Purpose
As one of the ACMA’s key advisory groups, the CCF assists us to carry out our responsibilities to consumers. It enables consumer organisations and advocates to engage with us on issues that affect people who use mobiles, the internet and fixed-line phones.
The CCF’s role is to:
- explore policy and regulatory consumer issues
- offer a broad range of perspectives on important issues affecting consumers, including people in vulnerable circumstances
- spread information via their networks to consumers about regulatory safeguards and initiatives.
How it works
Members are appointed by the ACMA and meet 3 times a year; twice online and once face-to-face. Meetings are chaired by a full-time member of the ACMA Authority.
The CCF provides information and advice to the ACMA on issues including:
- current and future demand from consumers for communications services
- issues affecting consumer use of communications services, and their priority in the short, medium and longer term
- ways to address these issues within the current regulatory framework
- how to inform consumers on issues affecting them
- specific advice on telco issues being considered in reviews, projects and other activities undertaken by the ACMA that may affect consumers.
Current membership
The CCF comprises ongoing and set-term members. This format combines ongoing expert advice with specialist membership to reflect the changing needs of consumers in the rapidly evolving communications environment.
Ongoing members
There are 2 members appointed on an ongoing basis:
- Australian Communications Consumer Action Network
- Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman.
Set-term members
Set-term members are appointed for 3-year terms (unless otherwise agreed), with current memberships expiring in September 2024. The current set-term members are:
- Consumer Policy Research Centre
- NSW Business Chamber (Business NSW)
- South Australian Council of Social Services
- Western Community Legal Centre Limited (Westjustice)
- Consumer Action Law Centre
- Isolated Children’s Parents’ Association of Australia.
Members may apply to be reappointed when their term expires.
Observers
The CCF is also attended by regulatory and government representatives from:
- Australian Competition and Consumer Commission
- Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts.
CCF terms of reference
Read the CCF terms of reference for details of the CCF’s operation and responsibilities:
