Comms Alliance registers two new industry codes

Communications Alliance, the peak body for Australia’s telecommunications industry, has developed two new industry codes, including one committing the sector to ensuring customers have a choice of service providers over the NBN.

The two new industry codes have been registered with telecoms regulator ACMA. The new NBN code gives the industry the responsibility to ensure customers have both a choice of NBN retail service providers and the ability to move between them transparently.

All participants in the code will be required to comply with and follow the same processes to ensure an even playing field.

The second code will expedite the process of providing a quick connection to new occupants of a premises in cases where the previous occupant has not yet cancelled their service.

This code replaces the existing nine-year-old code and updates it to cover broadband services including NBN services.

Acting ACMA Chairman Richard Bean said phone companies currently manage over 90,000 connect outstanding situations per year.

“Any residential or small business consumer who moves premises could potentially encounter a ‘connect outstanding’ scenario,” he said.

“The expansion of the code to cover fixed broadband connections means all consumers — whether they are using fixed-line, fixed-wireless or satellite-based infrastructure— benefit from the timely connection of phone and broadband services that the revised code will achieve.”

Both codes also include a requirement for service provider contact details to be logged onto a secure contact matrix, maintained by Communications Alliance, to ensure consumers can more easily resolve any authorisation queries.

The two industry codes are voluntary, but ACMA has the power to instruct telecommunications operators to comply with the codes if this is deemed necessary.

Follow us on Twitter and Facebook