Telecommunications Numbering Plan Amendment 2000 (No. 3)
The AUSTRALIAN COMMUNICATIONS AUTHORITY makes this Plan under section 455 of the Telecommunications Act 1997.
Dated 6 July 2000
A J SHAW
Chair
D ROUND
Member
Australian Communications Authority
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1 Name of Plan
This Plan is the Telecommunications Numbering Plan Amendment 2000 (No. 3).
2 Commencement
This Plan commences on gazettal.
3 Amendment of Telecommunications Numbering Plan 1997
Schedule 1 amends the Telecommunications Numbering Plan 1997.
4 Revocation of Telecommunications Numbering Plan Amendment 2000 (No. 2)
Telecommunications Numbering Plan Amendment 2000 (No. 2), made by the ACA on 12 May 2000 and notified in the Gazette on 24 May 2000, is revoked.
Schedule 1 Amendments
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(section 3)
[1] After section 3.17
insert
3.17A Shared numbers used on a not accessible to public basis
(1) If column 4 of an item in Schedule 4 includes a reference to ‘shared not accessible to public’, the number in the item is a shared number that must not be:
(a) accessible to the public; or
(b) allocated to a carriage service provider; or
(c) used by a carriage service provider except in connection with the supply of an assistance operator service, a delay operator service or a directory enquiries service.
(2) This section does not prevent another number being used in connection with the supply of an assistance operator service, a delay operator service, or a directory enquiries service.
[2] Schedule 1, Part 1, after item starting with number prefix 19 9
insert
2001 | Incoming only international service and assistance operator service | 4 digit number |
2002 | Incoming only international service and delay operator service | 4 digit number |
2003 | Incoming only international service and directory enquiries service | 4 digit number |
[3] Schedule 4, Part 1, after item starting with number prefix 19 9
insert
2001 | Incoming only international service and assistance operator service none | 4 digit number | Yes
shared not accessible to public |
2002 | Incoming only international service and delay operator service none | 4 digit number | Yes
shared not accessible to public |
2003 | Incoming only international service and directory enquiries service none | 4 digit number | Yes
shared not accessible to public |
[4] Dictionary, after definition of area code
insert
assistance operator service means a carriage service that:
(a) provides assistance with the establishment of calls; and
(b) provides information about:
(i) language difficulties; and
(ii) the meaning of special tones and spoken announcements; and
(c) is accessible by operators in countries other than Australia; and
(d) is provided:
(i) by an operator; or
(ii) by way of an automated voice response system or a system based on another technology.
[5] Dictionary, after definition of data terminal number
insert
delay operator service means a carriage service that:
(a) provides assistance with the establishment of calls for which there is an inherent set-up delay; and
(b) provides information about:
(i) language difficulties; and
(ii) the meaning of special tones and spoken announcements; and
(c) is accessible by operators in countries other than Australia; and
(d) is provided:
(i) by an operator; or
(ii) by way of an automated voice response system or a system based on another technology.
[6] Dictionary, after definition of digital mobile service
insert
directory enquiries service means a carriage service that:
(a) provides assistance with finding the telephone number of an end-user of an Australian standard telephone service; and
(b) is accessible by operators in countries other than Australia; and
(c) is provided:
(i) by an operator; or
(ii) by way of an automated voice response system or a system based on another technology.
[7] Dictionary, definition of shared number
substitute
shared number see sections 3.16, 3.17 and 3.17A.
Overview
The Telecommunications Numbering Plan Amendment 2000 (No. 3), enacted by the Australian Communications Authority under section 455 of the Telecommunications Act 1997, was introduced to address the need for specific numbering arrangements for certain services not accessible to the public. This amendment sought to ensure clarity and efficiency in the allocation of shared numbers, particularly those used in connection with assistance operator services, delay operator services, and directory enquiries services, which are not intended to be publicly accessible or allocated to carriage service providers. The policy objective of this amendment is to provide clear guidelines on the use of such numbers, ensuring they are only used in specific contexts as outlined in the legislation. This amendment revokes the previous Telecommunications Numbering Plan Amendment 2000 (No. 2) and introduces new definitions and provisions to the Telecommunications Numbering Plan 1997.
Scope and Application
The Telecommunications Numbering Plan Amendment 2000 (No. 3) applies to all telecommunications services within Australia and is implemented by the Australian Communications Authority under the provisions of the Telecommunications Act 1997. This amendment specifically modifies the Telecommunications Numbering Plan 1997 to introduce new shared numbers that are not accessible to the public and are restricted to certain services such as assistance operator services, delay operator services, and directory enquiries services. These shared numbers, which are identified by specific prefixes and are not allocated to any carriage service provider, are intended to support the provision of these particular services without being available for general public use or other commercial telecommunications services. The amendment revokes the previous Telecommunications Numbering Plan Amendment 2000 (No. 2) and comes into effect immediately upon gazettal.
Key Provisions
The Telecommunications Numbering Plan Amendment 2000 (No. 3) (the "Plan") amends the Telecommunications Numbering Plan 1997 (the "Plan 1997") and revokes the Telecommunications Numbering Plan Amendment 2000 (No. 2). The Plan introduces new shared numbers that are not accessible to the public, as detailed in section 3.17A. These numbers are designated for specific services such as assistance operator services, delay operator services, and directory enquiries services. They cannot be made public, allocated to a carriage service provider, or used by a provider except for the specified services. The amendment also adds new entries to Schedule 1 and Schedule 4 of the Plan 1997, including number prefixes and service descriptions for incoming only international services combined with the specified operator services.
The obligations imposed by this Plan require that any use of the new shared numbers must strictly adhere to the specified services outlined. It mandates that these numbers remain inaccessible to the general public and cannot be used for any other purpose. Carriage service providers must ensure compliance with these provisions to avoid any breach of the regulations. Additionally, the new services defined in the dictionary sections must be provided as described, with assistance operator services aiding in call establishment and providing information on language difficulties and special tones, delay operator services assisting with calls that have an inherent delay, and directory enquiries services helping to find the telephone number of an end-user of an Australian standard telephone service.
Breach of these provisions can lead to civil and criminal consequences. While the specific penalties are not detailed in the Plan, breaches of telecommunications regulations generally attract significant fines and potential criminal charges. For instance, under the Telecommunications Act 1997, penalties for non-compliance can include fines up to several thousand dollars for individuals and substantially higher amounts for corporations, along with potential imprisonment in severe cases. The exact penalties would depend on the specific breach and the discretion of the court.