Proposed amendments to mobile phone blocking rules under the Telecommunications (Emergency Call Service) Determination 2019

ACCAN recently submitted to the ACMA’s consultation on proposed amendments to mobile phone blocking rules under the Telecommunications (Emergency Call Service) Determination 2019.

ACCAN’s submission recommends the ACMA defer amendments to the device blocking rules under the Telecommunications (Emergency Call Service) Determination 2019 until the Triple Zero Legislative and Regulatory Review is complete.

In the interim, ACCAN recommends that the ACMA progress the following interim measures:

1. Advance compliance and enforcement efforts with the current requirements.

2. Publish a register of approved, remediable, blocked (non-remediable), and blocked (unknown) mobile device makes and models to increase transparency and consumer access to device compatibility information.

3. Coordinate a consumer education campaign to empower informed purchasing decisions and reduce the risk of consumers purchasing an incompatible device.

4. Secure public commitments from carriers to provide low-cost and no-cost devices to all consumers impacted by device blocking.