Accreditation Procedures for Cabling Provider Registrars (Cth)

Commonwealth of Australia

Australian Communications Authority

Telecommunications Act 1997

Telecommunications Cabling Provider Rules 2000

Accreditation Procedures for Cabling Provider Registrars

The AUSTRALIAN COMMUNICATIONS AUTHORITY makes the following procedures under subsection 3.1(7) of the Telecommunications Cabling Provider Rules 2000.

Dated   3 October 2000

A.J. SHAW

Chair

G.W. LUTHER

Senior Executive Manager

Australian Communications Authority

_____________________________________________________________________

Contents

Part 1 - Introduction

Part 2 - The application

Part 3 - What the applicant must demonstrate

Part 4 - Notification to successful applicant

Part 5 - Method of accreditation

Part 6 - Where to send an application

Part 1 - Introduction

1.         Under subsection 3.1(7) of the Telecommunications Cabling Provider Rules 2000 (the Rules) the Australian Communications Authority (ACA) may only engage a person to operate a registration system or act as a registrar for cabling providers if the ACA has accredited the person in accordance with accreditation procedures made and published by the ACA.  For the purpose of the Rules the following are the accreditation procedures.

Part 2 - The application

2.         An application to become an accredited registrar under the Rules can be made to the ACA at any time.  On receipt of an application the ACA will advise each representative on the Registrar Coordinating Committee about the application.

3.         An application may take the form of an expression of interest in writing.

4.         The application must establish the applicant’s credentials for running a registration service and suitability as a registrar.  This may include that of its controlling entity or entities, if any.  That is, either the applicant or the applicant and its controlling entity or entities may be the organisation that is to be assessed for the purpose of these accreditation procedures.

5.         To establish the applicant’s credentials for running a registration service, in relation to the applicant and/or the controlling entity or entities of the applicant (the organisation), the application should include:

·a summary of the organisation’s services, staffing and structure, initiatives in and relationship with the telecommunications cabling industry and statement of future direction;

·the organisation's constituting documents, such as Rules, Constitution or Memorandum and Articles of Association;

·the names of the organisation's directors and length of service as office holders;

·profiles of the Chief Executive Officer (or equivalent) and senior office bearers of the organisation including length of tenure, experience in the industry and other positions held;

·the organisation's current list of members;

·copies of all codes of practice, ethics and/or conduct that relate to membership of the organisation;

·details of membership fees and other fees and charges associated with the organisation's services;

·details of services provided by the organisation to members and non-members (including consumers);

·an outline of the organisation’s program for assisting members to comply with legislative requirements;

·details of the organisation’s previous initiatives for improving standards in the telecommunications cabling industry, eg. training, and whether these initiatives were measurable and successful;

·copies of the organisation's audited financial statements for the last five years (or since establishment, if less than five years);

·a list describing current insurance policies held by the organisation;

·the number of full time, part time and/or volunteer staff engaged by the organisation, their functions and responsibilities;

·details of office locations and office hours of the organisation;

·examples of promotional and information material published by the organisation, such as newsletters, magazines, websites or other similar publications;

·details of the organisation’s complaints handling system and policies;

·a description of how the organisation assists members and complainants in relation to complaints and disciplinary policies in place; and

·any other relevant information that will support the organisation’s application.

6.         To establish the applicant’s suitability as a registrar, the application should include:

·a detailed description of the proposed registration services including mandatory and voluntary levels of registration;

·the competency standards and other requirements associated with each level of registration;

·        the relationship between industry skills and mandatory and voluntary levels of registration (mapping competency standards to registration levels) and any conditions of registration;

·the evidence and form of registration to be issued (eg. card, badge, certificate);

·the fees and charges proposed in relation to the registration services;

·financial forecasts demonstrating the viability of the proposed registration services;

·a business case and financial analysis demonstrating viability of the proposed registration services for best and worst case market share scenarios;

·        the number of full time, part time and/or volunteer staff to be engaged in running the registration services and their functions and responsibilities;

·the arrangements for access to the registration services (eg. shopfront, telephone, facsimile, internet, websites);

·the type of information (eg. regulatory, standards) that will be provided to cabling providers and the information media to be used (eg. newsletters, magazines, internet, websites);

·a proposal for a compliance audit program;

·details of how performance of cabling work by cabling providers will be audited and resources available to manage audits; and

·any other relevant information regarding suitability to be an accredited registrar.

Part 3 - What the applicant must demonstrate

7.         The applicant must satisfy the following criteria and demonstrate:

·        that it will conduct itself in accordance with the Arrangements for Operation of the Registration System made under the Rules including the Deed in relation to Cabling Provider Registrar Obligations and that it agrees to sign the Deed;

·        that its controlling entity or entities, if any, agree to be jointly and severally liable under the Deed;

·that its proposed registration services and levels of registration will be consistent with the Rules and the Telecommunications Act 1997 (the Act);

·that its Chief Executive Officer (or equivalent) or his or her authorised representative is willing to represent the registrar on a committee called the Registrar Coordinating Committee consisting of a representative from the ACA and each accredited registrar and will support the work of the committee;

·the financial viability of the proposed registration services;

·that its organisational structure, officers, staff and equipment are capable of delivering the registration services;

·that there will be proper access to the registration services;

·that it can process, examine and store all documentation in relation to registration of cabling providers;

·that it will have an effective and efficient complaints handling system;

·that it can process, examine and store all documentation in relation to complaints;

·that it can develop or assist in the development of codes of practice that relate to cabling work and cabling providers;

·that it can assist cabling providers to fulfil legislative and industry responsibilities on an ongoing basis;

·that it can develop active programs to enhance the practices of and identify difficulties in relation to cabling providers regarding compliance with legislation;

·that it can provide information dissemination services for cabling providers and consumers; 

·that it can operate a regular information dissemination service that includes messages concerning legislation, standards, regulations and other delegated legislation, as required, from the ACA;

·that it can audit cabling providers on a regular basis to ensure compliance with the Rules;

·that it will report to the ACA so as to assist the ACA in reporting to the Minister;

·that it has a commitment to developing the telecommunications cabling industry.

8.         All applications will be assessed against these criteria.  The ACA may take into account any other relevant matter in deciding whether to accredit an applicant as a registrar under the Rules.  However, the ACA will not prescribe detailed arrangements for registrars and their registration services.

9.         Applicants may be asked to make an oral presentation to the ACA addressing their application and respond to questions.

Part 4 - Notification to successful applicant

10.       If the ACA is satisfied that the applicant has made a proper application and meets the requirements of being an accredited registrar, the ACA will, in writing, invite a successful applicant to be an accredited registrar under the Rules. 

Part 5 - Method of accreditation

11.       A registrar is accredited when the registrar, any controlling entity or entities of the registrar and the ACA sign the Deed in relation to Cabling Provider Registrar Obligations.  Accreditation becomes effective when all parties have signed the Deed and from the date mentioned in the Deed.

Part 6 - Where to send an application

12.       Applications will be treated by the ACA as "commercial in confidence". 

13.       One original and two good copies of the application must be sent by post to:

The Manager

Cabling Provider Rules Project Team

Address:   PO Box 13112

Law Courts PO

Melbourne Vic 8010

Facsimile:   [phone]

Email:   [email protected]