Copy of a fax from John & Carol Richard to the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission

To see more letters click here.

4th January, 2000.

Aust Competition & Consumer Commission
MELBOURNE  FAX 03 9663 3699

Dear Sir,

  TELSTRA  CLOSURE  OF  ANALOGUE  NETWORK

On 29 November, 1999, when unable to receive satisfactory  calls on CDMA
phone (fadeouts and dropouts) I rang 018 018 909 - Peter, Sydney ref 2PM6.

Firstly, I was advised to contact Motorola to check if the appliance could be better tuned
in.  (Motorola confirmed that the appliance was correctly set.)

Then I was told that CDMA service would be improved when analogue was shut
down. As I could see no technical possibility of this occurring, I rang Nortel who
are installing the CDMA network for Telstra.  I was fortunate in speaking to someone who
was sympathetic that we were being treated like dummies by Telstra and promised
to get someone high up in Telstra to speak to me.

I received a phone call from Max Jennings, Telstra Melbourne, Project
Director of CDMA (03 9252 1562).  He was able to address my concerns about when certain areas would be switched on to CDMA, including Merriwa in mid 2000.  He also refuted the
claim that CDMA would be enhanced in any way on closure of analogue.

On Tuesday, 7th December, I visited the Telstra "let's talk" shop in Dubbo.
I was again told the misinformation about CDMA being improved on closure of analogue
(Adam Walker, Store Mgr Ph 02 6884 4999).  I was told Merriwa was to come online 1
January, 2000 - all highways out of Sydney for the holidays would be covered by CDMA.
I questioned his source as it differed with my information, but he only wanted to argue
that he was right.

We were told from Hon John Anderson's office, Gunnedah 02 6742 3155, our
local Member of Parliament and currently Acting PM, that they had received the
same information that CDMA would improve when analogue closed.  It is believed
that this advice came from Sen Alston's office quoting Telstra.

On January 1, 2000, we received the same advice from Brisbane Telstra on 018
018111. Tanya  ref.435 is happy to repeat this information as "given" Telstra-spiel.

January 4, 2000, after waiting 45 minutes to get through, we were told that it was no use
logging another complaint about CDMA - there were already so many.  When I insisted,
the complaint was logged - Nathan ref. NNR.

USA conduct communications with complimentary analogue/CDMA services.  This
is why we have available to us only the dual handsets and no CDMA bag phones.
Rural telephony in USA relies on analogue - so there is no need for CDMA boosted
bag phones - not because the CDMA handheld was comparable to bag phone capability.  The
Telstra MobileNet CDMA guide full colour 16 page with centre foldout of national
coverage maps page 14 Questions anyone?  "the recent demonstration of a CDMA
handheld phone in a standard car kit, without booster achieved comparable
coverage to an analogue (3 watt) boosted car phone."  We believe they are referring to
the test at Swan Hill which was not exactly kosher.  Refer The Australian
Telecommunications Section Tuesday December 21, 1999, page 31, copy follows.

My Motorola handheld CDMA is nowhere comparable to my handheld Motorola
Premier analogue.  IF car kits are providing better service than handheld, the
Government promises to deliver cost efficient replacement are not met.  We purchased
the cheaper model Motorola on offer with a Telstra call plan for $49 - not able to be
fitted with car kit  The other Motorola model on offer at this time costs $379 with a plan.
Purchased without a plan they are $499 and $899 respectively.
After trialling handheld and failing to get any reception in our area in selected analogue
access points, we have a quote for car kits in order to fit exterior aerial.
They range from $273 to $379 plus fitting.  Existing analogue aerials are compatible though
it may be necessary to upgrade to 9db (large bullbar type aerial).  Some areas and
suppliers are unable to supply car kits at this time.

To replace our existing two analogue phones it will cost from $39 - $379 per
phone with plan depending on model;  plus $273 - $370 plus fitting - a total of
minimum $1000 to maximum $2000 for two phones fitted.

On speaking to RFS Communications specialist in Lithgow, he advises that a
simple "jumper" connection lead may be available from Brisbane firm at $29 each -
doing away with the exorbitant cost of car kit.  I am waiting a callback on the results
of in field test of this lead.  He remarked that if Telstra had provided a $3 "jack" with
each phone, we could have just connected up to our existing analogue aerials.
In my conversation with Max Jennings, Telstra CDMA Project Director, he had
mentioned to me that "patch cable" would be available later at less cost
than car kit.

Telstra has promulgated disinformation in an attempt to sell CDMA.  The
testing has been hasty and inadequate for all regions.  Promises have not been met
in regard to coverage and affordable equipment changeover.