- Telecommunications Act 1997
- Contents
- Part 1—Introduction
- Part 2—Network units
- Part 3—Carriers
- Part 4—Service providers
- Part 5—Monitoring of the performance of carriers and carriage service providers
- Part 6—Industry codes and industry standards
- Part 13—Protection of communications
- Part 14—National interest matters
- Part 16—Defence requirements and disaster plans
- Part 17—Pre-selection in favour of carriage service providers
- Part 18—Calling line identification
- Part 19—Advanced Mobile Phone System (AMPS)
- Part 20—International aspects of activities of the telecommunications industry
- Part 21—Technical regulation
- Part 22—Numbering of carriage services and regulation of electronic addressing
- Part 23—Standard agreements for the supply of carriage services
- Part 24—Carriers’ powers and immunities
- Part 24A—Submarine cables
- Part 25—Public inquiries
- Part 26—Investigations
- Part 27—The ACMA’s information-gathering powers
- Part 27A—Information relating to a broadband telecommunications network
- Part 28—Enforcement
- Part 29—Review of decisions
- Part 30—Injunctions
- Part 31—Civil penalties
- Part 31A—Enforceable undertakings
- Part 32—Vicarious liability
- Part 34—Special provisions relating to functions and powers ofthe ACMA and the Attorney-General in respect of telecommunications
- Part 35—Miscellaneous
- An Act about telecommunications, and for related purposes
- Part 1—Introduction
- 1 Short title
- 2 Commencement
- 3 Objects
- 4 Regulatory policy
- 5 Simplified outline
- 6 Main index
- 7 Definitions
- 8 Crown to be bound
- 9 Extra-territorial application
- 10 Extension to external Territories
- 11 Extension to offshore areas
- 11A Application of the Criminal Code
- 12 Act subject to Radiocommunications Act
- 13 Continuity of partnerships
- 14 Controlled carriage services, controlled networks and controlled facilities
- 15 Content service
- 16 Listed carriage services
- 18 Access to an emergency call service
- 19 Recognised person who operates an emergency call service
- 20 Customer cabling
- 21 Customer equipment
- 22 Customer cabling and customer equipment—boundary of a telecommunications network
- 23 Immediate circle
- 24 Extended meaning of use
- Part 2—Network units
- Part 3—Carriers
- Part 4—Service providers
- Part 5—Monitoring of the performance of carriers and carriage service providers
- Part 6—Industry codes and industry standards
- Division 1—Simplified outline
- Division 2—Interpretation
- Division 3—General principles relating to industry codes and industry standards
- Division 4—Industry codes
- Division 5—Industry standards
- Division 6—Register of industry codes and industry standards
- Division 6A—Reimbursement of costs of development of consumer-related industry codes
- Division 7—Miscellaneous
- Part 13—Protection of communications
- Division 1—Introduction
- Division 2—Primary disclosure/use offences
- Division 3—Exceptions to primary disclosure/use offences
- Division 3A—Integrated public number database authorisations
- Division 3B—Emergency warnings
- Division 4—Secondary disclosure/use offences
- Division 4A—Relationship with the Privacy Act 1988
- Division 5—Record-keeping requirements
- Division 6—Instrument-making powers not limited
- Part 14—National interest matters
- Part 16—Defence requirements and disaster plans
- Part 17—Pre-selection in favour of carriage service providers
- Part 18—Calling line identification
- Part 19—Advanced Mobile Phone System (AMPS)
- Part 20—International aspects of activities of the telecommunications industry
- Part 21—Technical regulation
- Division 1—Simplified outline
- Division 2—Interpretative provisions
- Division 3—Technical standards about customer equipment and customer cabling
- Division 4—Disability standards
- Division 5—Technical standards about the interconnection of facilities
- Division 6—Connection permits and connection rules
- Division 7—Labelling of customer equipment and customer cabling
- Division 8—Protected symbols
- Division 9—Cabling providers
- Division 10—Remedies for unauthorised connections to telecommunications networks etc.
