Telecommunications Technical Standard (Voice Frequency Performance Requirements for Customer Equipment — AS/ACIF S004) Amendment 2003 (No. 1)
The AUSTRALIAN COMMUNICATIONS AUTHORITY makes this Technical Standard under subsection 376 (1) of the Telecommunications Act 1997.
Dated 12 November 2003 R HORTON Chair A HORSLEY Deputy Chair
Australian Communications Authority
1 Name of Technical Standard
This Technical Standard is the Telecommunications Technical Standard (Voice Frequency Performance Requirements for Customer Equipment — AS/ACIF S004) Amendment 2003 (No. 1).
2 Commencement
This Technical Standard commences on gazettal.
3 Amendment of Telecommunications Technical Standard (Voice Frequency Performance Requirements for Customer Equipment — AS/ACIF S004) 2001
Schedule 1 amends the Telecommunications Technical Standard (Voice Frequency Performance Requirements for Customer Equipment — AS/ACIF S004) 2001.
Schedule 1 Amendments
(section 3)
[1] Subsection 1 (2), at the foot
insert
Note 1 The alternate citation mentioned in subsection (2) is the name by which the AS/ACIF Standard adopted by this Technical 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 Technical Standard, does not include any amendments made by Standards Australia and the Australian Communications Industry Forum after the commencement of this Technical Standard. If amendments are made, the terms of this Technical Standard will differ from those of the AS/ACIF Standard unless the AS/ACIF amendments are adopted by the ACA.
[2] Section 4, after definition of Act
insert
AS/ACIF Standard means the Australian Standard/Australian Communications Industry Forum Standard: Voice frequency performance requirements for Customer Equipment (AS/ACIF S004:2001), published by the Australian Communications Industry Forum and Standards Australia International Limited in July 2001.
[3] Section 6
substitute
6 Standard for customer equipment
The customer equipment to which this Technical Standard applies must comply with the AS/ACIF Standard.
Overview
The Telecommunications Technical Standard (Voice Frequency Performance Requirements for Customer Equipment — AS/ACIF S004) Amendment 2003 (No. 1) was enacted to update and refine the voice frequency performance requirements for customer equipment in the telecommunications sector, ensuring that such equipment aligns with the most current standards set by the Australian Communications Industry Forum and Standards Australia International Limited. This amendment was introduced to address the need for updated technical specifications in response to advancements in technology and changes in industry practices. The Australian Communications Authority, under the authority of the Telecommunications Act 1997, enacted this standard to ensure that customer equipment continues to meet necessary performance criteria and to facilitate effective communication services. The overarching policy objective is to maintain high standards of quality and reliability in telecommunications services provided to Australian consumers.
Scope and Application
The Telecommunications Technical Standard (Voice Frequency Performance Requirements for Customer Equipment – AS/ACIF S004) Amendment 2003 (No. 1) applies to customer equipment used in telecommunications services within Australia, ensuring that such equipment complies with specified voice frequency performance requirements. This Technical Standard is applicable to all persons and entities involved in the manufacturing, supply, installation, or use of customer equipment in the telecommunications industry. Its geographic reach encompasses the entire Commonwealth of Australia, and it was enacted under the authority of the Telecommunications Act 1997. The Technical Standard came into effect upon gazettement and amends the 2001 version by incorporating specific requirements as outlined in the Australian Standard/Australian Communications Industry Forum Standard: Voice frequency performance requirements for Customer Equipment (AS/ACIF S004:2001). Notably, any amendments made to the AS/ACIF Standard after the commencement of this Technical Standard do not automatically apply unless explicitly adopted by the Australian Communications Authority.
Key Provisions
The main operative sections of this legislation include the amendment of the existing Telecommunications Technical Standard (Voice Frequency Performance Requirements for Customer Equipment — AS/ACIF S004) 2001, detailed in Schedule 1. Specifically, subsection 1(2) now includes a note clarifying the alternate citation of the AS/ACIF Standard and stating that any post-commencement amendments by Standards Australia and the Australian Communications Industry Forum will not apply unless specifically adopted by the ACA (section 3). Section 4 provides a definition for the AS/ACIF Standard, and section 6 stipulates that customer equipment must comply with the AS/ACIF Standard as adopted.
This Act imposes obligations on manufacturers, importers, and retailers of customer equipment to ensure that their products meet the specified technical requirements. Specifically, they must ensure that their equipment complies with the AS/ACIF Standard as outlined in section 6 of the amended Technical Standard. This requirement ensures that the customer equipment performs to the specified voice frequency standards, which is crucial for maintaining the quality and reliability of telecommunications services.
Any breach of the requirements set out in this Act could result in significant consequences. While the Act does not explicitly detail the offences, penalties, or civil/criminal consequences for non-compliance, it is reasonable to infer that breaches could lead to legal action under the broader provisions of the Telecommunications Act 1997. Penalties for such breaches could include fines and other enforcement actions that the Australian Communications Authority (ACA) is empowered to take. Given that the Act is a technical standard, the penalties are likely to be designed to ensure compliance without unduly hindering legitimate business operations. The specific maximum penalties would depend on the interpretation and enforcement by the ACA and the courts.