164/04
2 December 2004
Legislation to Merge the Broadcasting and Communications Regulators Introduced
The Australian Communications and Media Authority Bill 2004 was introduced in the House of Representatives today as the first legislative step towards a merger of the Australian Broadcasting Authority (ABA) and the Australian Communications Authority (ACA).
The formation of the ACMA is a response to convergence within the communications industry. The merger is an administrative merger and makes only minimal changes to the existing regulatory frameworks that apply to the telecommunications and broadcasting sectors.
"Digital technologies are reshaping traditional telecommunications and broadcasting industry sectors by allowing new types of devices and services, which in turn create new market opportunities," Senator Coonan said.
"Businesses are being forced to respond by restructuring the ways they do business, their offerings to their customers and their relationships with other businesses. Consumers also have significantly different expectations about the types of services available, their costs and availability than they did a decade ago.
"New regulatory structures are required to deal with these changes. It is becoming increasingly difficult for two separate regulators, one of which is primarily focused on infrastructure and carriage issues, and the other focused chiefly on content issues, to provide a holistic response to convergence."
The creation of the ACMA will enable a coordinated regulatory response to converging technologies and services. The new authority will be better placed to take a strategic view of wider convergence issues.
"Benefits to industry will include a reduction in duplication in the compliance process with improvements in the coordination of regulatory functions," Senator Coonan said.
"A single authority will be better placed to coordinate telecommunications and broadcasting issues in international fora such as the International Telecommunications Union.
"In addition, a single authority will have the potential to manage resources to enable a timely response to periods of high demand for spectrum planning, and create enhanced opportunities to attract and retain staff and to broaden staff expertise.
"ACMA will help Australia remain at the forefront of communications regulation. A single regulator will be best placed to provide for the needs of industry and consumers given the rapid evolution of technologies in the communications sector."
Media Contact: Jane McMillan 0438 690 305