Documents under review

All Communications Alliance published documents (Code/Guideline/Standard) are reviewed from time to time.

Review aims

To identify:

  • any existing issues with the document;
  • whether any process improvement is required, from operational experience in dealing with the document;
  • any gaps in the document;
  • clarifications that improve requirements;
  • whether the document is meeting the needs of industry and the community satisfactorily; and
  • expected impact of technology changes.

The document review will focus on its obligations and what it delivers, rather than compliance with the document, noting that it operates in the current legislative framework.

Review process

The Communications Alliance Document Maintenance Policy and Process defines the policy on the review of Communications Alliance documents.
All comments received will be considered by representatives of stakeholders to prepare a specific recommendation and reasons to revise, reconfirm or withdraw the published document.

Outcomes of the review

The outcome of the review of a document will be a decision to revise, amend (in the case of Standards), reconfirm or withdraw the published document.

Note that a review will not necessarily lead to the document being changed with a new version being published.

Want to submit a comment on document under review?

You can use the Submit Comments form to submit your comments via email or go to the Contact Us webpage to obtain other contact methods such as by post or fax.

All submissions received will be made publically available on the Communications Alliance website unless the submitter requests otherwise.

Documents under review – open for comment

Prepaid Calling Card Industry Guideline

Guideline: G640:2009 (.pdf, .99 KB)

This Guideline is designed to assist providers of Prepaid Calling Cards with the implementation of appropriate consumer protections with regards to advertising and complaints handling.

This review aims to identify whether a need exists to amend the Guideline.

COMMENT PERIOD CLOSES AT 5.00 P.M. (AEDT) ON FRIDAY 27 JANUARY 2012

All submissions received will be made publically available on the Communications Alliance website unless the submitter requests otherwise.

Voice frequency performance requirements for Customer Equipment
Guideline

Standard: AS/ACIF S004:2008 (.pdf, .543 KB)

This Standard specifies the technical requirements for Customer Equipment that is connected to a Telecommunications Network and transmits and receives voice frequency signals for voice communication, voice messages or tones by direct or indirect electrical or electro acoustic means.

The Customer Equipment and Cable Reference Panel has carried out an initial review of issues that are to be considered in a future revision of the Standard. These issues include requirements for wideband codecs, send frequency response mask, the testing the maximum output sound pressure level, phones with amplification for hard-of-hearing, alert ringer signal and the testing of equipment with Automatic Gain Control (AGC).

The revision of this Standard will also include updating the Acoustic safety for telephone equipment Guideline (G616:2006) in line with changes to the Standard.

The aim of this review is to seek public input on related issues to those already identified above or any new items to be considered by the Reference Panel.

COMMENT PERIOD CLOSES AT 5.00 P.M. (AEDT) ON FRIDAY 3 FEBRUARY 2012

All submissions received will be made publically available on the Communications Alliance website unless the submitter requests otherwise.

Network interface voltage levels

Guideline: G624:2005 (.pdf, 267 KB)

The purpose of the guideline is to provide guidance for designers of customer equipment and test laboratories, indicating the minimum voltage levels that should be supported for each category of customer equipment in the ACMA Telecommunications Labelling (Customer Equipment & Customer Cabling) Notice 2001 for which a safety Standard is required.

This review aims to identify whether a need exists to amend the Guideline.

COMMENT PERIOD CLOSES AT 5.00 P.M. (AEDT) ON FRIDAY 3 FEBRUARY 2012

All submissions received will be made publically available on the Communications Alliance website unless the submitter requests otherwise.

Supporting arrangements for the supply of Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) Customer Equipment

Guideline: G563:2001 (.pdf, 267 KB)

The purpose of these arrangements are to provide i) information about Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) customer equipment that should be made available to consumers and retailers and ii) requirements for a process for suppliers of this customer equipment to be able to verify interoperability with Carriage Service Providers' equipment. These Supporting Arrangements were last reconfirmed in 2007.

This review aims to identify whether a need exists to amend the Supporting Arrangements.

COMMENT PERIOD CLOSES AT 5.00 P.M. (AEDT) ON FRIDAY 3 FEBRUARY 2012

All submissions received will be made publically available on the Communications Alliance website unless the submitter requests otherwise.

Documents under review – comment period expired

The comment period has expired for the documents under review listed below.

Telecommunications in Road Reserves – Operational Guidelines for Installations

Guideline: G591:2006 (.pdf, 1035 KB)

The purpose of the guideline is to outline ways in which Road Authorities and Carriers can manage their respective facilities in road reserves safely, effectively and efficiently.

This review aims to identify whether a need exists to amend the Guideline.

COMMENT PERIOD CLOSES AT 5.00 P.M. (AEDT) ON FRIDAY 9 DECEMBER 2011

All submissions received will be made publically available on the Communications Alliance website unless the submitter requests otherwise.

Installation requirements for Customer Cabling (Wiring Rules)

Standard: AS/ACIF S009:2006 (.pdf, 1035 KB)

The Standard applies to the installation and maintenance of fixed or concealed cabling or equipment that is connected to a telecommunications network that is connected as fixed or concealed cabling. It covers design and construction practices sufficient to ensure that the installation or normal use of the cabling does not expose carrier personnel, cabling providers, customers or other persons to any danger and does not adversely affect the integrity (proper end-to-end functioning) of a telecommunications network.

