Telecommunications Technical Standard (Requirements for Customer Equipment with hierarchical digital interfaces — AS/ACIF S016) 2002
The AUSTRALIAN COMMUNICATIONS AUTHORITY makes this Technical Standard under subsection 376 (1) of the Telecommunications Act 1997.
Dated 13 March 2002
A.J SHAW Chair R HORTON Deputy Chair
Australian Communications Authority
1 Name of Technical Standard
(1) This Technical Standard is the Telecommunications Technical Standard (Requirements for Customer Equipment with hierarchical digital interfaces — AS/ACIF S016) 2002.
(2) This Technical Standard may also be cited as AS/ACIF S016:2001.
Note 1 The alternate citation mentioned in subsection (2) is the name by which the AS/ACIF Standard, adopted by this Standard under section 6, is usually cited. The AS/ACIF Standard was published in 2001.
Note 2 The AS/ACIF Standard, as adopted by this Standard, does not include any amendments that may subsequently be made by Standards Australia and the Australian Communications Industry Forum. If such amendments are made, there will be a discrepancy between the terms of this instrument and those of the AS/ACIF instrument of that name until such time as the AS/ACIF Standard amendments are adopted by the ACA.
2 Commencement
This Technical Standard commences on gazettal.
3 Objects of Technical Standard
The objects of this Technical Standard are:
(a) to protect the integrity of telecommunications networks and facilities; and
(b) to protect the health and safety of persons who:
(i) operate; or
(ii) work on; or
(iii) use services supplied by means of; or
(iv) are otherwise reasonably likely to be affected by the operation of;
a telecommunications network or facility; and
(c) to ensure that customer equipment can be used to give access to an emergency call service; and
(d) to ensure, for the purpose of the supply of a standard telephone service, the interoperability of customer equipment with a telecommunications network to which the equipment is, or is proposed to be, connected.
4 Definition
In this Technical Standard:
AS/ACIF Standard means the Australian Communications Industry Forum/Australian Standard: Requirements for Customer Equipment for connection to hierarchical digital interfaces, published in December 2001 by the Australian Communications Industry Forum and Standards Australia International Limited, without amendment.
Note Customer equipment, emergency call service and standard telephone service are defined in section 7 of the Telecommunications Act 1997. Telecommunications network is defined in subsection 374 (1) of the Act. Facility is defined in subsection 374 (2) of the Act.
5 Application of Technical Standard
This Technical Standard applies to customer equipment that has a hierarchical digital interface at 2 048 kbit/s, 8 448 kbit/s, 34 368 kbit/s or 139 264 kbit/s, and is designed or intended for connection to a telecommunications network.
6 Standard with which customer equipment must comply
The customer equipment to which this Technical Standard applies must comply with the AS/ACIF Standard.
Overview
The Telecommunications Technical Standard (Requirements for Customer Equipment with hierarchical digital interfaces — AS/ACIF S016) 2002 was enacted to address the need for establishing technical requirements for customer equipment intended for connection to telecommunications networks, particularly those with hierarchical digital interfaces. This technical standard was introduced by the Australian Communications Authority under the authority of subsection 376(1) of the Telecommunications Act 1997. The primary objective of this standard is to ensure the protection of telecommunications networks and facilities, safeguard the health and safety of individuals interacting with these networks, and maintain the interoperability of customer equipment with telecommunications networks for the provision of standard telephone services. Furthermore, it aims to ensure that customer equipment remains capable of accessing emergency call services.
Scope and Application
The Telecommunications Technical Standard (Requirements for Customer Equipment with hierarchical digital interfaces - AS/ACIF S016) 2002 applies to any customer equipment with a hierarchical digital interface operating at specific bit rates, namely 2 048 kbit/s, 8 448 kbit/s, 34 368 kbit/s, or 139 264 kbit/s, and intended for connection to a telecommunications network. This encompasses a range of equipment that facilitates communication services, ensuring that such devices meet the prescribed standards to safeguard the telecommunications network's integrity and the safety of individuals interacting with these networks. The Standard mandates compliance with the AS/ACIF Standard, which outlines technical specifications for customer equipment, thereby ensuring interoperability and safety. This legislation extends across the Commonwealth of Australia, as it is made under the Telecommunications Act 1997, which has a national reach. The Technical Standard itself does not explicitly mention any exclusions, exemptions, or thresholds, but it is subject to updates and potential amendments through subordinate instruments, ensuring the continued relevance and effectiveness of the regulatory framework.
Key Provisions
The Telecommunications Technical Standard (Requirements for Customer Equipment with hierarchical digital interfaces — AS/ACIF S016) 2002 (section 1) sets out specific technical requirements for customer equipment designed or intended for connection to a telecommunications network, particularly those with a hierarchical digital interface at certain speeds. The objects of this Technical Standard, outlined in section 3, include protecting the integrity of telecommunications networks and facilities, safeguarding the health and safety of individuals involved with the networks, ensuring access to emergency call services via customer equipment, and maintaining interoperability of customer equipment with telecommunications networks for standard telephone service.
Section 5 specifies the application of this Technical Standard, which is targeted at customer equipment that has a hierarchical digital interface at specific speeds (2 048 kbit/s, 8 448 kbit/s, 34 368 kbit/s, or 139 264 kbit/s) and is intended for connection to a telecommunications network. The core requirement of this Technical Standard is that the customer equipment must comply with the AS/ACIF Standard, as stated in section 6. This means that any equipment falling under the purview of this Standard must meet the criteria set forth in the Australian Communications Industry Forum/Australian Standard, which was published in December 2001 without any amendments.
Entities and parties governed by this Standard must ensure that their customer equipment adheres to the specified technical requirements outlined in the AS/ACIF Standard. This involves rigorous testing and verification processes to confirm that the equipment meets all safety, interoperability, and operational standards. The obligations include maintaining records and documentation that demonstrate compliance, as well as being prepared to provide such documentation upon request by regulatory authorities.
While the legislation itself does not explicitly outline specific offences, penalties, or consequences for non-compliance, it is clear that failure to comply with the Technical Standard could result in broader legal and regulatory repercussions. The Telecommunications Act 1997, under which this Standard is made, may impose penalties or sanctions for non-compliance, including fines, corrective actions, or even revocation of operating licenses. The potential civil or criminal consequences depend on the severity and impact of the non-compliance, as well as any resultant harm to the telecommunications network, its users, or the public.