The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission will launch in July a set of products to help the telecommunications industry to understand its rights and responsibilities under the Trade Practices Act. The central component is a TV 'infomercial' to be broadcast on five Optus Vision and six FOXTEL Pay-TV channels.
"The 'infomercial' was originally part of an out of court settlement negotiated between the ACCC and Optus Vision," ACCC Chairman, Professor Allan Fels, said today. "A subsequent settlement with FOXTEL has permitted its exposure to a wider audience.
"Its designed to alert people, especially new service providers, to their need to be familiar with the Act and to drive them to the other elements of the overall package. These include an informative advertising guide and a new Internet site for regulatory information."
The advertising guide, entitled Fair Call, and the Internet site will be wholly funded by Optus Communications as part of a separate settlement. Both the Optus and FOXTEL settlements arose from allegedly misleading and deceptive conduct in the promotion of broadcast and telecommunications products, details of which are set out below.
On the eve of the ACCCs assumption of wider responsibilities for the regulation of the telecommunications market, Professor Fels said: "Its crucial that consumers are not drawn into a 'false dawn' for competition in telephony and pay TV, and that we get real competition in these new markets. I think most industry participants would concede that their conduct in the newly-competitive market has been less than ideal to date; lets draw a line under those errors and look forward to a more compliant, competitive future.
"We are optimistic about the future, in that these companies have shown their willingness to reach into their pockets and contribute to a more competitive and better-informed market. The products we launch in July will be an invaluable aid to players in that market."
From 1 July the 'infomercial' will be broadcast, and the Internet site will go on line soon after. The Net site will be at faircall.com.au. Trade practices information is also available from the ACCCs site.
Further information Professor Allan Fels, Chairman, (06) 264 2829 or pager (016) 373 536 Ms Lin Enright, Director, Public Relations, (06) 264 2808
