Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA)

Are you interested in receiving notifications when the ACMA announces a significant event declaration? Sign up to our dedicated subscriber list at https://lnkd.in/g-ng754

Shopping online during the end-of-year sales? Be wary of scammers who send texts and emails to prey on people shopping for a bargain. Scammers target everyone and will use impersonation tactics to trick people into buying from fake online stores or clicking on links in fake parcel delivery messages. If a deal sounds too good to be true, or if you receive an SMS or email message with unusual looking links or a request to pay a fee to complete a parcel delivery, it’s probably a scam. Scam messages can even slip into your legitimate message stream to try and trick you. To confirm whether a parcel delivery message is real, verify the sender’s contact details yourself from an official website or app, or via information received at the time of the original purchase, such as a tracking number. Don’t click on any links, don’t give money or personal information, and report the message to Scamwatch. Learn more about how to protect yourself from scams this holiday season: https://lnkd.in/gKdNPdtn

The ACMA Customer Service Centre closes on 24 December 2024 and will re-open on 2 January 2025. Please email any enquiries to info@acma.gov.au and we will respond in the new year. We wish you a happy and safe holiday season.

Block yourself from all online and phone wagering providers licensed in Australia in a single process with BetStop – the National Self-Exclusion Register. It’s as easy as creating a betting account. Find out more and register at https://lnkd.in/gZXWpqgT

Are you interested in the 3.4-4.0 GHz band? Visit our website to subscribe to email updates on developments in this frequency range. https://lnkd.in/g-ng754

If you’re travelling outside Australia these holidays, plan ahead and avoid mobile phone bill shock. Using your mobile phone or smart device on international networks can be expensive. Costs can add up quickly. To prepare for using your phone or device overseas, read the critical information summary from your telco. This summary explains what you can be charged for and how much it will cost. You can also: • Request information from your telco, like how to disable international roaming or check your usage. • Avoid pay-as-you-go roaming. If international roaming is automatically enabled on your phone or plan, and you don’t want to use it, consider disabling it. • Turn off auto-update settings for your apps. • Ask your telco about available roaming bundles. • Download maps and entertainment before leaving Australia. • Remember, text messages are usually cheaper than phone calls or data. More information: https://lnkd.in/gaGgdFqi

From January 2026, all connected TV devices supplied in Australia must comply with new TV prominence rules. These rules are designed to make it easier for Australians to access free-to-air services and apps on their smart TVs and similar devices. The ACMA has today released a report on the outcomes of our recent consultation on TV prominence implementation. The report summarises stakeholder submissions, updates our preliminary views on implementation, and details our next steps. The outcomes report is available here: https://lnkd.in/gkW6JT76

The ACMA has released a new telco customer complaints handling report, ranking the performance of the 34 largest telcos operating in Australia against 3 key complaint handling metrics. The report provides data for July to September 2024, ranking the telcos against the number of complaints received per 10,000 services in operation. ACMA authority member Samantha Yorke said that, for the very first time, consumers can see how their telco is performing in handling complaints compared to their competitors. “We know that telco customers want their complaints handled quickly and effectively. This new report shows which telcos are doing well in helping their customers and those who need to improve.” The data will be updated quarterly to show changes over time. Read the report in full: https://lnkd.in/gG2pJeSW

If you’re facing financial difficulties and struggling to pay your telco bills, there are options to help keep you connected. If you need support, contact your telco provider to discuss a financial hardship arrangement. Find out more on our website, which includes a fact sheet on how to help people who are struggling to pay their telco bills: https://lnkd.in/g3xWZTxr If you need free financial counselling or urgent help, see the MoneySmart website https://lnkd.in/g-5VEmn4

The ACMA welcomes today’s announcement from Communications Alliance (CA) that it has opened a consultation on its revised draft of the Telecommunications Consumer Protections Industry Code (TCP Code). The TCP Code, which sets out rules for how telcos interact with their residential and small business mobile, landline and internet customers, is an important part of Australia’s broader telecommunications consumer protection framework. Following extensive engagement between CA and the ACMA, the ACMA recently provided feedback to CA on the revisions to the draft TCP Code and advised that it should progress to public consultation. Submissions to CA are welcome by 28 February. Read more: https://lnkd.in/g9ASdT4m