Hi Petition Signers,
The petition is now very close to 10,000 signatures, only 830 to go!
The main reason for this update is to let you all know the 3G Shutdown Inquiry Committee has scheduled another public hearing for Wednesday the 5th of February!
I'm very glad to see another hearing has been scheduled.
Please help boost the Petition towards 10,000 Signatures before the end of January!
Please also share the Videos by Hugh Jeffreys to increase awareness of this issue!
- Australia’s New Firewall IMEI BLOCKED 516,875 Active Phones Overnight + Tourists Phones Blocked
- Australia To Block Internationally Purchased 4G/5G Phones As Part of 3G Shutdown
You can also share my 'Why your 4G/5G phone is now blocked' Article published on Medium or Independent Australia.
Australia’s 3G shutdown: Why your 4G/5G phone is now blocked - Independent Australia
(Original detailed version on Medium.com)
As I mentioned in my previous December update, there are now widespread complaints about coverage (especially in regional areas), I'm sure this will be one of the main issues discussed.
That's in addition to working 4G/5G devices being blocked and 'officially supported' devices unable to call 000.
The final Inquiry report is due at the end of February.
On 28 November I did email the Senate Committee saying that '..another hearing is more than warranted given what's happened and what is happening for people'.
Even last month there was a story on 'ABC Country Hour' about people on a farm in Regional NSW being unable to call 000. There was also a loss of life in that incident.
A link to the Transcript from that story can be found here.
The final hearing program and witness list is yet to be published, that is likely to happen the week prior if there are no changes in the schedule.
APH - 3G Shutdown Inquiry - Upcoming Public Hearings
It's likely to feature the telcos, regulators and Department and if I were to guess. So watch this space.
The hearing is likely to be later in the day and run for around 2 hours, and as it's in Canberra it will be livestreamed on video.
In advance of the hearing I will also be sending through to the Committee additional submissions made to my blocked devices survey, as well as other information.
Please continue to submit both your blocked and not blocked devices to the online form!
- 4G/5G Device Blocking & Capabilities Submission Form
- 4G/5G Device Blocking & Capabilities Submission Results (Public Version)
Having more data, and knowing what devices are blocked, on what networks and where those devices were purchased from would be of great help to me (and the Committee).
If you or someone you know bought a new device recently, (especially from a Retail store) and the device is network blocked on some or all networks please fill out the online form!
You are also welcome to email me if you have any further information you want to share. https://medium.com/@jamesdwho/about
Thank you to those have emailed previously, I haven't been able to respond to everyone.
Additionally last month on 17 December the Communications Minister convened a "3G switch off lessons learned roundtable" with the telcos and regulators. They discussed 'learnings' post shutdown, as well as the need to do further work on ensuring that 000 calls work.
Infrastructure.gov.au - 3G switch off lessons learned roundtable
https://www.infrastructure.gov.au/department/media/news/3g-switch-lessons-learned-roundtable
If you read the released 'Communique' there is a lot of interesting language that, to me, seems to indicate they know there are serious issues. (Clearly a case of putting the cart before the horse, shutdown first then figure out everything else later)
On the following day I received an email (entirely unprompted) from the ACCC (responding again to my November email) saying they are 'unable to comment on issues', but they 'take concerns raised by consumers seriously', and they were highly appreciative of the information I provided in my November email.
(That email included hundreds of submissions from the blocked devices survey)
For context I did have an opportunity to speak with the ACCC at the end of August last year, (prior to the block policy by the Minister & ACMA being made public) and I felt it was a positive and constructive meeting.
Unfortunately neither the ACMA or Department have acknowledged my requests to speak with them, which is very disappointing.
In the days before the hearing I would recommend contacting both your local MP and the Senators for your state regarding this issue. Both via Phone and Email.
You can find the contact details for your representatives below.
AEC - Find my electorate
https://electorate.aec.gov.au
APH - Contacting Senators and Members
https://www.aph.gov.au/Senators_and_Members/Contacting_Senators_and_Members
I will send out another Petition update when we get closer to the hearing date with any further updates or developments.
We may not see an immediate resolution to this issue, but with sufficient pressure and complaints change is possible!
Thank you to all of those that have taken the time to contact their Local MP, Senators, ACCC, TIO, ACMA and Department. Your efforts have been of great help, even if the responses you've received have been lacking.
I hope to see the Committee put pressure on the telcos and regulators at the hearing and the telcos actually be held accountable for their actions.
Thank you for all the support and interest with this to date.
Regards
James