- Division 11—Prohibited customer equipment and prohibited customer cabling
- Division 12—Pre-commencement labels
- Division 13—Penalties payable instead of prosecution
- Part 22—Numbering of carriage services andregulation of electronic addressing
- Part 23—Standard agreements for the supply of carriage services
- Part 24—Carriers’ powers and immunities
- Part 24A—Submarine cables
- Part 25—Public inquiries
- Part 26—Investigations
- Part 27—The ACMA’s information-gathering powers
- Part 27A—Information relating to a broadband telecommunications network
- Part 28—Enforcement
- Division 1—Introduction
- Division 2—Inspectors and identity cards
- Division 3—Search warrants relating to breaches of the Spam Act 2003 or Part 21 of this Act
- Division 4—Searches and seizures relating to breaches of the Spam Act 2003 or Part 21 of this Act
- Division 5—Searches to monitor compliance with Part 21
- Division 5A—Searches to monitor compliance with the Spam Act 2003
- Division 5B—Access to computer data that is relevant to the Spam Act 2003
- Division 6—Other powers of inspectors
- Division 7—Forfeiture
- Division 8—Future offences
- Part 29—Review of decisions
- Part 30—Injunctions
- Part 31—Civil penalties
- Part 31A—Enforceable undertakings
- Part 32—Vicarious liability
- Part 34—Special provisions relating to functions and powers of the ACMA and the Attorney-General in respect of telecommunications
- Part 35—Miscellaneous
- Notes to the Telecommunications Act 1997
- Table of Acts
- Act Notes
- Act Notes
- Table of Amendments
Telecommunications Act 1997
Act No. 47 of 1997 as amended
This compilation was prepared on 10 June 2010 taking into account amendments up to Act No. 51 of 2010
[Note: Subsections 531F(1) and (2) and paragraphs 531G(2)(e) and (3A)(e) ceased to have effect on 27 May 2009, see subsections 531F(3), 531G(3) and (3B)]
The text of any of those amendments not in force on that date is appended in the Notes section
The operation of amendments that have been incorporated may be affected by application provisions that are set out in the Notes section
Prepared by the Office of Legislative Drafting and Publishing, Attorney-General’s Department, Canberra
Contents
Part 1—Introduction
1 Short title [see Note 1].......................................................................1 2 Commencement [see Note 1].............................................................1 3 Objects...............................................................................................1 4 Regulatory policy ..............................................................................3 5 Simplified outline..............................................................................3 6 Main index.........................................................................................7 7 Definitions.........................................................................................8 8 Crown to be bound ..........................................................................19 9 Extra-territorial application .............................................................19 10 Extension to external Territories .....................................................19 11 Extension to offshore areas..............................................................19 11A Application of the Criminal Code ...................................................20 12 Act subject to Radiocommunications Act........................................20 13 Continuityof partnerships...............................................................20 14 Controlled carriage services, controlled networks and
controlled facilities..........................................................................21 15 Content service................................................................................22 16 Listed carriage services ...................................................................23 18 Access to an emergency call service................................................23 19 Recognised person who operates an emergency call service...........24 20 Customer cabling.............................................................................24 21 Customer equipment........................................................................24 22 Customer cabling and customer equipment—boundary of a
telecommunications network...........................................................25
23 Immediate circle..............................................................................27
24 Extended meaning of use.................................................................32
Part 2—Network units 33
Division 1—Simplified outline 33 25 Simplified outline............................................................................33
Division 2—Basic definition 34 26 Single line links connecting distinct places in Australia..................34 27 Multiple line links connecting distinct places in Australia..............34 28 Designated radiocommunications facility........................................35 29 Facilities specified in Ministerial determination..............................36
Division 3—Related definitions 37 30 Line links.........................................................................................37 31 Designated radiocommunications facility........................................37 32 Public mobile telecommunications service......................................39
33 Intercell hand-over functions...........................................................40
34 When a base station is part of a terrestrial radiocommunications customer access network..............................41
35 Fixed radiocommunications link .....................................................42
Division 4—Distinct places 44 36 Distinct places—basic rules.............................................................44 37 Properties.........................................................................................44 38 Combined areas...............................................................................45 39 Principal user of a property .............................................................46 40 Eligible combined areas...................................................................46
Part 3—Carriers 47
Division 1—Simplified outline 47 41 Simplified outline............................................................................47
Division 2—Prohibitions relating to carriers 48 42 Network unit not to be used without carrier licence or
