The Australian Communications Authority (ACA) is examining the introduction of a
new approach to linking the Internet and traditional telecommunications services
and has released a discussion paper, which is accessible at
<http://www.aca.gov.au/committee/nsg2/discussion.htm>.

This is the genesis of policy making for next generation network addressing in
AU (as I see it), and raises a number of interesting public policy issues,
including privacy.


--
Ian Johnston, Policy Consultant
Small Enterprise Telecommunications Centre (SETEL)
www.setel.com.au  mailto:ian.johnston&#167;setel.com.au
02 6258 3409 (B/F)  02 6259 7777 (B)  0413 990 112 (M)

SETEL is a national small business consumer association
advancing the interest of Australian small business
as telecommunications and e-commerce consumers

--

ACA Media Release
30 September 2002 No. 32

One number may cover all communications services

The Australian Communications Authority (ACA) is examining the introduction of a
new approach to linking the
Internet and traditional telecommunications services.

Through the communications protocol, called ENUM, one telephone number can be
used for multiple contact
points such as home phone, work phone, mobile, fax and email.

Consumers will be able to choose how they want to be contacted and callers only
need to remember the one
number.

The introduction of ENUM could improve telecommunications services for both
residential and business users by
enhancing the development and use of converging technologies or applications
such as voice over Internet
protocol (VoIP).

The Internet Engineering Task Force, an international expert body, developed the
ENUM protocol to provide a
bridge between telephone numbering and Internet addressing.

“This is an exciting possibility and the ACA wants to ensure that should it be
introduced, service quality and
consumer privacy are protected,” ACA Chairman Tony Shaw said today when
releasing a discussion paper on
ENUM.

“For ENUM to be viable, it will be up to the telecommunications and Internet
industries to develop accessible
services and applications. The ACA’s role is to encourage such developments and
to deal with relevant regulatory
and consumer issues,” he said.

The ACA is calling for comment on a number of issues associated with adopting
this new approach in Australia,
such as whether ENUM trials should be conducted and, if so, how the trials would
be managed.

Implementation issues are already being considered and addressed
internationally, with the United States and a
number of other countries already planning ENUM trials.

The International Telecommunication Union is developing operational and
administrative procedures to help
countries implement ENUM.

In the discussion paper, the ACA calls for expressions of interest from
industry, consumer groups and government
organisations to participate in a discussion group on the introduction of ENUM
in Australia, and to oversee possible
trials. The discussion paper is available on the ACA website at
http://www.aca.gov.au/committee/nsg2/discussion.htm

Comments close on 11 November 2002.

...