Radio, TV and press mentions of mobile phones and APUMP

1. April, 29 1998. ORANGE PRIME TV State Television News. Review of the future of the analogue mobile phone network moves to rural NSW.
2. April, 29 1998. ORANGE 2GZ Radio News. Review of the fate of analogue mobile phones after the year 2000 is to head into rural areas.
3. April, 29 1998. GUNNEDAH 2MO. Meantime people likely to be affected by the proposed phase out of analogue mobile phones will soon have a chance to formally voice their concerns ... the Australian Communications Authority is conducting a review of the Federal Government's move to shut down the service in the year 2000.
4. April, 28 1998. TAMWORTH 2NU ABC REGIONAL RADIO. The Australian Communications Authority (ACA) has the responsibility to oversee communications in Australia which is why they are responsible for the mobile phone network. The analogue system has a better coverage than digital ... which is why there is a review going on.
5. April, 28 1998, ABC WESTERN PLAINS 2CR. Greg Lucas, Association for the Protection of Users of Mobile Phones: ... The digital maps are overstated and the analogue maps are understated ... we found that from Sydney to Orange there is good coverage on all of the networks ... once we left Orange we sort of fell off the edge of the digital coverage map ... 78 percent was covered by analogue and 43 per cent was covered by digital.
6. April, 28 1998. HUNTER VALLEY 2NM. The Australian Communications Authority has denied claims that mobile telephone users will have to carry up to four handsets after the year 2000.
7. April, 27 1998. ABC PORT PIRIE Radio News. The Australian Communications Authority says it hasn't received any criticism from local councils about the mapping of mobile phone coverage in regional areas.
8. April, 27 1998. ABC PORT PIRIE Radio News. A map of mobile phone coverage in parts of the mid north shows both analogue and digital phones work in areas where local residents say they don't.
9. April, 27 1998. ABC MOUNT GAMBIER. Concerns about no service in some areas when analogue phased out and the coverage map put out.
10. April, 27 1998. TAMWORTH 2TM Radio News. The Australian Communications Authority has hit back at claims that mobile phone users will have to carry as many as four handsets after the year 2000. Warren Duncan, Program Manager, ACA.
11. April, 27 ABC MID NORTH COAST PORT MACQUARIE. The analogue mobile network will close in all metropolitan areas and many regional areas in the year 2000. In some cases analog does out reach digital coverage.
12. April, 27 1998. ABC PORT PIRIE. Warren Duncan, Australian Communications Authority says a coverage map being circulated by the Australian Communications Authority is accurate.
13. April, 27 1998. NEWCASTLE 2HD Radio News. A mobile phone lobby group is to test mobile phone reception from Sydney to Tweed Heads. Gary Lucas, lobby group spokesman.
14. April, 24 1998.  KALGOORLIE 6GF. The three digital carriers the Government will make a decision on which rural areas in Australia will continue to receive analoge coverage.
15. April, 24 1998. ALICE SPRINGS 783. Greg Lucas, Association of Protection of Users of Mobile Phones (APUMP), "People are so concerned about the potential loss of their analogue mobile phones "
16. April, 24 1998. ALICE SPRINGS 783 While mobile phones continue to grow in popularity, people living in remote areas of the Territory are unlikely to see any increase in Telstra's mobile phone network for more than a decade.
17. April, 23 1998. ABC PORT PIRIE. Phyllis Robertson, Mt Remarkable Council: ... wants the analogue network to remain open... the council has asked for community input into a project they are doing to get better phone coverage in the area.
18. April, 23 1998. KARRATHA 6KP Radio News. A group representing analogue mobile phone users says the federal government is misconstruing digital mobile phone coverage figures in an attempt to continue the closure of the analogue network.
19. April, 23 1998. DARWIN 8DDD Radio News. Telstra says it will not establish a mobile phone network for remote communities because it is not profitable.
20. April, 23 1998. MOREE 2VM Radio News. A lobby group backing the retention of the analogue mobile phone system, APUMP claims we might need four hand sets to use both analogue and digital systems if the Federal Government planned changes to mobile phone communications goes ahead.
21. April, 22 1998 HOBART 7ZR. The Association for the Protection of Users of Mobile Phones has conducted the first of several practical tests to determine the effect of the Federal Government's plan to shut down the analog mobile phone network.
22. April, 22 1998. ABC PORT PIRIE A study the Association for the Protection of Users of Mobile Phones is doing in testing the analogue and digital phone networks and their capacity to work in all areas across the country. The study has found so far that the analogue network must be maintained after the year 2000 ... the analogue network was consistently more reliable than the digital network on this test journey.
23. April, 22 1998. ALBANY 6AL Radio News. Greg Lucas, Association for the Protection of Mobile Phone Users Spokesperson ... and its the rural people who are again being .....told that they don't matter . ...It's the people in the country who will be severely disadvantaged if they can't make a mobile phone call.
24. April, 22 1998. ALBANY 6AL Radio News Greg Lucas, Association for the Protection of Mobile Phone Users Spokesperson ... anybody who has had anything to do with this debacle knows that not one of the digital networks covers as much as the analogue .
25. April, 22 1998. TAMWORTH 2TM Radio News. A lobby group backing the retention of the analogue mobile phone system, APUMP claims we might need four hand sets to use both analogue and digital systems if the Federal Government planned changes to mobile phone communications goes ahead.
26. April, 22 1998. BUNBURY 6BS Radio News. APUMP says the Federal Government is misconstruing digital mobile phone coverage figures in an attempt to continue with the closure of the analogue network.
27. April, 21 1998. ALICE SPRINGS. Mobile phones fill a genuine need in the remote stretches of the Territory. This makes the current review of analogue mobile phone services by the Australian Communications Authority all the more relevant to us.
