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Did anyone else notice the fine job the 'registered cabler' did installing the RJ45 on page 2 of the brochure? That's quality, dead on center work there. ;-)

Actually, the ACA in Australia introduced technology neutral tradeable spectrum licences in 1998.

It's Australia - we don't have can-spam, we have effective spam laws.

Under the Spam Act 2003 it is illegal to send, or cause to be sent, 'unsolicited commercial electronic messages' that have an Australian link.

Australia Communication Authority -
Universal Service Obligation

Looking at the scheme more cynically, it is designed to provide Flo average citizen from Wagga Wagga with the impression that the government is protecting her from the Big Bad Telco's (Telstra is 51% owned by the Federal Government). Its primary aim is to cover the un-timed local calls. Calls that cost Telstra virtually nothing, and are quite profitable due to the high flag fall charge.

Here is the reasoned approach. The Australian Communication Authority (ACA) [the Aussie version of the USA's Federal Communications Commission (FCC)] has spoken out against BPL systems, here (see "What Issues do these Systems Raise?" p7) and here.

Here is the reasoned approach. The Australian Communication Authority (ACA) [the Aussie version of the USA's Federal Communications Commission (FCC)] has spoken out against BPL systems, here (see "What Issues do these Systems Raise?" p7) and here.

I am amazed that it is taking this long to get the number portability issue sort-of rolling. Here in Australia we have had this available to us since September 2001.

The ACCC (Australian Competition and Consumer Commission) here in Australia are the ones who asked for it to happen in the interest of competition.

If other companies are afraid of loosing their customers then they are obviously not serving them well enough. This sort of thing forces the telcos to provide a better service to their customers since the main barrier to customers leaving will not be there anymore. This sort of thing will really help competition and be better for the industry.

You lot are only 2 years behind us aussies on this one.

I also forgot to mention the fact sheet as well!

In australia there was a big thing about the largest carrier preventing number porting. Our consumer watchdog (ACCC) got onto the case and made things start to happen which was good for us consumers!
Here is a report detailing what the ACCC requested from the ACA (australian communications authority) to look into number porting for australian carriers.

If you intend to charge for Wi-Fi services in Australia you must hold a Carrier License. The application fee is something like AU$10,000 and then an annual fee equal to (if I remember correctly) a percentage of your revenue. You've also got to write a proposal to go along with your application showing how you meet specific criteria laid out by the ACA (www.aca.gov.au). You can of course piggy back on someone elses CL, but they still need to pay around AU$3,000 to the ACA (and you can bet they won't let you do it for free).

It blows being a small WISP out of the water just due to the startup costs (not including hardware and backhaul bandwidth). The money made supposedly goes to help the 'outback' telecoms situation, although there isn't a sign it's happening (living in the 'bush' usually means no affordable broadband).

At the rish of /.'ing our national communications authority (ACA) in Australia, there is a very clear fact sheet on this (PDF) from them...

Long and the short is that for personal use - no license is required. For "commercial" (looks like it even includes sharing one ADSL landline over WiFi between neighbours) use, a license is required.

Practically, though, they don't seem to mind as long as you're under a certain power level.

1) This is not a law. Its a code of practice, and no-where in the article does it say whether said code is mandatory.

Actually, it became news because it became a law. Or effectively, anyway. The ACA has adopted it, making it part of the conditions of having a telco license.

See the media release from the ACA that says "It requires carriers and carrier service providers to comply..."

It seems to be directed at the bulk SMS operators that pay for a feed into a carrier's messaging system. From a quick flick through the documents, it seems carriers will have to put compliance with this "code of practice" into their contracts with the bulk SMS operators. Carriers that don't will be in breach of their licence.

The cost of SMS is getting lower. According to this page, you can send bulk SMS at 18c / msg (that's only US 12c) in Australia right now.

Andrew Scott

(iii) To any telephone number assigned to a paging service, cellular telephone service, specialized mobile radio service, or other radio common carrier service, or any service for which the called party is charged for the call

In the USA how does the calling party know if the called party in on a charged service? I mean, as I understand it, all numbers are in 1xxxyyyzzzz, so it doesn't seem like a very easy way to determine what sort of number it is. I mean, is the yyy different depending on which xxx you are in?

Here in Australia, there was a fairly recent renumbering that made all numbers fairly uniform. For example, all numbers beginning with 04 are mobile phones (10 digits), and pagers are in 016 (6 or 9 digits). (Numbering Plan)

It costs around 25c to send an SMS, where most flagfalls appear to be around 20c, then ~60c/minute for the call, so SMSs are a little cheaper, and they have become very popular. Walking around town you can hear the constant "beep-beep" of SMS received. I own a Nokia 5510 and I send quite a few messages. :)

It doesn't cost anything to receive a message, but Telstra wanted to do a deal with ICQ (IIRC) that charged for both ways. Sending messages are usually included in the "included calls"; I'm on a $30/month plan: I can make $30 worth of calls or SMSs before my bill will increase. Its another way of "minimum spend".

I'm on the Optus network, most of my spam tends to come from Heaven.com.au, although I haven't got any for a while.

In Australia we have the legislated Customer Service Guarantee which describes expectations in terms of services, appointments, repairs, etc. If the telco does not meet these expectations they must rebate the customer upto $40/working day. I note however that while these used to refer to monthly access fees ($11.65/month for residences some years ago, now more like $25/month and almost $40 for companies) they are now fixed at $12 and $20 for residences and businesses respectively. You can bet this is quite deliberate, although I'm surprised the Australian Communications Authority allowed for this change.

But it also means that it is impossible to have number portability between PSTN and PMTN. since all land-line phones (local numbers) begin with one of 02,03,07,08 and all mobiles begin with 04. (plus 8 digits in both cases) And the person making the call gets charged the differing amounts. I think the new 05 numbers have some portability, but I'm not too sure about them, and they probably will have one of the above numbers behind the scenes.

Hmm the ACA has changed their site... anyway check out range search and number portability. :)

But it also means that it is impossible to have number portability between PSTN and PMTN. since all land-line phones (local numbers) begin with one of 02,03,07,08 and all mobiles begin with 04. (plus 8 digits in both cases) And the person making the call gets charged the differing amounts. I think the new 05 numbers have some portability, but I'm not too sure about them, and they probably will have one of the above numbers behind the scenes.

Hmm the ACA has changed their site... anyway check out range search and number portability. :)

rr

A small point for whoever suggested finding cheaper cards (and don't forget, that $150 was almost certainly in Australian Dollars), there are pretty tight restrictions on importation of radio devices to Australia. In particular, you need to make shure there is an ACA permit in force for that device.

A small trivia point for anyone else who lives in Canberra: I think the ACA have their offices in Belconnen in the Benjamin Offices.