This review aims to identify whether a need exists to amend the Standard.

A Working Group was established leading up to this review to identify issues that should be considered a part of the review of the Standard. In considering these issues the Working Group took into consideration the role of the Standard in fulfilling  its purpose under the telecommunications regulatory compliance arrangements. A copy of the Working Group Report can be downloaded here.

COMMENT PERIOD CLOSES AT 5.00 P.M. (AEST) ON WEDNESDAY 10 AUGUST 2011

All submissions received will be made publically available on the Communications Alliance website unless the submitter requests otherwise.

 

Acoustic safety for telephone equipment

Guideline: G616:2006 (.pdf, 409 KB)

This Guideline is intended to provide guidance to organisations that have staff who use telephone equipment for extended periods of time, manufacturers, call centres, audio consultants, and testing laboratories, in order to reduce the risk and severity of acoustic shock.

The objective of this Guideline is to provide guidance in the development of equipment, workplaces and processes to reduce the risk and severity of acoustic shock. The Guideline also provides additional, optional acoustic safety specifications that organisations can call up if they wish to increase the protection against acoustic shock beyond that specified in the Standards AS/ACIF S004 and AS/CA S042.1.

This review aims to identify whether a need exists to amend the Guideline.

COMMENT PERIOD CLOSED AT 5.00 P.M. (AEST) ON WEDNESDAY 6 JULY 2011

Submissions have been received from:

Optus

Stanimore

Trillium Communications

Ausgrid

Polaris

Review of the Operational Matrices for Reporting on Accessibility Features for Telephone Equipment Industry Guideline

Guideline: G627:2009 (.pdf, 157 KB)

This Guideline provides a list of features for fixed and mobile phones that Equipment Suppliers provide which may assist in meeting people’s communications needs. The features include handset/hardware information, mobility/dexterity features, vision features and hearing features.

This review is conducted annually to identify whether a need exists to update the Guideline as called up under the Information on Accessibility Features for Telephone Equipment Industry Code (C625:2009).

PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD CLOSED AT 5.00 P.M.  (AEST) ON FRIDAY 5 NOVEMBER 2010

Submissions have been received from

ACCAN
Mobile Manufacturers Forum
Novita Childrens Services
Trillium Communications

Mobile Premium Services (MPS) Code and Guideline

Code: C637:2009 (.pdf, 512kb)
Guideline: G638:2009 (.pdf, 328 KB)

The MPS Code sets out obligations on suppliers to establish appropriate community safeguards in the provision of Mobile Premium Services. The Code specifies minimum requirements on advertising, provision of information, service delivery, complaint handling and opt-out mechanisms.

This review aims to identify whether a need exists to amend the Code and Guideline.

PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD CLOSED AT 5.00 P.M. (AEST) ON FRIDAY 30 July 2010

Submissions have been received from

Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman
Arial Networks
Be.interactive
Blink Mobile
Telstra
Fox Mobile
Oxygen8 Communications
Netsize
Dialogue
Information Dialling Services
ACMA
Axis Legal
mBlox
OpenMarket
Office of the Privacy Commissioner
ACCAN
Optus
ACCC

Telecommunications Consumer Protections (TCP) Code and Guideline

TCP Code Issues Paper (.doc, 1880 KB)
Code: C628:2007 (.pdf 352 KB)
Guideline: G631:2009 (.pdf, 505 KB)

The TCP Code regulates the behaviour of telecommunications service providers in areas including billing, credit management, complaint handling, customer contracts and the information contained in advertising.  The Guideline is designed to aid in interpreting the TCP Code rules and provide examples of how a Supplier may choose to comply with the rules.

The Issues Paper provides background to the Code and review, areas of focus and the views of industry, regulators and consumer representatives on the review.

This review aims to identify whether a need exists to amend the Code and Guideline.

PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD CLOSED AT 5.00 P.M. (AEST) ON FRIDAY 16 JULY 2010

All submissions received will be made publically available on the Communications Alliance website unless the submitter requests otherwise.

Customer Requested Barring

G612:2003 (pdf 389kb)

This Guideline defines the customer requested blocking of access from a customer's telephone service to a Carrier's or a Carriage Service Provider's service offering.

It applies to barring which is provided in Carriers’ networks.  It does not apply to barring set by a customer in the customer’s terminal equipment or in a customer’s virtual private network provided by a Carrier or Carriage Service Provider.

COMMENT PERIOD CLOSED AT 5.00 P.M. (AEST) ON FRIDAY 9 JULY 2010

Deployment of Mobile Phone Network Infrastructure

C564:2004 (pdf 645kb)

This Code specifies the best contemporary practices in the areas of design, installation and operation of radiocommunications infrastructure. The Code requires the application of a precautionary approach to the deployment of radiocommunications infrastructure and contains obligations on carriers to consult.

It applies to Carriers who are installing or intending to install, operating or contracting or arranging for the installation of fixed radiocommunications infrastructure used to supply Public Mobile Telecommunications Services. It does not apply to Carriers in relation to the intended installation or operation of Exempt Radiocommunications Infrastructure.

COMMENT PERIOD CLOSED AT 5.00 P.M. (AEDT) ON TUESDAY 18 MAY 2010