The Australian Communications and Media Authority is seeking comment on proposed new fees and payment arrangements for telemarketers to access the Do Not Call Register in 2009-10.

ACMA’s proposed streamlined payment arrangements are intended to make the administration of the register more cost effective. ‘As ACMA's administration costs are passed on to telemarketers who access the register, the new arrangements ultimately should hopefully provide an ongoing benefit to the telemarketing industry,’ said Chris Chapman, ACMA Chairman.

Under the proposals, from 1 July 2009 most telemarketers would be required to pre-pay for their subscriptions before they can commence washing their calling lists against the register. Telemarketers would be able to pay by credit card, invoicing arrangements (for credit-approved clients only) or cheque.

The new fee model is calculated on an "annual subscription fees" basis. The fees are set to recover the direct costs of operating the register over four years (up to 30 June 2011). Because of an expected small under recovery of administrative costs in the second year of operation - due to factors including improvements to the Telemarketer Access Portal (the industry website, which will now contain more dynamic tools) and lower than anticipated demand for the larger subscription types - fees to access the register in 2009-10 will increase by an average of 4.8 per cent.

Industry has largely avoided using the excess usage charges option and it is intended to remove this option from the fee structure. ACMA commissioned Access Economics to assist in determining the revised fee structure and fees to access the register in 2009-10.

A copy of the discussion paper is available from the ACMA website or by calling (03) 9963 6963. Written responses to the discussion paper are due no later than Tuesday, 14 April 2009.