Fire hydrant

Telco regulator ACMA gave Optus the opportunity to comment on its own proposed fines for misconduct, and the comms too. What’s the scam?

The scam is like you getting a parking fine with a cover letter saying the fine is between $150 and $300, but first, we’d like to hear what excuse you have for parking in front of a fire hydrant.

According to the ABC, that is precisely what the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) did when they told Optus “We will give Optus an infringement notice in the range of $1.5 — $3 million — the amount being at the lower end if Optus offers an EU (Enforceable Undertaking).”

In other words, you promise you won’t do it again, and your fine is $150.

Optus didn’t park in front of one fire hydrant, but they sure made it difficult for the rural fire services when ACMA found them to have failed to hand over “details to a crucial database used by authorities to warn about looming bushfires and floods.”

This impacted on the safety of over 200,000 people.

In its magnanimity, ACMA not only agreed to the lower fine of $1.5m but gave Optus an opportunity to proofread the press release before it was published.

Carol Bennet, CEO of The Australian Communications Consumer Action Network (ACCAN) – a consumer advocacy group, was unimpressed:

It is the regulator acting like a lap dog to industry, it is completely inappropriate.

Data Rats. Commbank, Woolworths, Aussie Home Loans and WebCentral all in the mix

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