and development across the role of the domain name system (DNS), internet governance, DNS technical resilience, and digital inclusion. Up to two grants of between $300,000 and $500,000 p.a. for three years are available to Australian university or research organisations. This extends the work of the auDA Community Grant Program, which funds 15 projects to promote digital inclusion and improve the utility of the internet. ACCAN was a recipient of auDA's 2023 community round, and are currently developing a Digital Skills Finder. For more, including important application dates for these grant programs, see the link above. [auDA]
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The government will soon open the second round of the On Farm Connectivity Program (OFCP), designed to assist primary producers to adopt connected machinery and sensor/monitoring technology. The National Farmers’ Federation, an ACCAN member organisation, welcomed the expansion of the program and encouraged all eligible farmers to start thinking about how they can boost their on-farm connectivity through the scheme. [NFF]
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In accounts filed with regulators, Optus has revealed a hefty annual net loss of $480 million, due in large part to “churn and price erosion” in its enterprise business. The telco has set aside $132 million to deal with future costs associated with the November 2023 network outage and continued fallout from its 2022 cyberattack. Telstra [Channel News]
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Gerard Brody has been appointed as Chairperson of the Essential Services Commission, the economic regulator for Victoria’s essential and utility services. Mr Brody brings a strong background in consumer advocacy and sector leadership. Readers may be familiar with Mr Brody through his participation at past ACCAN events and conferences. ACCAN congratulates Mr Brody on his appointment. [Government News]
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ACCAN Board nominations opening soon
Help us make a positive difference for communications consumers by nominating to join the ACCAN Board! Nominations to join ACCAN's Board will open on 12 August and close 27 August – details will be sent out to members early next week. You must be a financial member or part of an ACCAN member organisation to nominate. For members who are yet to renew for this financial year, please do so prior to nominations opening. [ACCAN]
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The Regional Telecommunications Independent Review Committee (RTIRC) is currently holding consultations around the country, providing an opportunity for people living and working in regional, rural and remote areas of Australia to share their views and experiences using telecommunications services in their area. Please note, the survey and online submission process has now closed. The RTIRC will be in regional NSW (Braidwood, Cooma) from 9-10 August, WA (Kununurra, Katherine) from 21-22 August, and the Northern Territory from 11-13 September. You can register for these upcoming events via the link above. [RTIRC]
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WebNews #669
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Tel: (02) 9288 4000
Email: media@accan.org.au
If you are Deaf, or have a hearing impairment or speech impairment, you can contact us on 02 9288 4000 through your preferred National Relay Service call number or access point.
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