Hi Petition Signers, 

Thanks for your support! It’s much appreciated. Already over 1600 Signatures.

I've spent more than a year trying to raise attention to the issues around the switch-off. I first contacted the Minister on 6 June 2023, warning about the impact on consumers.

It took 4 Months to get a response (Sep 2023), and the response I received completely ignored the issues I raised.

Based on emails released under FOI, it turned out I was the only person to contact the Minister last year warning that 4G phones would no longer be able to make calls and emergency calls once the 3G network was switched off.

It took until early February this year when Vodafone Customers started complaining they lost call service on Brand New (VoLTE enabled) 5G Phones, before red flags started being raised. (Vodafone 3G shutdown finished mid Jan 2024)

The response from the Department at that time was "it may be that the device is malfunctioning in some way" and to 'contact the store for a refund'. [More Info]

Additionally, the 'Optus Outage Inquiry' was supposed to meet on 9 February and the Department was to attend. 

There is an email from 9 Feb between the Minister's Department and Optus regarding my 16 November Optus Inquiry Submission. [See here]

Seems the Department wasn't satisfied with the Answers from Optus and the concerning complaints from Vodafone Customers.

So at the end of February (26th), the telcos briefed the Government/Department about the issue of phones being unable to Call 000 on 4G but otherwise supporting VoLTE Calling.

Vodafone knew about this issue in July last year and quietly removed affected devices from their website, but didn't alert anyone or their customers.

You can read more here: Australia’s 3G Switch-off - Failures of Government & Industry to Prepare

The Important Update:

The purpose of this email is to let you all know that the ACMA (radio/mobile regulator) has opened an Online Submissions page for Public Consultation on the Triple Zero calling rules changes they've been instructed to make by the Minister.

I found out about this because a user on Whirlpool Forums posted about it yesterday. (https://whrl.pl/RgKTwN).

The user also mentioned:
“ACMA will not be able to override the ministerial direction, they can only modify how it's to be implemented.”

So submissions/emails to the ACMA and the Minister (by Australian Citizens) is very important!

Ultimately, the Communications Minister needs to issue the ACMA with new instructions that both protect public safety & the interests of consumers.

Link to the ECS Determination Consultation is below! 
Submissions close next Tuesday 8 October!

https://www.acma.gov.au/consultations/2024-09/proposal-amend-ecs-determination

The Current Draft states the following: (Note: abridged text)

(65) (2) (a). The provider must send a notification advising that the phone is no longer able to access the emergency call service and all services supplied to the mobile phone will be disabled after 28 days. (From 1 Nov)

In the Consultation Paper it states 
"This would result in both voice and data services being supplied to that mobile phone being disabled."

Under the current Direction from the Minister and the ACMA Draft you won't even be able to use the phone as a 4G Data and SMS Only Device! (if the Telco believes it can't call 000) No Calling, no Data, nothing!

Additionally the Draft States that International Roamers are only Exempt from their devices being blocked if they 'remain in Australia for no more than 60 days'. Longer than 60 days and the traveller/roamer will have to purchase or use another device.

There are very serious issues with making 4G Emergency Calls when roaming which aren't at all addressed by this rule.

Refer to the documents on the Consultation Page for more info.

Additional Info/Background:
The ACMA Draft Determination Word Doc is dated 23 September 2024, with the Consultation Open as of 24 September.

I recently contacted the Minister about my Concerns (via email) on 20 September (through the office of a 3G Shutdown Committee Senator), and I contacted my local Member regarding my concerns on the morning of 23 September.

I’m yet to receive a response from either notifying me of the Open Consultation that has now been established.

I will be writing a submission to the ACMA and I suggest you do so as well if you are an Australian Citizen.

Please ensure your submissions are formal and sufficiently outline your concerns. 
The Consultation Paper has a series of Questions being asked by the ACMA.

However please ensure you also contact your Local Member, Senators and the Communications Minister as soon as possible! (Australian Citizens Only)

(Check the Petition Page for how to find your Local MP)

Only the Minister has the powers to completely prevent this! (Including the Shutdown) 

Additionally (and for everyone else) please share this Petition (& the Medium Posts) as much as possible! Including to Media, Tech YouTuber's/Media, Online Communities, Friends and Family etc.

The more people that share it, the more likely this is to be covered and talked about. Most people have no idea that 4G or 5G devices can be affected by the shutdown of 2G/3G networks.

This issue was ignored by the Government last year because not enough people complained. 
I was the only one apparently?!

Make your voices heard!

For those from other Countries please check in with your Government and Regulators to see if they are aware of the major compatibility issues that exist with VoLTE Calling and Emergency Calling. 

You can refer them to the sources I've posted in my Medium Articles, especially the EENA and GSMA resources.

Thanks for your interest and support with this. 
I'll be sure to keep you updated when I can.

James