Five years of research undertaken for Telstra’s Low Income Assessment Committee (LIMAC) confirms that Telstra's Access for Everyone assistance program and price movements are making telecommunications services more affordable for those on low incomes.

LIMAC has just released the five year of study into the impact of Telstra’s telecommunications assistance measures, giving policy developers and researchers an insight into the value of telecommunications to low income groups.

Between 2002 and 2006 the perceived affordability of a fixed-line phone among low-income families improved from 5.6 to 7.4 on a 10-point scale where 10 is the most affordable.

Chris Dodds, ACOSS representative and Chair of the Low Income Measures Assessment Committee (LIMAC), said he was pleased to make the data available, but called on other telcos to do their part.

“With rapid changes in communication needs, and increased competition in telecommunications markets, it’s clear that Telstra and its Access for Everyone package can only form part of the solution and it’s now time for the industry as a whole to become involved,” Mr Dodds said.

He also today released the 2006 report into the performance of Telstra’s low income package, called “Access for Everyone”.

Related links:

• Visit Telstra's Access for Everyone (www.telstra.com.au) website to learn more about the program.
• To obtain a copy of the report, please contact Telstra Consumer Affairs at consumer.affairs@team.telstra.com, or call 1800 804 591
• Media release: Telecommunications essential and more affordable for low income groups (PDF - 224KB)