ACMA - Research

The ACMA’s research and information program supports its business and organisational objectives by providing strategic economic, industry, technical, social and regulatory design research capacity.

A primary objective is to understand and identify the uses and potential uses of communications and media services and technologies so that ACMA is able to make informed decisions with an understanding of the implications for consumers and citizens in the regulation of communications and media markets.

Through its research, the ACMA is seeking to understand the:

external drivers of change in communications and media, with a strong interest in identifying where platform, device and service convergence is occurring
implications of change for regulation, including identifying where regulatory pressure points are developing that require new or different regulatory or non-regulatory responses.

The ACMA’s approach is informed by best practice principles for evidence-based policy-making that:

builds a sound evidence base where research is one of a range of sources of evidence used in information gathering
is transparent so that research methodologies and findings are open to internal and external peer review processes, and findings are published
continues to build research capacity and expertise within the ACMA to assist in the development, analysis and use of evidence in a regulatory context
builds a culture that is receptive to the use of research in decision making by continuing collaboration across ACMA for the early identification of research needs and continuing to disseminate research findings in a variety of ways including publications, presentations and speaking engagements.

An overview of the ACMA’s research program for 2010–11 is available in Word (268 kb) or PDF (640 kb).

The table below lists the ACMA's recent research publications grouped for consumers, for industry and occasional papers

For consumers

Communications
December 2012	Here there and everywhere (Consumer behaviour and location services)
October 2012	Communications report 2011–12 series Report 1—Online video content services in Australia: Latest developments in the supply and use of professionally produced online video services Report 2—Australia’s progress in the digital economy: Participation, trust and confidence Report 3—Smartphones and tablets: Take-up and use in Australia Communications report 2011–12
September 2012	Telco customers—credit management and financial hardship
November 2011	2010-11 Communications report series Report 1—E-Commerce Marketplace in Australia: Online Shopping Report 2—Converging communication channels: Preferences and behaviours of Australian communication consumers Report 3—The emerging mobile telecommunications service market in Australia Communications report 2010–11
October 2011	Digital Australians—Expectations about media content in a converging media environment
June 2011	3G mobile bill-payers’ understanding of billing and charging arrangements
June 2011	Community research into telecommunications customer service experiences and associated behaviours
May 2011	Numbering: Implications of Research into Consumer Issues - Consultation paper 4 (IFC15/2011)
May 2011	An overview of international cyber-security awareness raising and educational initiatives (PDF 1.5 mb)
March 2011	Domestic antenna systems - Estimating current stock
March 2011	Community research on informed consent
December 2010	Mobile network broadband
November 2010	Australia in the digital economy - Consumer engagement with e-commerce
November 2010	2009–10 Communications report series Report 1—Australia in the digital economy: The shift to the online environment Report 2—Take-up and use of voice services by Australian consumers Report 3—Australian consumer satisfaction with communication services Report 4—Changing business models in the Australian communication and media sectors: Challenges and response strategies
May 2010	Mobile capped plans - Consumer attitudes and behaviours
September 2009	Community attitudes to unsolicited communications
March 2009	Australia in the digital economy: Research report series Report 2 - Online Participation Report 1 - Trust and Confidence
March 2009	Convergence and communications report series Report 3 - Australian consumer satisfaction with communications services (June 2009) Report 2 - Take-up and use of communications by small and medium enterprises (March 2009) Report 1 - Australian household consumers’ take-up and use of voice communications services (March 2009)
September 2008	Telecommunications in remote indigenous communities
June 2008	Creating new markets: Broadband adoption and economic benefits on the Yorke Peninsula
February 2010	Online risk and safety in the digital economy Report 3 (February 2010) Report 2 (April 2009) Report 1 (February 2008)
2007/08	Telecommunications today: research report series
2006	Understanding your internet quality of service 2004-05 (PDF) This report aims to provide some insight into the performance Australian consumers are experiencing in using their internet service.
2005	Consumer satisfaction survey report 2005

