‘‘ACCAN -- a single peak body representing the diversity of views among consumers of telecommunications services’’

A new peak body for telecommunications consumers is born. ACCAN, the Australian Communications Consumer Action Network, took its first steps with the announcement of its new Constitution and Inaugural Board.

ACCAN is the result of activities of the Consumer Representation Working Group discussions supported by the Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy and project managed by the CEO of the CTN (Consumers' Telecommunications Network), Ms. Teresa Corbin. ACCAN will represent the full range of telecommunications consumers in Australia; people with disabilities, from rural and remote Australia, those living on low incomes, seniors, youth, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, Indigenous Australians, and small businesses (in their capacity as consumers) and will take communications consumer issues and concerns to Government, the Regulators and to industry. ACCAN expects to be operational in July 2009.

The push for a new consumer voice came from two directions:

•  The Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy SSeennaattoorr Stephen Conroy who called for a more effective consumer voice in communications.

• Consumer groups who met with the Minister on May 1st this year and agreed on the imperative for the many fragmented consumer organizations to become one strong, clear voice that will be heard.

New Board members Holly Raiche and Catriona Lowe have praised ‘the dedication of all who worked tirelessly to achieve the new ACCAN, including strong support from both the Minister and his Department.’ Holly Raiche stressed “the need for the strong consumer organization ACCAN to understand and advocate for consumers in the increasingly complex world of telecommunications and the growing digital divide in Australia” and Ms. Lowe stated that “There is now a strong, cohesive consumer voice to government, the regulators and industry. We now call on government, the regulators and industry for more dialogue and better outcomes for consumers.”

A full list of the Founding Board Members is attached.

 
Media enquiries can be made to the ACCAN Project Manager, Teresa Corbin.

Email: tcorbin@ctn.org.au
Tel: 02 9572 6007 (bh) or Mobile: 0414 748 906

and/or

Holly Raiche

Email: h.raiche@internode.on.net
Tel: 02 9436 2149 (bh) or Mobile: 0412 688 544

Catriona Lowe

Email: ceo@consumeraction.org.au
Tel: 03 9670 5088 (bh) or Mobile: 0412 633 090

 
Background

In April 2008 the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy Senator Stephen Conroy announced a Forum to identify ways to make consumer representation in telecommunications more powerful and more effective. Invitations to the Forum were sent to consumer, government and industry representatives.

The Forum was held on 1 May 2008 and resulted in agreement among the many consumer groups in attendance that work should begin to explore the formation of a new model for consumer representation in telecommunications - a single peak body representing the diversity of views among consumers of telecommunications services.

A Consumer Representation Working Group was established and, with significant secretariat and funding support from the Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, the Group completed the many tasks for the establishment of ACCAN, including significant financial and organisational planning, finalisation of a constitution and selection of an initial Board that has strong sectoral representation, and important competencies in corporate governance.

The Working Group was also charged with the task of reporting to the Minister by the end of July of this year with proposals for consumer representation arrangements going forward.

The report which was delivered to the Minister on 1 August 2008 outlined a number of funding proposals for consumer representation arrangements from 1 July 2009, including a proposal for ACCAN to take over the task of administering that grant funding, within Departmental guidelines.

While the Minister considers the report, the Founding Board has many tasks to complete in the mean time including establishing its own policies and strategies, and cementing relationships with its constituencies, government and industry.

The ACCAN Founding Board members are Nan Bosler, President, Australian Seniors Computer Clubs Association, and current Director of Consumers' Telecommunications Network (CTN). Len Bytheway, Chief Executive Officer ACT for Kids and Director (Deputy Chair) of CTN. Aaron Davis, Chief Executive Officer, Indigenous Consumer Assistance Network. Gerard Goggin, Professor of Digital Communication, and Deputy Director Journalism and Media Research Centre, University of New South Wales. Catriona Lowe, Co-Chief Executive Officer, Consumer Action Law Centre and Chair of Consumers Federation of Australia. Kyle Miers, Manager, of National Information and Projects with Deaf Children Australia, President of Deaf Australia, and Founding member of Australian Federation of Disability Organisations. Holly Raiche, Executive Director, Internet Society of Australia, Director of CTN. Alex Varley, Chief Executive Officer, Media Access Australia. Sue Salthouse, Director, Didactic Enterprise, Chair of the Communications Alliance Disability Council.