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Telecommunications & disability consumer representation

Publications

Publications - Submissions

TEDICORE makes written submissions to a range of government inquiries and related matters. In some cases, submissions are made less formally, for example, by providing evidence and arguments in specially convened meetings. Some of the key inquiries, along with their recommendations with regards to people with disabilities, are listed below.

Regional Telecommunications Independent Review Committee's (RTIRC's) Regional Telecommunications Review

December 2007

TEDICORE's submission to the Review outlines practical policy and program changes to increase equity. TEDICORE proposes a raft of initiatives including an independent Disability Equipment Program, a Communications Allowance and a Video Relay Service.

DBCDE Review of the Universal Service Obligation

November 2007

TEDICORE's submission made a number of recommendations including the key focus that the function of the USO continue as a legal requirement so that people with disabilities have equitable access to communications technologies, based on the Articles in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with a Disability.

DCITA discussion paper on a review of the structure and operation of the .au internet domain

December 2006

TEDICORE's submission recommended that auDA, the Australian domain name administrator, develop a policy together with AusRegistry to promote, raise awareness and positively encourage website accessibility. Through this process, registrars and resellers would provide information about the importance of website accessibility as part of the registration process.

Australian Communications and Media Authority discussion paper on the strategies for wireless access services

April 2006

TEDICORE's submission discussed applications of wireless services for people with disabilities and the need to ensure that wireless services not interfere with devices such as hearing aids and cochlear implants.

Australian Telework Advisory Committee

February 2006

Relevant recommendations:

The Australian Government should encourage the use of assistive technologies for people with disabilities, including by promoting the applicability of the Government’s Workplace Modification Scheme to teleworkers.

Develop and maintain a Telework Online Resource Centre, containing better practice case-studies and implementation guides, ICT and OH&S checklists, information on assistive technologies, support tools for target groups, user forums, and other relevant information and links.

Support seminars, conferences, training sessions and road show activities to promote telework benefits and better practice, including to the mainstream business community, SMEs, and identified target groups, such as potential employers of mature aged workers, workers in rural and regional areas, carers and disabled workers.

Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission Inquiry into Equal Employment Opportunity and Participation for People with Disabilities

February 2006

Recommendation 24: Government procurement policy
The Inquiry recommends that the Commonwealth government commence a Regulation Impact Statement process which examines the option of adopting a government accessible procurement policy similar to section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act 1973 in the United States.

Australian Communications Authority discussion paper on regulatory issues associated with provision of voice services using Internet Protocol in Australia

November 2005

DCITA Recommendations:

R20: Access to new services should continue to be governed in accordance with the provisions of the Disability Discrimination Act 1992.

R21: In the longer term, consideration needs to be given to new technologies such as next generation messaging that provide opportunities to extend the services available to people with disabilities.

Senate Inquiry into the Telstra (Transition to Full Private Ownership) Bill 2005 and related bills

September 2005

3.61 The Committee considers that the new powers proposed for the ACMA will be valuable in strengthening the self-regulatory regime and providing additional support to consumer bodies participating in industry code development. However, the Committee suggests that the Government could give consideration to extending the availability of funding for consumer groups concerned with the development of codes, ... perhaps at the discretion of the ACMA.(p. 35)

DCITA Review of Telecommunications Consumer Representation and Telecommunications Research Grants Programs

September 2005

This review led to the program being funded for a further four years at the same level of funding as the previous four years. No significant changes were made to the programs.

TEDICORE's submission discussed:

Full report: Telecommunications consumer representation grants—Discussion paper

TEDICORE's submission: TEDICORE submission: Review of Telecommunications Consumer Representation and Telecommunications Research Grants Programs (RTF document, 86 kB)

Senate Inquiry into the Performance of the Australian Telecommunications Regulatory Regime

August 2005

Recommendation 28

The Committee recommends that the Government provide funding to ensure that deaf and hearing and speech impaired people have equal access to a suitable broadband service through HiBIS and through an independent disabilities equipment program.

