Dates Announced For Telco Public Hearings

  • Hearing will include verbal and written submissions
  • Sydney and Melbourne hearings will be webcast
  • ACMA want shift in Telco behaviour

The ACMA today announced details of public hearings around Australia as part of its Reconnecting the Customer public inquiry into customer service and complaints-handling in the Australian telecommunications sector.

The hearings are part of a range of consultation activities being undertaken by the ACMA as part of the inquiry, and provide an opportunity for participants to discuss written submissions already lodged with the ACMA, or to make a new verbal submission.

“These hearings bring a public focus to the submissions that we have received and will further inform the ACMA’s Reconnecting the Customer discussion paper, due for release in November,” said Chris Chapman, ACMA Chairman. “The hearings are an important part of the public inquiry process to assist the ACMA to materially improve outcomes for consumers of telecommunications and foster a paradigm shift in industry players’ behaviours.”

Hearings will be held in the following locations:

Sydney: Wednesday, 27 October 2010    
Melbourne: Friday, 29 October 2010        
Adelaide: Monday, 1 November 2010    
Townsville: Monday, 8 November 2010
Launceston: Monday, 15 November 2010    

People who are interested in making a verbal submission, can register via the ACMA website: www.acma.gov.au/publichearing.

Information about venues and times can be found on the ACMA website as well as in advertisements in print and online, appearing from this weekend.

The hearings are open to all interested parties for attendance and observation and the Sydney and Melbourne hearings will be webcast for viewing on the ACMA website.