Media
March 2013	Evaluation of the Tagged Education Resource - Qualitative Research Report (2.5 mb) Evaluation of the Tagged Education Resource - Qualitative Research Report (.docx 2.5 mb)
September 2012	The ACMA Cybersmart Outreach Program Evaluation Qualitative Report October, 2011 - Griffith University (3.8 mb) The ACMA Cybersmart Outreach Program Evaluation Qualitative Report October, 2011 - Griffith University (832 kb)
August 2012	Cybersmart detectives report (Educational Evaluation of Cybersmart Detectives ) Evaluation methods overview Background
June 2012	Television sets in Australian households
August 2011	Review of privacy guidelines for broadcasters
July 2010	Cybersmart parents: Connecting parents to cybersafety resources
June 2010	Trends in media use by children and young people: Generation M2 2009 (USA), and MCAF 2007 and CPCLA 2009 (Australia)
February 2010	Community attitudes to radio content
February 2010	Listener attitudes to advertising, sponsorship and influence on commercial radio
August 2009	Attitudes towards use of personal information online
August 2009	Adult digital media literacy needs
August 2009	Community attitudes to the presentation of factual material and viewpoints in commercial television current affairs programs
July 2009	Audit of Australian digital media literacy programs
July 2009	Click and connect: Young Australians' use of online social media 01: Qualitative research report 02: Quantitative research report
June 2009	Use of electronic media and communications: Early childhood to teenage years
June 2009	Digital media literacy in Australia—Key indicators and research sources
February 2009	Household television environment research 2007-2008 report
September 2008	Media and communications in Australian families Report 3— Access to the internet, broadband and mobile phones in family households Report 2—Media use by girls and boys Report 1—Internet use and social networking by young people
May 2008	Media literacy - Concepts, research and regulatory issues
April 2008	Digital television in Australian homes 2007
June 2007	Research studies - Children's Television Standards Children’s Viewing Patterns on Commercial, Free-to-Air and Subscription Television Children’s Television Production Project Television Advertising to Children
May 2007	Digital media in Australian homes 2006
December 2007	Media and communications in Australian families 2007
November 2005	Digital media in Australian homes-2005
2005	kidsonline@home (984 kb, zipped PDF document) A report on children's use of the Internet in Australian homes. Prepared by NetRatings Australia Pty Ltd for the ABA and NetAlert Limited.

Emerging technologies and issues
November 2011	Developments in next generation applications and services
September 2011	Sensing and monitoring - Recent developments
February 2011	Developments in home networks
August 2010	Digital radio accessibility
August 2010	Technology developments in the digital economy
March 2009	Trends in communications and media technology, applications and use
July 2008	Closed environment testing of ISP–level internet content filtering
May 2008	Top six trends in communications and media technologies, applications and services

For industry

Communications
October 2012	The Australian Internet Security Initiative—provider responses to security-compromised computers
June 2012	TV equipment and antenna stock in Penrith
March 2011	Domestic antenna systems - Estimating current stock
December 2009	Changes in the Australian VoIP market
December 2008	Communications infrastructure and services availability report 2007-08
July 2008	Fixed-mobile convergence and fixed-mobile substitution in Australia
June 2008	ACMA presentation at ATUG, 20 May 2008
June 2007	Communications infrastructure and services availability in Australia 2006-07
November 2006	Communications services availability in Australia 2005-06
November 2005	Telecommunications services availability in Australia 2004-05

Media
May 2008	Commercial televisions industry financial trends 1978-79 to 2005-06

Radiocommunications
April 2007	The Economics of spectrum management: A review
January 2006	AM radio issues
August 2005	Survey of the community radio broadcasting sector 2002-03

Emerging technologies and issues
November 2011	Developments in next generation applications and services
November 2011	Enduring Concepts: Communications and media in Australia
September 2011	Sensing and monitoring - Recent developments
August 2011	Broken Concepts: The Australian communications legislative landscape
August 2011	Converged legislative frameworks: International approaches
July 2011	The internet service market and Australians in the online environment
February 2011	Developments in home networks
October 2010	Mobile premium services user survey 2010
August 2010	Technology developments in the digital economy
July 2010	Community research into attitudes towards use of mobile payment in Australia
June 2010	IPTV and internet video delivery models: Video content services over IP in Australia
May 2008	IPTV and internet video in Australia
December 2007	The Australian VoIP market 2007

Occasional papers

Occasional papers
September 2011	Optimal conditions for effective self– and co–regulatory arrangements (2011 edition)
May 2011	Emerging business models in the digital economy-The mobile applications market
May 2011	International regulatory research
June 2010	'Citizens’ and the ACMA - Exploring the concepts within communications and media regulation
June 2010	Optimal conditions for effective self- and co-regulatory arrangements

Research

Contacts

For consumers

For industry

Occasional papers