Lawyer NEWS - ACMA seeks comment on proposed internet and mobile content reforms
The Australian Communications and Media Authority has released discussion papers and draft instruments relating to proposed reforms to the regulation of internet and mobile content. There are three draft instruments to be considered:
- a Restricted Access Systems Declaration;
- an amendment to the Telecommunications Service Provider (Mobile Premium Services) Determination 2005 (No 1) (Mobile Premium Services Determination); and
- an amendment to the Numbering Plan.
The new Restricted Access Systems Declaration would combine existing regulatory frameworks for age-restricted internet and mobile content, as well as other types of content such as live streamed content, under a single framework. This reform is designed to reduce administrative overhead for content providers without compromising the appropriate management of age-restricted content.
The amendment to the Mobile Premium Services Determination would remove the content-related provisions for mobile phones, with the intent that such provisions would be consolidated under the new regulatory framework.
The proposed amendment to the Numbering Plan would allocate the prefixes 195 and 196 to age restricted content delivered by premium SMS and MMS services.
These draft amendments follow the enactment of the Communications Legislation Amendment (Content Services) Act 2007, which will replace the present online content services regulatory framework in the Broadcasting Services Act 1992 on 20 January 2008.
Source: Blake Dawson Waldron
