Telecommunications

Access to affordable and reliable telecommunications services is a key issue for farmers and rural communities. Member surveys in the past have found rural telecommunications services to be inadequate, with internet and mobile services of greatest concern. The Association’s focus is to ensure that Members have access to telecommunications services in the bush are quality, affordable and equitable.

The importance of equitable access to telecommunications is only increasing and the Association is committed to working to ensure that there is no digital divide in NSW for broadband internet, or any telecommunication services. Essential services like e-health and access to education online, business services such as online trading and video conferencing are currently not available to all Members. Just as email has become an essential service, so too will many technological advances which today are thought of as luxuries. At a time of significant investment in broadband infrastructure, it is vital that the Association is a voice for quality, affordable and equitable telecommunications.

Related Issues

• CDMA: Next G
  The Australian Government has issued a draft licence condition to Telstra requiring them to keep the CDMA network open until the Next G network provides equivalent or better coverage and services.  Telstra had previously announced that CDMA would be ‘switched off’ 28 January 2008.  The Australian Communications and Media Authority will be undertaking independent coverage audits of both the CDMA and Next G networks.  Whilst blackspots can continue to be reported through Telstra’s Blackspots/Brightspots initiative (see below), the Australian Government has just launched a Next G Customer Support Unit on freecall 1800 883 488.  The Customer Support Unit aims to ensure that consumers are able to repot any probems they are experiencing with the switch to Next G.
   

• Broadband Internet Briefing Note
  Telstra has indicated its intent to cease providing ISDN (Integrated Service Digital Network) internet plans as of 31 December 2008. The issue of broadband internet services can be highly confusing to customers, with many different Internet Service Providers (ISP’s) offering a range of different plans, at a range of different prices, over various contract lengths. To add to the confusion, there is also the issue of the availability of subsidies to reduce the cost of internet plans to those who do not have access to a metro-comparable broadband service and how to determine whether you are eligible for these subsidies. This briefing note aims to shed some light on this area and provide members with a clear path of action to assist you to make an educated choice regarding the ISP and plan that will most suit your requirements.

• Reporting Blackspots
  The Telstra website now includes a section where you can provide feedback on mobile blackspots.  You can report a blackspot where Telstra indicates it has mobile or wireless coverage but it does not perform to expectations, such as the line may drop out, the call may have poor reception or there may be little or no reception at all.  You can also report ‘bright spots’ if your expectations have been exceeded and you have found mobile or wireless coverage in an area where you have never experienced it at all.  Click here to go to Reporting Blackspot section...

• Do Not Call Register
  The Do Not Call Register is being set up by the Australian Government in response to community concern about the growth in unsolicited telemarketing calls.

  The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) is responsible for the Do Not Call Register under the Do Not Call Register Act 2006. The Act covers telemarketing calls from within Australia and from overseas.

  Generally, it will be against the law to make unsolicited telemarketing calls to a number listed on the Do Not Call Register. This is subject to some limited exemptions which allow certain public interest organisations to make specific types of telemarketing calls to numbers on the register. Further information on exemptions follows under ‘Who will still be able to call’.

  ACMA has also determined and will enforce an industry standard for telemarketing and research calls. Together, the register and industry standard are designed to minimise and regulate unsolicited telemarketing calls in Australia.  Click here to go to the Do Not Register web site to find out more and to registrer...

• Telstra Payphones
  Telstra recently announced that it is considering the removal of up to 5 000 public payphones across Australia.  The Association is concerned about the impact of this proposal on rural and remote NSW, and is seeking confirmation that the payphones earmarked for decommissioning are not part of Telstra’s payphone obligations under the Universal Service Obligation.  Telstra has now published guidelines to inform local communities about public payphones that are candidates for removal, and about how to provide feedback to the company.  Members concerned about the potential loss of services are invited to contact Telstra through an online feedback form available at www.telstra.com.au/payphoneservices/contactus.htm; by calling 1800 011 433; or writing to Payphone Siting Manager, Locked Bag 6658, Sydney, NSW, 1100.  Telstra has publicly committed to specifically taking into account the response of local communities, including representations from local government, members of parliament and community groups, so it is important that if your community is concerned about its payphone services you have your say.

• Transition from CDMA to 3G
  Telstra announced in November 2005 that a single national ‘3G’ network will be deployed over the next three years using the CDMA frequency of 850MHz.  This will involve a gradual phase-out of the CDMA network currently being utilised by many farmers across rural and remote NSW.  Click here for a copy of Telstra’s answers to Frequently Asked Questions about 3G.

• Telecommunications
  A damning survey recently released by the NSW Farmers’ Association has confirmed fears that telecommunication services are far from ‘up to scratch’, with more than half of respondents still reporting major problems and 80% voicing their opposition to the proposed further privatisation of Telstra. Click here to view the survey results.