INDUSTRY RESPONDS TO NEW BROADBAND CONSUMER INITIATIVES

Sydney, 21 December 2017 - The telecommunications industry looks forward to working with regulators and government to finalise the detail of high-level broadband consumer initiatives announced today by the Minister for Communications & the Arts, Senator Mitch Fifield and the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA).

“The transition to the nbn is creating major change for the country, requiring ongoing adaptation throughout the supply chain. To the extent that the measures announced will contribute to better coordination of the multi-party supply chain that delivers services to consumers - and therefore improve the overall consumer experience - this will obviously be a positive” said Communications Alliance CEO John Stanton.

We note and agree with the ACMA’s statement that we should avoid duplication or confusion across existing Codes and any new Standards - hence the importance of the consultative process that will begin next month between the regulator and industry, to create the detail of any new measures.”

The initiatives announced today are an extension of existing industry co-regulatory measures in the areas of information provision, complaint handling and complaint reporting. Some CSPs are already undertaking most or all of the activities mentioned by the Minister, and the initiatives announced today are an opportunity to create more consistent behaviour across the sector.