Telecommunications and Internet Archives - Page 18 of 29

26 June , 2017

Big consumer wins in Telco Reform Package legislation

The Australian Communications Consumer Action Network (ACCAN) welcomes changes to the Telecommunications Reform Package legislation introduced into Parliament today as a big win for all consumers. A number of ACCAN’s concerns will be addressed by the legislation as it contains improved consumer protections. In particular, ACCAN is pleased to see these changes: Statutory Infrastructure Provider provisions will…

23 June , 2017

Consumer International Members Call for ‘Big Data, Big Deal For Consumers’

Euroconsumers, a group of five Consumers International members, have launched a declaration calling for consumers to be given greater control over their personal data and greater access to the benefits the data produces. As data rapidly becomes the world’s greatest commodity, the group of consumer organisations want to see consumers playing a key role in…

26 May , 2017

Independent Review of the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman

The Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman (TIO) has engaged independent consultants to conduct a review TIO scheme, as required by legislation. The purpose of the review is to ensure that the TIO can continue to work effectively and meet the needs of consumers, its members and the telecommunications industry. The review will be the first of its…

5 May , 2017

ACCAN supports ACCC draft decision to not declare domestic mobile roaming

The Australian Communications Consumer Action Network (ACCAN) welcomes the ACCC’s draft decision to not declare a wholesale domestic mobile roaming service. In its submission to the ACCC Inquiry, ACCAN questioned whether regulated domestic roaming would result in better mobile coverage and improved competition in regional, rural and remote areas. ACCAN notes the ACCC’s finding that…

19 April , 2017

ACCAN highlights need for service standards to Joint Standing Committee on NBN

The Australian Communications Consumer Action Network (ACCAN) appeared before the Joint Standing Committee on the National Broadband Network in Melbourne today to highlight the need for service standards and to present solutions to problems faced by consumers in the NBN rollout. “It is fair to say that for a number of consumers the rollout has…

7 April , 2017

ACCC to monitor Australia’s broadband performance

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has welcomed the Federal Government’s announcement that it will fund a new broadband performance monitoring program to provide Australian consumers with accurate and independent information about broadband speeds. The program will use hardware-based devices to perform remote testing of around 4,000 households to determine typical speeds on fixed-line NBN…

3 March , 2017

Consumers unable to pay high power bills advised to contact their retailer early

The Queensland Consumers Association says householders experiencing difficulty paying high power bills caused by keeping cool during the sweltering summer should contact their power retailer as soon as possible. Association spokesperson, Ian Jarratt, says many power bills received, or those yet to arrive, will be well above normal due to the use of power guzzling…

14 February , 2017

Call for improved power retailing

The Queensland Consumers Association is calling on energy retailers, politicians and regulators to place the retail market at the centre of thinking about the transformation of the energy system. This is a key conclusion from a national survey* of 2300 consumers just released by Energy Consumers Australia (ECA). The survey revealed that: consumers rank the…

8 February , 2017

ACCAN urges Government to allocate budget funds to mobile expansion, USO and broadband monitoring

In its Pre-Budget Submission for the 2017-18 Budget, the Australian Communications Consumer Action Network (ACCAN) has urged the Federal Government to allocate funding to telecommunications initiatives that will benefit consumers. ACCAN’s recommendations include ongoing funding for the Mobile Black Spot Program, ongoing funding to ensure that the Universal Service Obligation (USO) continues until new safeguards…

5 December , 2016

ACCAN: New Coalition formed to end the data drought

A group of like-minded advocacy groups have come together to end the data drought by forming the Regional, Rural and Remote Communications Coalition to champion better communications services for consumers and small businesses living in rural, remote or regional areas. The Coalition includes the Australian Communications Consumer Action Network (ACCAN), the National Farmers’ Federation (NFF), the…

15 November , 2016

Gap in service: ACCAN and SACOSS release report on a lack of telecommunication services to low-income consumers

The Australian Communications Consumer Action Network (ACCAN) and the South Australian Council of Social Service (SACOSS) have collaborated to publish a report on telecommunications affordability. The report, titled Connectivity Costs: Telecommunications Affordability for Low-Income Australia was formed through over 500 surveys with Centrelink recipients and low-income Health Care Card Holders and multiple focus groups. The…

7 July , 2016

Defining Consumer Protection in the Digital Age

Robin Simpson, Consumers International’s (CI) Senior Policy Adviser, recently represented CI at the OECD Ministerial Meeting on The digital economy innovation, growth and social prosperity which took place in Cancun, Mexico. He spoke at the Civil Society Forum convened by the OECD Civil Society information Society Advisory Council (CSISAC) and in the main agenda panel…