Red Button Chairman appointed to ACMA

The Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy Senator Stephen Conroy has announced the appointment of Professor Reg Coutts as a new part-time Authority Member of the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA).

Professor Coutts is the chairman and co-founder of Red Button Technologies, an Adelaide based Telecommunications Start-up.

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) is responsible for the regulation of broadcasting, the Internet, radio communications and telecommunications.

The ACMA’s responsibilities include:

1. Promoting self-regulation and competition in the communications industry, while protecting consumers and other users.

2. Fostering an environment in which electronic media respect community standards and respond to audience and user needs.

3. Managing access to the radio frequency spectrum.

4. Representing Australia’s communications interests internationally.

“Professor Coutts has a strong background and experience in telecommunications policy and regulatory practice and expertise within the communications industry” said Senator Conroy.

Professor Coutts is currently Chair of the Telecommunications Society of Australia, Chairman of Red Button Technologies and was previously one of a six member Panel of Experts to assess proposals to build the National Broadband Network and to advise the Government on the awarding of a A$4.7 billion contract to part fund the construction of the national broadband infrastructure.

Professor Coutts (now emeritus) set-up the Telecommunications department at AdelaideUniversity in 1996 and had a long career in both technology and commercial roles for Telstra.

Professor Coutts is described as a Telco subject matter expert with specific expertise in wireless telephony and broadband technology.

For further information please contact Professor Reg Coutts on 0414 477 766 or reg.coutts@redbutton.com.au