28. April, 21 1998 ABC VICTORIAN REGIONAL GIPPSLAND GIFM Radio News. An organisation formed to protect the interests of mobile phone users says the new digital system is a disaster.   Greg Lucas: ... digital is a system designed for high density European cities ... there is an arbitrary limit ... it can not work beyond about 30 kilometres.
29. April, 20 1998. ORANGE 2GZ Radio News. Mobile phone lobby group says analogue has performed much better than digital in a test in the Central West. Greg Lucas, Association of Protection of Users of Mobile Phones.
30. April, 17 1998. MILDURA WIN TV State Television News. The Democrats are planning to take up the fight to prevent the closure of the analogue mobile phone service. Tom Joyce, Australian Democrats: ... it's a disappoint that rural Australia will suffer in the process.
31. April, 17 1998. MILDURA 3MA Radio News. The Australian Democrats are supporting the fight to keep the analogue mobile phone network up and running.
32. April, 17 1998. ORANGE WIN State Television News. Federal Member for Calare Peter Andren has come under fire from Federal National Party Senator Sandy McDonald for his stance on analogue mobile phones. Federal Member for Calare Peter Andren: ... It's a hoax ... Vodafone (not Vodaphone) (not Vodaphone) doesn't want an analogue network.
33. April, 17 1998. ABC MOUNT GAMBIER Radio News. Digital phone services in the Lacepede area have been described as useless prompting the district council to support calls to retain the analogue mobile phone services in regional Australia ... due to be phased out in two thousand.
34. April, 16 1998. SHEPPARTON 3SR. The Australian Communications Authority is interested to hear about mobile black holes in the region so they can decide which areas should keep their analogue networks.
35. April, 15 1998. ADELAIDE 5DN Radio News. Three American computer students have cracked the code on a digital mobile phone, allowing them to make unauthorized calls.
36. April, 15 1998. LITHGOW 2LT Radio News, Federal Member for Calare Peter Andren continues his push to retain the analoguemobile phone network after the year 2000.
37. April, 9 1998. MILDURA 3MA Radio News. An amendment has been moved to repeal the telecommunications act which will call for the closure of the analogue mobile phone network.
38. April, 9 1998. ABC VICTORIAN REGIONAL Radio News. The federal government has guaranteed country phone users they will not be disadvantaged by the phaseout of analog phones. Member for Ballarat, Michael Rolinson: ... what we will do is get the Australian Communications Authority to conduct an urgent review ... what it means is that people will not lose mobile phone coverage ... regional users will retain their usage.
39. April, 9 1998. ABC VICTORIAN REGION WARRNAMBOOL 3WL Radio News  The Federal Government has guaranteed country mobile phone users won't be disadvantaged by the phase out of the analogue system by 2000. Member for Ballarat Michael Ronaldson says it will be difficult and expensive to overturn a decision made in 1992.
40. April, 9 ABC WESTERN PLAINS 2CR Orange Regional. The future of that analogue phone network was debated in Federal Parliament this week. Boyd Munro, Association for the Protection of Users of Mobile Phones: ... Digital can't replace analogue because it's very short range ... the future for mobile phone services in rural Australia looks very glum at thismoment ... I urge your listeners to call us for a political action kit.
41. April, 9 1998. ORANGE 2GZ Radio News. Federal Member for Calare Peter Andren claims owners of analogue mobile phones will have to buy digital handsets before the end of 1999.
42. April, 8 1998. ABC VICTORIAN REGIONAL OASIS FM The issue of keeping analogue mobile phones is going to come up in both houses of Federal Parliament this week. Drilling Contractor in Portland: ... we were drilling out in the bush when an accident happened on the rig and I lost three fingers ... by having our analogue phone in the vehicle my son was able to talk to the ambulance driver and bring him right to the site ... had we not had an analogue phone to make that contact the loss of blood could have resulted in me not being here today
43. April, 8 1998. CANBERRA 2CN Pressure is mounting on the Federal Government to reverse its decision to close down the analogue mobile phone network. Boyd Munro, Association for the Protection of Users of Mobile Phones president: ... the chances of it getting through are not good, but their not zero ... listeners ...call their MP or Senator right now ... the analogue system has got huge coverage... a vastly greater area than digital ... it's the present Government's predisposition in favour of the phone companies and against the people who elected it ... any contract can be renegotiated.
44. April, 8 1998. ABC VICTORIAN REGION WARRNAMBOOL 3WL. Municipalities will take the Deputy Prime Minister Tim Fischer to task over country mobile phone services when he visits Horsham tomorrow. Ararat mayor Peter O Rourke says neither the analogue or the digital system gives adequate coverage of country Victoria and this will get worse if analogue is phased out.
45. April, 8 1998. LISMORE 2NR Radio News. Digital phone coverage will improve with the use of satellites, according to Page MP Ian Causley. The National Party has come under previous criticism for allowing the phasing out of the analogue system. Ian Causley: ... inaccessible areas will be able to get service from that satellite.
46. April, 6 1998. TAMWORTH 2TM Radio News. Analogue phone users are being urged to get political this week is they want to save the system as it is being debated in the Senate this week. Boyd Munro, Association Protection Users Mobile Phones (APUMP): ... what the government is proposing to do is release Vodafone (not Vodaphone) from another very important provision in that contract.
47. April, 3 1998. ORANGE WIN State Television News. Federal Member for Calare Peter Andren pushing to save the analogue mobile phone network.
48. April, 1 1998. SHEPPARTON SUN-FM Radio News. Federal Member for Indi Lou Liberman has announced $230,000 of Federal Government funding for improved digital mobile phone coverage in the upper Murray region.
    
