Activities - Current forums, committees and projects
Active participation in industry and regulatory forums is a key part of TEDICORE's work. This page lists the ongoing groups in which TEDICORE participates. One-off forums are not listed.
Australian Communications and Media Authority Consumer Consultative Forum
The Consumer Consultative Forum has undergone a review and members have been appointed. The first meeting of the new forum took place on 12 December 2006.
Communications Alliance Disability Council (CADC)
The council was established in 1998 (originally as the Australian Communications Industry Forum (ACIF) Disability Advisory Body) to advise on the implications of proposed codes and standards for consumers with disabilities. It also provides advice on appropriate methods of consumer consultation or involvement in the development of these codes and standards.
The CADC has developed a guideline to help Communications Alliance reference panels and working committees meet their responsibilities under the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 and the Telecommunications (Consumer Protection and Service Standards) Act 1999.
Communications Alliance VoIP Working Group
The VoIP working group has been set up to identify and progress issues relating to Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP). A customer booklet has been completed on questions to consider when choosing a VoIP service. A sub-group is developing service classifications for a telephone service under VoIP.
TEDICORE is also represented on the two following working committees:
- The IP Network Quality of Service committee will develop a
guideline for carriage service providers, such as ISPs, on network IP
quality of service (QoS) to define a default set of network IP QoS classes
for all services for use in Australian IP networks.
- The Voice over IP Quality of Service committee will develop a guideline for Australian VoIP service providers and end users on Voice over IP (VoIP) QoS. This guideline will provide a measure of VoIP quality in a usable format for end users e.g. a 'number' or rating based on ITU-T Recommendation G.108.
Telstra Disability Forum (TDF)
This group provides a forum where key consumer groups and Telstra senior managers can meet to discuss telecommunications issues affecting people with a disability.
Telstra Consumer Advisory Group on the Disability Equipment Program (DEP CAG)
This group provides advice to Telstra on the company's Disability Equipment Program.
Optus Consumer Liaison Forum
Members of TEDICORE's Project Advisory Body sit on the Optus Consumer Liaison Forum, which provides input to a broad range of issues relating to access to products and services.
Australian Mobile Telecommunications Association (AMTA) Accessibility Committee
TEDICORE is an advisor to the committee, whose objectives are to:
- increase members’ awareness of innovation and developments in accessibility policies, strategies and initiatives both in Australia and overseas
- ensure that accessibility for people with disabilities is considered as part of AMTA’s consideration of all issues
- improve access to mobile services by persons with disabilities.
The committee has developed the Mobile phone industry good practice guide: accessibility for people with disabilities.
National ICT Industry Alliance (NICTIA)
NICTIA is an industry organisation dedicated to the promotion of the information and communication technology industries in Australia. TEDICORE is a member of NICTIA and offers accessibility advice.
COST 219ter
A European Commission action project on telecommunications and disability, COST 219ter's main objective is to increase the accessibility of next generation telecommunication network services and equipment to people with disabilities, and to promote the establishment of appropriate supplementary assistive services and equipment when required.
Gunela Astbrink is a member of COST219ter and has contributed to seminars and publications.