Do Not Call Register set to increase its reach

The Australian Communications and Media Authority has released a discussion paper on possible extensions of eligibility to join the Do Not Call Register.

It goes as far as the idea that all Australia phone numbers could be allowed to register.

There’s a short period for public submissions.

What numbers can be on the register today ?

Quoting ACMA:  ‘At present, telephone numbers not used primarily for private or domestic purposes and all numbers used exclusively to send or receive faxes, may not be listed on the Register. These arrangements effectively exclude businesses and other entities from being able to take advantage of the protections provided by the Register.’

ACMA’s options

ACMA raises the following potential options.

Package A

Package B

Submissions invited

ACMA seeks submissions by 12 September 2008.

Submission can be lodged:

Consultation discussion paper

ACMA’s 20 page consultation discussion paper includes a detailed questionnaire and response form.

Our take on it

Any enlargement of the scope of the register will increase costs and decrease the target market for telemarketers.  For the first time, B2B telemarketing would be regulated.

In the United Kingdom, businesses can register and ACMA considers that the impact on telemarketing there has been acceptable.  We think that signals that ACMA will push for at least allowing small business to join the Australian Do Not Call Register.

From that point, they may as well go the whole way and include bigger businesses as well.  Numerically, they are a small proportion of all Australian business and the effort to ‘carve them out’ may hardly be worth it.  Besides, the bigger the business the less of a telemarketing target it is, anyway.

August 16, 2008 | Filed in DNCR Act, New laws 

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