49. April, 2 1998. LISMORE 2LM. Discussion about Vodafone (not Vodaphone) the analogue phone network and free kicks. Larry Anthony, Federal MP: ... if by 2000, if there's not an  adequate digital coverage, then the analogue system will remain ... Australian taxpayers can sue the Government over a contract the previous government signed
    
50. April, 2 1998. BATHURST 2BS. Federal Member for Calare Peter Andren placed a motion before parliament last night to disallow a government plan to give ownership concessions to the Vodafone (not Vodaphone) company.
    
51. April, 2 1998. SKY NEWS AUSTRALIA. Federal Independent MP, Peter Andren says country people will suffer if the analogue mobile phone system is switched off ... the Federal Government has made a deal with British owned company Vodaphone.
    
52. April, 2 1998. SKY NEWS AUSTRALIA. The digital signal does not now cover much of Australia ... it seems logical that the analogue system should continue? ... but if Vodafone (not Vodaphone) do come in can they guarantee that the bush and regional areas will have a digital service? Federal Independent MP, Peter Andren: ... the bush needs analogue for many years ahead ... no they can't ... analogue is by far the superior coverage.
    
53. April, 2 1998 KARRATHA 6KP Radio News. The Federal Opposition has criticised the amount of Government funding pledged for the construction of new digital mobile phone base stations in the Kimberley. Peter McConnell, chief executive officer shire of Halls Creek: ... we have never met the criteria before the way it was.
    
54. April, 2 1998. SKY NEWS AUSTRALIA. Federal Independent MP Peter Andren says country people will suffer if the analogue mobile phone system is switched off in the year 2000. Federal Independent MP, Peter Andren: ... Vodafone (not Vodaphone) and Optus have to agree where they will keep these analogue operational ... they don't want analogue operating in this market.
    
55. April, 2 1998. SKY NEWS AUSTRALIA. Peter Andrew, Federal Independent MP, says country people will suffer if the analogue mobile phone system is turned off. The Federal Government has made a deal with Vodaphone for Australia to be digital by the end of the century.
    
56. April, 2 1998. LISMORE 2LM Radio News. Richmond MP Larry Anthony has defended his decision to vote against a motion to retain the analogue mobile phone service. He's blamed the previous government. Larry Anthony MP: ... if there's not an adequate digital coverage, then the analogue system will remain.
    
57. April, 2 1998. SKY NEWS AUSTRALIA. Federal Independent MP Peter Andren says that country people will suffer if the mobile phone analogue system is turned off. Vodafone (not Vodaphone) and Optus have to agree where to keep the analogue providers ... they are calling the shots ... we should be renegotiating. They don't want analogue in their market.
    
