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Issue No 31: 28 November 2017 New Industry Code to Assist in the Accuracy of Public Number Customer DataA newly registered industry Code will improve the accuracy of the public number customer database that is relied on by emergency services to help Australians in danger or distress. A revised version of the Industry Code C555:2017 Integrated Public Number Database (IPND) (and its associated Guideline G619:2017 IPND Data) has been registered by the industry regulator, the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA). The IPND is an industry-wide database of all Public Number Customer Data (PNCD). The IPND serves as a repository of PNCD which broadly includes the Number, the Customer name, service address and Directory Related Services’ information which can be used, for example, to assist in the provision of emergency services and law enforcement. This most recent version of the Code delivers on specific recommendations that came out of the 2015 IPND Review by the Department of Communications and the Arts. Changes to the Code include:
The Code reflects practices that are the only achievable and practical approach to dealing with these matters. The IPND itself is a very important and useful database for emergency services and law enforcement, and the more accurate the data, the better equipped emergency service personnel can be to assist in times of need. Carriage Service Providers will now have a period of 6 months to implement the new processes included in the Code and it is hoped that more customers will begin to become aware of, and understand the importance of keeping their provider up to date with their attest contact details. The Code was developed by Communications Alliance and its members, and a copy can be found here. Industry Calls for Clarity on Planned “Consumer Data Right”Communications Alliance today called on the Federal Government to clarify its intentions around the planned introduction of a ‘consumer data right’ to apply to consumers of services including telecommunications. The Government has announced it plans to legislate in 2018 following the May 2017 recommendations of the Productivity Commission (PC) to give consumers the right to request key data in a digital format to be made available to them or to a third party of their choice - the objective being to facilitate consumer switching between providers of key services such as banking, energy and telecommunications. Communications Alliance CEO, John Stanton, said government should confirm that – as recommended by the PC – industry will be given responsibility to define the data set that will be made available to consumers, subject to regulator approval. “There are many categories of data that simply are not relevant to the task of informing consumers about their usage of services and which would needlessly drive up the cost to service providers of complying with the proposed legislation,” Mr Stanton said. “It should also be recognised that the telco industry already gives consumers extensive access to billing information and has in place mechanisms – such as the world-leading Mobile Number Portability process - to make it easy for customers to switch providers. If not managed correctly, the planned new regime will create ‘compliance jeopardy’ and potential confusion because disclosures by service providers are already regulated by the Telecommunications Act, the Telecommunications (Interception and Access) Act, the Privacy Act and multiple industry regulators. “Industry supports the top-line objective of the PC recommendations, but we need clarity from Government if we are to be able to help avoid the legislation becoming a costly exercise in unintended consequences.” Comment Sought on Industry Code C518:2006 Call Charging and Billing Accuracy CodeCommunications Alliance is seeking public comment on the C518:2006 Call Charging and Billing Accuracy Code. The Call Charging and Billing Accuracy Code (C518) was first published in 1998 and has not undergone any required changes since its third edition in 2006. This Code, as part of an Operational Deregistration review has been proposed for deregistration and repeal.
All submissions received will be made publicly available on the Communications Alliance website unless the submitter requests otherwise. PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD CLOSES AT 5:00 P.M. (AEST) ON THURSDAY 7 DECEMBER 2017. Comment Sought on Industry Code C519:2004 End to End Network Performance for the STSCommunications Alliance is seeking public comment on C519:2004 End to End Network Performance for the STS. The End to End Network Performance for the STS Code (C519) was first published in 1998 and has not undergone any revision changes since 2004. This Code, as part of an Operational Deregistration review has been proposed for deregistration and repeal.This Code is based on the AUSTEL Technical Standard TS027 which is obsolete.
All submissions received will be made publicly available on the Communications Alliance website unless the submitter requests otherwise. PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD CLOSES AT 5:00 P.M. (AEST) ON THURSDAY 7 DECEMBER 2017.
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