ACMA to fund consumer code development

Stuart Corner
Tuesday, 28 March 2006 17:06

IT Policy - Regulation

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has introduced a scheme whereby telecommunications industry bodies and associations can apply to reimbursement of some costs they incur in developing consumer-related telecommunications industry codes.

The funds for the scheme will come from the carrier licence charges collected annually by ACMA. Re-imbursement is available only for expenses incurred on telecommunications industry codes that deal principally with consumer-related issues and that are submitted to ACMA for registration.

Refundable costs will include the costs of securing professional services and specialist advice to assist in timely code development.

Costs that are not wholly related to the development of a code or that have been funded through other means (for example, by membership fees, salary or Commonwealth funding) are not refundable but the ACMA says it will consider all other categories of costs.