Six 'telcos' outside TIO scheme under investigation

Six carriage service providers are under investigation over their alleged failure to join the mandatory Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman scheme, according to Australia's communications watchdog.

The Australian Communications and Media Authority said in a blog post this week that the TIO had referred 28 providers to it since January 2012 over non-compliance with the scheme.

Only five of those so far were deemed ineligible to join the TIO scheme.

Another 13 of the providers were forced to register with the TIO "following various degrees of ACMA involvement", while four others had ceased to provide carriage services.

"Carriage service providers can be investigated for not cooperating with the TIO and—most seriously—for not complying with TIO determinations," the ACMA said.

"The TIO refers a steady stream of providers to the ACMA, mainly for failing to join the scheme and, occasionally, for failing to comply with the scheme."

The Telecommunications (Consumer Protection and Service Standards) Act 1999 requires CSPs to enter the TIO scheme if they provide telephony or internet access services, and unless they gain an exemption from the ACMA.