58. April, 2 1998. ORANGE PRIME TV State Television News. Motion by Federal Member for Calare Peter Andren to retain the analogue mobile phone system has been defeated.
    
59. April, 2 1998. MELBOURNE 3LO. Talk back caller regarding mobile phones: ... my analogue is far more efficient in the country than the digital
    
60. April, 2 1998. LISMORE 2LM Radio News Richmond MP, Larry Anthony has defended his vote against an independent ministers motion to maintain the analogue mobile phone service ... tax payers would be exposed to a pay out to Vodafone (not Vodaphone) if the government pulls out of the deal ... there is still a chance that analogue will remain in some areas.
    
61. April, 3 1998. BUNBURY 6BS Radio News. The Association for the Protection of Users of Mobile Phones says it will continue to fight the Federal Government's decision to shut down the analogue phone network. Interviews with Boyd Munro, APUMP: ... nobody understood how inadequate the digital system was going to be in Australia; Graham Campbell, Kalgoorlie Member: ... that compensation will be affected by driving these terms.
    
62. April, 3 1998. ALBANY 6AL Radio News. The Association for the Protection of Users of Mobile Phones says it will continue to fight the Federal Government's decision to shut down the analogue mobile phone network. Boyd Munro, Association for the Protection of Users of Mobile Phones spokesman: ... now that we realise how very inadequate the digital system is, especially in regional areas, this is the first time that Parliament has even faced the issue.
    
63. April, 3 1998. GERALDTON 6GN Radio News. The Association for the Protection of Users of Mobile Phones says Federal Communications Minister Richard Alston does not understand the issue of the scheduled shutdown of the analogue phone network in Australia. Boyd Munro, spokesman, APUMP: ... I don't think he personally has any grasp at all of the analogue phone issue ... the part that mobile phones have come to play in the ordinary, everyday life of ordinary everyday Australians.
    
64. April, 3 1998. KARRATHA 6KP Radio News. The Association for the Protection of Users of Mobile Phones says it will continue to fight the federal governments decision to shut down the analogue phone network. Boyd Munro, association spokesman: ... first time parliament hasfaced the issue.
    
65. April, 3 1998. KARRATHA 6KP Radio News. Independent federal member, Graeme Campbell will put another motion to parliament in a bid to halt the closure of the analogue network. Graeme Campbell: ... its just plain dumb.
    
66. April, 3 1998. KARRATHA 6KP Radio News. An association trying to keep Australia's analogue mobile phone network open, says Federal Communications Minister Richard Alston has no real understanding of the issue. Boyd Munro, association spokesperson: ... he personally has no grasp at all of the analogue phone issue.
    
67. April, 3 1998. KARRATHA 6KP Radio News. The battle to retain the analogue phone network is set to continue in Federal Parliament with the moving of a motion by Independent Member for Kalgoorlie Graeme Campbell. Graeme Campbell: ... can cover the whole Nullarbor with analogue phone signals, cant do that with digital.
    
68. April, 3 1998. GERALDTON 6GN Radio News. Independent MP Graeme Campbell will put forward a motion in Federal Parliament that will put a 15 day maximum period on the debate over the closure of the analogue mobile phone network. Graeme Campbell, Member for Kalgoorlie: ... you can put analogue on those existing microwave towers across the Nullarbor ... you can't do that with digital cause the range just isn't there.
    
69. April, 3 1998.ABC PORT PIRIE. Peter Andren, Federal MP: ... was disappointed that country members did not give this move far more support, instead voting along party on this ... he says the Government is saying the deal signed with Vodafone (not Vodaphone) in 1992 was wrong ... Labor Party was very ambivalent about the whole thing but eventually supported his motion ... says the whole issue should have been renegotiated ... there was no National Party or Government support, whose policy it is to introduce the regulation.
    
70. April, 3 1998. ABC PORT PIRIE. Peter Andren, Federal MP: ... talks about the future for telecommunication companies throughout the world ... if analogue is cut, we set to lose an effective line of communication. He talks about the digital phone network and how less effective it is than analogue in country areas ... as Campbell says an American system can be linked with the existing analogue and provide blanket coverage ... Vodafone (not Vodaphone) are relying on satellite to cover all Australia.
    
71. April, 3 1998. ABC PORT PIRIE. The battle to keep the analogue network open after its closing date of January 1, 2000, isn't over ... despite the Government promising to keep the network open in some regional areas after that date it seems not to have satisfied lobby groups ... on Wednesday night in Parliament Andren moved disallow the carrier license conditions declaration.
    
72. April, 3 1998. MILDURA 3MA. A motion has been moved in Federal Parliament which is designed to keep the analogue mobile phone network open.

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