AMTA Snapshot Edition 67

World-leading research into the impact of mobiles on work/life balance to be released at AMTA Conference Results of research that has for the first time studied in depth the impact of mobile phones on work and home life in Australia will be released at the AMTA Conference next month. Two of Australia’s leading social scientists, Professors Judy Wajcman and Michael Bittman, will release the preliminary report.

South Australian court hands down landmark decision on mobile phone towers This week the Full Court of the Supreme Court of South Australia released a landmark decision concerning the tests to be applied by a planning authority in determining whether to grant consent to a development application for a mobile phone tower.

One week to go to hand in your old unused mobile to help reach 100,000 native trees target Australian householders have only a few days left to take advantage of MobileMuster’s offer to plant a native tree for every mobile phone handed in for recycling by Saturday 30 June. MobileMuster, the official recycling program of the mobile phone industry, has partnered with Landcare Australia in its ”Old Phones, New Trees” campaign to plant and maintain up to 100,000 native trees, which is estimated to be equivalent to offsetting 15,000 tonnes of carbon emissions or take 5,000 cars off the road.

New online content safeguards The Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, Senator Helen Coonan, welcomed the passage of the Communications Legislation Amendment (Content Services) Bill 2007 through the Parliament his week.

AMTA to work with ACMA in bedding down new Content legislation The Communications Legislation Amendment (Content Services) Bill 2007 (the Bill) was passed by the House of Representatives on 21 June 2007. During the process of developing this legislation, AMTA has strongly supported the Federal Government’s aim to put appropriate safeguards in place to ensure children are protected from exposure to material that may be offensive or harmful.

AMTA to question SA Government campaign The South Australian Government has launched an unprecedented campaign urging mobile phone users to respond to a statewide phone-in if they have concerns about faults, contract disputes and poor standards of services, AMTA Chief Executive Officer, Chris Althaus, said today.

Interception Bill referred to Senate Committee Yesterday, the Senate referred the Telecommunications (Interception and Access) Amendment Bill 2007 to the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee for inquiry and report by 1 August 2007.

Pre-paid ID form contract awarded to Decipha The contract for the development of a new mobile services pre-paid ID check form was awarded to Decipha, which is a company of Australia Post. It offers significant experience in form design. The new form is to be developed by 17 August 2007, with guidelines and an education campaign being developed by the PSSC sub- committee for roll out prior to Christmas 2007.

ACMA fines two companies for breaches of the Spam Act The Australian Communications and Media Authority has fined the Pitch Entertainment Group (Pitch) $11,000 for extensive breaches of the Spam Act. This is the largest fine imposed by ACMA to date under the Spam Act.

Site to share experiences of social and environmental benefits of mobile communications Nokia and Vodafone have launched a new website designed to help share ideas on how to use mobile communications for social and environmental benefits. The site, www.shareideas.org, was created in direct response to NGO calls for better tools and information to help them use mobile services more effectively in their work.