ACCAN endorses Regional Telecom Review

The Australian Communications Consumer Action Network (ACCAN) has urged the federal government to adopt the recommendations in the latest Regional Telecommunications Review.

ACCAN CEO Teresa Corbin said regional, rural and remote Australians will be better protected if the reforms suggested by the review are put into action.

She said many of the recommendations put forward by the review echo reforms that the telecoms consumer body’s regional members have long been advocating for.

“It is reassuring to see that the Independent Committee has listened to the voices of country Australia as they’ve spelled out what they need from a modern telco service,” she said.

“We hope that the government will implement these recommendations in a timely manner to help protect communications consumers across the regions.”

The report includes recommendations to extend the broadband performance monitoring program for the nbn to regional fixed wireless and satellite services, require an audit of landline phone performance and introduce a Regional Connectivity Package to improve broadband and mobile services in regional areas.

“There is stark disparity between the experiences of regional consumers when it comes to the performance of their landline phone services and what is promised. We hope that this audit will stamp out future instances of regional users being promised services that can’t be delivered,” Corbin said.

Meanwhile, the regional connectivity package is sorely needed, but must be supported by sufficient funding, she added.

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