Issue No 12 : 8 May 2023

ACOMM 2023 Awards - Book your seats!

The awards will be presented at the 17th Annual ACOMMS Dinner to be held on 27th July 2023 at the Hilton, Sydney.  BOOK YOUR SEATS HERE: https://acomms.com.au/2023/register/

TCP Code review – Invitation to Comment

Communications Alliance is in the early stages of reviewing the Telecommunications Consumer Protections (TCP) Code. 

It has released a discussion paper and is now inviting submissions from all interested parties.

This is the first step of a new, three-stage review and revision process designed to help us better understand stakeholders’ key concerns and priorities and to work more efficiently and constructively to address issues.

Full details of the process are included in the discussion paper, which is available on our website.

Responses are requested by 6 June.

Proposed Changes to Spectrum Apparatus Licence Pricing Structures

Following a multi-year review into the pricing of spectrum apparatus licences, the ACMA has recently consulted on a number of remaining matters, including the proposal to update the apparatus licence taxes on an annual basis using changes in geography-specific population data. Also being considered were different frameworks to extend the concept of pricing for varying levels of interference through new pricing structures for apparatus licences.

The Communications Alliance Satellite Services Working Group (SSWG) noted in its submission to this consultation that while the shift to population-based increases is preferable to CPI indexation, the satellite licensing taxes in Australia remain relatively high in comparison to the international benchmarking and recommended that more tax incentives to satellite services should be provided. The SSWG is also opposed to the introduction of ‘interference protection pricing’ to satellite Earth receive apparatus licences in light of the prospect of incompatible service co-allocations and the ensuing impact to performance of satellite services, as earth station receivers are highly sensitive to low levels of interference.

Current Consultations

Below is a list of currently open telecommunications-related consultations being conducted by Government and other organisations that provide an opportunity for you to have your say.