003/05
8 February 2005
Public comment on ACA credit management report
Public comment is sought on the Australian Communications Authority's (ACA) report Preventing Unexpectedly High Bills: Credit Management in Telecommunications.
"The report deals with important issues and I would encourage all stakeholders and interested parties to provide feedback on the ACA's proposals," Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, Senator Helen Coonan said today after releasing the report.
Public submissions are welcome on any aspect of the report and, in particular, on the following ACA suggestions and recommendations:
- The adoption of the ratings of effectiveness of credit management tools;
- The adoption of the minimum performance levels; and
- The proposed framework for provision of credit management tools via a service provider determination, with an option for carriage service providers to prepare individual implementation plans approved by the regulator, as the most appropriate regulatory mechanism for achieving improvement in credit management practices.
The ACA's report follows a discussion paper released in August 2004. The discussion paper and subsequent submissions are available on the ACA's website at www.aca.gov.au/aca_home/issues_for_comment/discussion/index.htm
Submissions can be made until Friday, March 11 2005 and can be emailed to:
credit-management@dcita.gov.au
Or posted to:
Telecommunications Consumer Policy
Attn: Ms Nikki Vajrabukka
Department of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts
GPO Box 2154
Canberra ACT 2600
The ACA report is available online at: www.dcita.gov.au/tel/publications and further information on the consultation process is available at: www.dcita.gov.au/tel/consultation
Media Contact: Jane McMillan 0438 690 305