Australian Communications Consumer Action Network (ACCAN) - News, Features, and Slideshows

News

• Telcos slammed for sleazy NBN sales

  The use of high-pressure sales tactics by telcos trying to sell NBN services to households and small businesses has been condemned by groups representing consumers and the telecommunications industry.

• Non-NBN broadband, NBN voice services fare poorly in ACMA complaints report

  The Australian Communications and Media Authority has released its first snapshot of telecommunications complaints data as part of a number of ACMA measures to tackle rising dissatisfaction with broadband and phone services.

• NBN complaints to telco ombudsman drop

  Complaints to the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman (TIO) about NBN service quality dropped from 4.1 per thousand premises to 2.1 per thousand premises in the space of 12 months.

• Competition regulator wants entry-level NBN plans at ADSL prices

  The chair of the ACCC has expressed alarm about the affordability of the NBN for lower income households, citing the erosion of RSPs willing to offer base-level broadband products.

• Groups call for better bush telco services

  The Regional, Rural and Remote Communications Coalition — which brings together 17 organisations including the Australian Communications Consumer Action Network (ACCAN) and a range of groups representing regional and rural communities and businesses — has called for a shake-up of the telecommunications sector.

• Government commits to funding ACCAN

  The government has announced it will continue to fund the Australian Communications Consumer Action Network (ACCAN) following a review of consumer representation on telecommunications issues.

• ACCAN calls on govt to back broadband monitoring program

  The Australian Communications Consumer Action Network has called on the federal government to support an independent broadband monitoring program that will assess the performance delivered to end users by ISPs.

• Is it legal to use a VPN to evade geo-blocking?

  The Australian Communications Consumer Action Network (ACCAN) has raised concerns that a government bill to block pirate websites may cover VPN services used to evade geo-blocking.

• Choice campaigns against 'Hollywood horror film' copyright code

  Advocacy group Choice has launched a campaign to push for more protections for consumers in the impending copyright enforcement code for Internet service providers.

• Telstra, Optus and Vodafone respond to 1300 number issue

  Telstra, Optus and Vodafone have responded to the Australian Communications Consumer Action Network (ACCAN) comments about making mobile calls to 13/1300 numbers free, saying they have plans that include unlimited calls to 13/1300 numbers.

• Mobile calls to 1800 numbers made free – why not 1300?

  The Australian Communications Consumer Action Network (ACCAN) is praising the telecommunications industry for making mobile calls to 1800 numbers free of charge from January 2015, but says the same deal needs to be made for 1300 numbers.

• Fine print in phone contracts fails ACCAN test

  Many telecom contracts may violate Australian consumer law, according to report released today by the Australian Communications Consumer Action Network (ACCAN).

• Low income earners miss out on Internet access

  Low income earners can’t afford an Internet connection, according to research commissioned by the Australian Communications Consumer Action Network (ACCAN).

• Govt aims to end overseas bill shock

  The government has introduced a new global roaming standard to avoid Australians encountering bill shock when they travel overseas – but some telco customers will need to wait years before they receive all the benefits of the changes.

• ACCAN condemns ASIC block of 250k sites

  The Australian Communications Consumer Action Network (ACCAN) has hit out at the revelation that the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) accidentally blocked 250,000 legitimate websites.