What's Happening?
The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) is considering exempting some telecommunications companies from maintaining service outage registers, as mandated by a directive from Communications Minister Anika Wells. The directive requires
telcos to publish and maintain outage registers on their websites, adhering to strict accessibility standards. ACMA is seeking industry feedback on whether to allow flexibility in applying these rules, potentially exempting certain classes of carriers and service providers. The consultation is part of a broader review following the Optus outage in November, with new rules for triple zero services already in place.
Why It's Important?
The decision to exempt certain telcos from maintaining outage registers could impact consumer transparency and the ability to access timely information during service disruptions. While consumer advocates support the establishment of these registers for better communication during outages, telcos argue that existing regulations are sufficient. The outcome of ACMA's consultation could influence how telcos communicate with customers about outages and affect the regulatory landscape for telecommunications in Australia.
What's Next?
ACMA will review industry feedback and consider whether to implement exemptions for certain telcos. The amendments to the outage communications standard are scheduled to commence by the end of March, with registers required to be operational by June 30. The consultation process will help ACMA determine the feasibility and practicality of the current rules and any potential exemptions.