It should be noted that in the Government Senators' Dissenting Report, the majority of Committee recommendations were disputed by the Government Senators on the Committee. However, "Government Senators agree with the sentiments set out in Recommendation 28 that deaf and hearing and speech impaired people have equal access to suitable services." (p. 229)

DCITA issues paper on telecommunications competition regulation

May 2005

TEDICORE's submission discussed the regulatory regime, universal service obligations, consumer protection safeguards, affordability and the disability equipment program.

Issues paper and submissions: Telecommunications competition regulation issues paper

DCITA discussion paper on the draft statement of requirements for the National Relay Service

February 2005

The draft statement of requirements were a part of the preparation for the tendering process.

TEDICORE's submission discussed the need for: a text server, Video Relay and Internet Relay, 24 hour speech-to-speech relay for the emergency call service, and an outreach program.

Senate Inquiry on Competition in Broadband Services

August 2004

TEDICORE's submission quoted: "Telecommunications is vital for effective communication in today's society. Broadband can open up many new possibilities of communication for people with disabilities if the appropriate mechanisms are in place for access to be available as for any other Australian. For example, we have a vision that ... a Deaf person living in a rural area has equitable access to appropriate communication using broadband services at the cost of a local phone call." (p.2)

Full report: Competition in broadband services

Senate Inquiry on Australian Telecommunications Network

August 2004

Recommendation 13: The Committee commends the findings of the Payphone Policy Review as it relates to services for the disabled for close examination by the Government (para. 7.48)

Recommendation 14: The Government should fund the establishment of an independent disabilities equipment program using funding from the Universal Service Levy (para. 7.49)

Recommendation 15: The Government should require carriers to engage in extensive consultations with representatives of people with disabilities at an early stage in the planning process for the introduction of new telecommunications technology to ensure that appropriate disability equipment will be available in conjunction with the introduction of new technology (para. 7.50)

These recommendations were the only ones in the inquiry report that were agreed by all members of the committee as making a positive contribution. "The Government members of the Committee will be encouraging the Minister to carefully consider those recommendations."(p.160)

Government Review of the Operation of the Universal Service Obligation and Customer Service Guarantee 2004

June 2004

TEDICORE recommendations to the Review:

Australian Communications Authority Payphone Policy Review

March 2004

3. The payphone industry and disability peak bodies should consult through an Australian Communications Industry Forum (ACIF) working group, and work together to develop a Payphone Accessibility Code for endorsement by HREOC. Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) and the Property Council should be invited to be involved in this ACIF group. The group should look for approaches that:

4. Telstra should continue to increase teletypewriter (TTY) payphone numbers in secure locations where there is evidence of need and TriTel and other specialist payphone firms should, at a minimum, provide TTY payphones in private sites when an agreement with the site owner requires Telstra to remove a TTY payphone. TTY siting criteria could be discussed in the proposed ACIF working group. The ACIF working group should also propose a means of providing comprehensive information about the location of TTY payphones. TTY payphones also need clear instructions displayed to explain how to use them.

Senate Inquiry on Provisions of the Telstra (Transition to Full Private Ownership) Bill 2003

October 2003

See the full report, section on disability services (p. 27)

House of Representatives Committee of Inquiry on Wireless Broadband Technologies

November 2002

Recommendation 12:
That the Commonwealth develops the means to provide hearing impaired people with mobile telephones compatible with hearing aids, portable wireless devices that can communicate through the National Relay Service, and appropriately adapted video compression and transmission technology for video communication using sign language.

Regional Telecommunications Inquiry 2002

November 2002

Recommendation 2.1
Telstra should continue to work with representatives of people with disabilities to resolve any service concerns, and consider their suggestions for service improvements. The Government should consider any national policy issues raised with the Inquiry, relating to access for people with disabilities.

Recommendation 2.4
The Government should review the provision of payphone services for people with disabilities. In particular it should take steps to ensure that competition in the supply of payphones does not impact adversely on access to teletypewriter (TTY) payphones.