[LINK] Fwd: MR123/2010: ACMA annual report marks year of significant change and development [SEC=UNCLASSIFIED]

[Antony Barry]

Begin forwarded message:

> From: media at acma.gov.au
> Date: 13 October 2010 12:42:02 PM AEDT
> To: <tony at tony-barry.emu.id.au>
> Subject: MR123/2010: ACMA annual report marks year of significant change and development [SEC=UNCLASSIFIED]
> Reply-To: media at acma.gov.au
> 
> The Australian Communications and Media Authority’s Annual report 2009–10, tabled in Federal Parliament today, suggests the year was one of significant change and development for the agency. 
> 
> ‘The year was not without its challenges but the ACMA has built, and continues to build, capacity and capability to respond with flexibility and resilience to whatever it faces,’ said ACMA Chairman, Chris Chapman.
> 
> During 2009–10, the ACMA began a number of major regulatory projects, most significantly its formal inquiry into customer service and complaints-handling in the telecommunications industry. 
> 
> ‘The inquiry is part of a broad strategy we have called Reconnecting the Customer and is a direct response to the continuing high volume of consumer complaints to the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman,’ Mr Chapman said. 
> 
> ‘My announcement of the inquiry in April this year was an unambiguous response to the ACMA’s ongoing concern about whether the current arrangements that underpin telecommunications consumer protection are fully effective in dealing with the issues that concern consumers the most.
> 
> ‘The reaction we have had to date clearly shows that the inquiry has hit the mark. This month’s national program of hearings, forums, workshops and focus groups is certain to bring more issues to the fore.’
> 
> Mr Chapman said that spectrum planning and administration continued to provide the ACMA with challenges, particularly in meeting the needs of a broad stakeholder group.
> 
> ‘Last year was no exception with the release of a discussion paper as part of our review of the 2.5 GHz band. This band is identified internationally for wireless access services but is currently used in Australia almost exclusively by free-to-air TV broadcasters for outside broadcasting, including electronic news gathering. 
> 
> ‘We also finalised proposals for future arrangements in the 400 MHz band, released spectrum for wireless access services in regional and remote areas of Australia in the 3.6 GHz band, as well as spectrum in the 2.1 GHz band for public mobile telecommunications services in the same areas. 
> 
> ‘Our new Five-year Spectrum Outlook 2010–2014 was released along with a number of discussion papers focussing on emerging technologies, including intelligent transport systems and ultra wide-band.
> 
> ‘Late in the financial year, an announcement by the minister, confirming the 126 MHz size of the spectrum 'digital dividend' from the analog television switch-off, paved the way for the ACMA to consult with potential spectrum purchasers. This consultation will start with the release of a public discussion paper later this year.’
> 
> One of the ACMA’s key functions is to assist industry to develop codes of practice that are in accordance with community standards and to monitor compliance with those codes.
> 
> During the year, the ACMA embarked on a broad program of monitoring compliance with the Mobile Premium Services Code, conducting a number of investigations, and making a determination to assist in preventing unexpectedly high charges through a barring option initiative. 
> 
> The ACMA also registered two major broadcasting codes of practice. The new commercial television industry code of practice and the Commercial Radio Australia Codes of Practice and Guidelines 2010 came into effect early in 2010. Both allow consumers to make complaints electronically for the first time.
> 
> ‘Strong demand from teachers, students and parents for all our Cybersafety Outreach programs continued during the year with a total of more than 1,000 presentations delivered to over 120,000 teachers, parents and students,’ Mr Chapman said. 
> 
> ‘We also expanded our existing range of cybersafety education resources for schools and started work on the development of new material specifically aimed at parents. With continuing funding and the support from the government, these cybersafety initiatives are delivering tremendous results and genuine international traction.
> 
> ‘Throughout the year, our field operations work continued with key activities including digital switchover field strength measurements in survey areas across the country. To date we have undertaken more than 52,000 measurements at more than 12,000 locations across the broad reach of Australia and this work will continue over the coming three years. 
> 
> ‘The ACMA itself changed with a mid-year restructure designed to put the organisation on an agile footing to address the pace of the challenges of our environment, as well as to better recognise the citizen aspects of our role. 
> ‘Broad acceptance and engagement meant that by the end of the financial year the “new” organisation had found its feet. 
> 
> ‘During the year, we moved to broaden our outreach and engagement with stakeholders by adopting Web 2.0 and other engagement methods. Over the next 12 months, we will continue to build our social media presence on the major networking sites and employ these platforms to broaden our outreach and consult and engage efficiently. 
> 
> ‘To emphasise our sense of identity and role, a refreshed brand identity for the ACMA, launched early in the reporting year, was applied broadly across the organisation, particularly through our website, publications and marketing collateral.’
> 
> The ACMA Annual Report 2009–10 is available on the ACMA website. For printed copies, please call media.comms on (03) 9963 6966.
> 
> For more information or to arrange an interview please contact: Donald Robertson, Media Manager, on (02) 9334 7980, 0418 86 1766 or media at acma.gov.au.
> 
> ________________________________________
> The ACMA is Australia’s regulator for broadcasting, the internet, radiocommunications and telecommunications. The ACMA’s strategic intent is to make communications and media work in Australia’s public interest. For more information: www.acma.gov.au. 
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