ACCAN targets self-regulation, broadcasting and the NBN

Stuart Corner
Thursday, 03 September 2009 11:22

IT Industry - Strategy

In proposing to extend its scope to include broadcasting, ACCAN argues that: "Telecommunications, the Internet and broadcasting are no longer separate sectors requiring separate policy and advocacy work. Consumers are increasingly able to mix and match among network technologies, devices and applications to source the communications services they desire...The themes of the technology landscape are Internet-based networks, mobility, interactivity and transaction. Consumers are both users and producers in these spaces, and are able to execute a wide range of personal and business activities across sectors."

ACCAN says that, with the switchover to digital radio and TV broadcasting underway it will "monitor the communications functionality of these services, initially focusing on applications delivered over Internet or mobile networks."

On the NBN, ACCAN says: "Non-discriminatory networks, and non-discriminatory availability of content is important for equity. The NBN proposal calls for an open access wholesale-only network, though specifics about how this will affect relationships with retailers remain to be seen. There are also no provisions to ensure network neutrality (prohibiting providers from offering tiered services)."

In addition to campaigning for the abandonment or reform of self-regulation, ACCAN wants to see effective monitoring and enforcement of regulation, including penalties that are more in line with detriment, and better reporting.

Future Consumer is a research project looking at consumer and policy issues relating to telecommunications and mobiles, the Internet, broadcasting, and affordability. The research was funded by the Commonwealth government through the Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy (DBCDE) as part of its support for the establishment of ACCAN.

The report  is actually a compilation of four separate case studies, into Telecommunications and Mobiles; The Internet; Broadcasting; and Affordability.

It was commissioned to inform ACCAN's strategic direction and the wider policy arena by: identifying key emerging issues for consumers in telecommunications and the converging communications and media environment; analysing current or future policy models and service options to address these issues, including possible partnerships and advocacy strategies;

The authors note that "There are sites of crossover between these areas that standout. These include siloed policy frameworks, a need to connect to international policy work, non-discriminatory access to services, the use of personal information, copyright, content regulation and environmental impact."

They add that it may prove useful to further delineate issues into three themes that span different technologies: access to underlying networks (Are they available to all, open access, non-discriminatory, affordable, environmentally sustainable and reliable?); service delivery (Are consumers informed? Is there appropriate safety and privacy? Are there fair and effective relationships between consumers and service providers?); content and services delivered over networks; (Are they accessible and easily usable? Do they meet the diverse needs of users and support users as creators? Do they deal fairly and consistently with content regulation and content use?).