nominated carrier declaration..........................................................48 43 Continuing offences.........................................................................49 44 Supply to the public.........................................................................49 45 Exemption—defence.......................................................................51 46 Exemption—intelligence operations................................................51 47 Exemption—transport authorities....................................................52 48 Exemption—broadcasting services..................................................53 49 Exemption—electricity supply bodies.............................................55 50 Exemption—line links authorised by or under previous laws .........55 51 Exemption—Ministerial determination...........................................57
Division 3—Carrier licences 59 52 Applications for carrier licence .......................................................59 53 Form of application etc....................................................................59 53A Copy of application to be given to Communications Access
Co-ordinator ....................................................................................59 54 Application to be accompanied by charge.......................................59 55 Further information .........................................................................59 56 Grant oflicence...............................................................................60 56A Consultation with Communications Access Co-ordinator...............60 57 Carrier licence has effect subject to this Act....................................61 58 Refusal of carrier licence—disqualified applicant...........................62 58A Refusal of carrier licence—security ................................................64 59 Time limit on licence decision.........................................................65 60 Notification of refusal of application...............................................68 61 Conditions of carrier licence specified in Schedule 1......................68 61A Review before 1 July 2009 of conditions relating to
operational separation of Telstra .....................................................68
62 Condition of carrier licence set out in section 152AZ of the Trade Practices Act 1974 ................................................................69 63 Conditions of carrier licence declared by Minister..........................69 64 Consultation about declared licence conditions...............................71 65 Conditions about foreign ownership or control ...............................72 67 Carrier licence conditions—special provisions................................72 68 Compliancewith conditions............................................................72 69 Remedial directions—breach of condition ......................................73 69A Remedial directions—breach by Telstra of conditions relating to operational separation.....................................................74 69B Review by the Australian Competition Tribunal of remedial directions given by the ACCC.........................................................74 70 Formal warnings—breach of condition...........................................76 71 Surrender of carrier licence .............................................................76 72 Cancellation of carrier licence.........................................................77 73 Collection of charges relating to carrier licences.............................78 73A Refund of application charge...........................................................80 74 Collection of charges on behalf of the Commonwealth...................80 75 Cancellation of certain exemptions from charge .............................80 76 Commonwealth not liable to charge................................................81
Division 4—Nominated carrier declarations 82 77 Applications for nominated carrier declarations..............................82 78 Application to be accompanied by charge etc. ................................82
Act No. 47 of 1997 as amended
This compilation was prepared on 10 June 2010 taking into account amendments up to Act No. 51 of 2010
[Note: Subsections 531F(1) and (2) and paragraphs 531G(2)(e) and (3A)(e) ceased to have effect on 27 May 2009, see subsections 531F(3), 531G(3) and (3B)]
The text of any of those amendments not in force on that date is appended in the Notes section
The operation of amendments that have been incorporated may be affected by application provisions that are set out in the Notes section
Prepared by the Office of Legislative Drafting and Publishing, Attorney-General’s Department, Canberra
Part 1—Introduction
1 Short title [see Note 1].......................................................................1 2 Commencement [see Note 1].............................................................1 3 Objects...............................................................................................1 4 Regulatory policy ..............................................................................3 5 Simplified outline..............................................................................3 6 Main index.........................................................................................7 7 Definitions.........................................................................................8 8 Crown to be bound ..........................................................................19 9 Extra-territorial application .............................................................19 10 Extension to external Territories .....................................................19 11 Extension to offshore areas..............................................................19 11A Application of the Criminal Code ...................................................20 12 Act subject to Radiocommunications Act........................................20 13 Continuityof partnerships...............................................................20 14 Controlled carriage services, controlled networks and
controlled facilities..........................................................................21 15 Content service................................................................................22 16 Listed carriage services ...................................................................23 18 Access to an emergency call service................................................23 19 Recognised person who operates an emergency call service...........24 20 Customer cabling.............................................................................24 21 Customer equipment........................................................................24 22 Customer cabling and customer equipment—boundary of a
