From public service to services to the public: inventing telecommunications consumers

The paper opens with the PMG as provider of a service to the public. Against the backdrop of a more competitive regime, consumer participation in telecommunications develops with the establishment of TACC and CTN, and later, funding for consumer representation by the Government. With two issues the consumer contracts code and mobile premium services issue, the strains on industry self-regulation and existing representations structures are evident. With the establishment of a new peak consumer body ACCAN, and renewed support from Government and the regulator, new understandings of the limits of industry self-regulation may be reached. Copyright 2009 Holly Raiche. No part of this article may be reproduced by any means without the written consent of the publisher.