telecommunications network...........................................................25
23 Immediate circle..............................................................................27
24 Extended meaning of use.................................................................32
Part 2—Network units 33
Division 1—Simplified outline 33 25 Simplified outline............................................................................33
Division 2—Basic definition 34 26 Single line links connecting distinct places in Australia..................34 27 Multiple line links connecting distinct places in Australia..............34 28 Designated radiocommunications facility........................................35 29 Facilities specified in Ministerial determination..............................36
Division 3—Related definitions 37 30 Line links.........................................................................................37 31 Designated radiocommunications facility........................................37 32 Public mobile telecommunications service......................................39
33 Intercell hand-over functions...........................................................40
34 When a base station is part of a terrestrial radiocommunications customer access network..............................41
35 Fixed radiocommunications link .....................................................42
Division 4—Distinct places 44 36 Distinct places—basic rules.............................................................44 37 Properties.........................................................................................44 38 Combined areas...............................................................................45 39 Principal user of a property .............................................................46 40 Eligible combined areas...................................................................46
Part 3—Carriers 47
Division 1—Simplified outline 47 41 Simplified outline............................................................................47
Division 2—Prohibitions relating to carriers 48 42 Network unit not to be used without carrier licence or
nominated carrier declaration..........................................................48 43 Continuing offences.........................................................................49 44 Supply to the public.........................................................................49 45 Exemption—defence.......................................................................51 46 Exemption—intelligence operations................................................51 47 Exemption—transport authorities....................................................52 48 Exemption—broadcasting services..................................................53 49 Exemption—electricity supply bodies.............................................55 50 Exemption—line links authorised by or under previous laws .........55 51 Exemption—Ministerial determination...........................................57
Division 3—Carrier licences 59 52 Applications for carrier licence .......................................................59 53 Form of application etc....................................................................59 53A Copy of application to be given to Communications Access
Co-ordinator ....................................................................................59 54 Application to be accompanied by charge.......................................59 55 Further information .........................................................................59 56 Grant oflicence...............................................................................60 56A Consultation with Communications Access Co-ordinator...............60 57 Carrier licence has effect subject to this Act....................................61 58 Refusal of carrier licence—disqualified applicant...........................62 58A Refusal of carrier licence—security ................................................64 59 Time limit on licence decision.........................................................65 60 Notification of refusal of application...............................................68 61 Conditions of carrier licence specified in Schedule 1......................68 61A Review before 1 July 2009 of conditions relating to
operational separation of Telstra .....................................................68
62 Condition of carrier licence set out in section 152AZ of the Trade Practices Act 1974 ................................................................69 63 Conditions of carrier licence declared by Minister..........................69 64 Consultation about declared licence conditions...............................71 65 Conditions about foreign ownership or control ...............................72 67 Carrier licence conditions—special provisions................................72 68 Compliancewith conditions............................................................72 69 Remedial directions—breach of condition ......................................73 69A Remedial directions—breach by Telstra of conditions relating to operational separation.....................................................74 69B Review by the Australian Competition Tribunal of remedial directions given by the ACCC.........................................................74 70 Formal warnings—breach of condition...........................................76 71 Surrender of carrier licence .............................................................76 72 Cancellation of carrier licence.........................................................77 73 Collection of charges relating to carrier licences.............................78 73A Refund of application charge...........................................................80 74 Collection of charges on behalf of the Commonwealth...................80 75 Cancellation of certain exemptions from charge .............................80 76 Commonwealth not liable to charge................................................81
Division 4—Nominated carrier declarations 82 77 Applications for nominated carrier declarations..............................82 78 Application to be accompanied by charge etc. ................................82 Contents